I-695 has great emotional appeal. Nobody likes taxes and the car tax is particularly bothersome. Unlike a property tax or sales tax that wraps into another bill, the car-tax bill sits as a looming presence until it is paid. Efforts to undo the tax are not part of a thoughtful, comprehensive overhaul of the state tax system. This is a hand grenade thrown to cut taxes now and worry about the consequences later.
Voters are busy people.
They don't have time to study state tax structure and compare Washington's taxes to 49 other states. But the dots must be connected. One initiative supporter from Illinois figures car tabs here should be as low as they are back home. She did not ask the pertinent next question. Illinois has an income tax.