I-695 reins in the Washington state government, in the most principled libertarian change in recent times. The political event is the victory of Initiative 695 in the state of Washington. This far-reaching initiative requires voter approval for every tax or government fee increase in the state, starting Jan. 1, 2000. The Washington state legislature no longer has taxing power. This is the most powerful single step that could have been taken toward a return to limited government.
Taxes are truly the food that provides sustenance to the predator state.
Opponents outspent supporters 20 to 1. They recognized the threat to the current balance of power. The initiative won anyway. This web site allows people to vote directly on specific issues and automatically sends their vote by e-mail to their elected representatives and to the President. Washington state voters hoped to put the brakes on runaway government, forcing politicians to keep their agendas aligned with public opinion.