OP-ED: Tim Eyman - With Initiative 1033, we have the opportunity to vote for greater fiscal discipline by state, county, and city governments which is especially necessary during these tough economic times.

The worst thing government can do right now is raise taxes because thatll just make this tough recession last longer. A tax-hike-induced extended recession would hurt the private sector and the public sector.

The most important thing that Initiative 1033 does is it protects taxpayers and our struggling economy by making sure that state, county, and city politicians cannot take more of our money  raise taxes, increase fees, or artificially inflate property valuations  unless voters approve. With I-1033, instead of constantly trying to "maximize revenue"  taking more of our money  politicians will have to spend their time maximizing the effectiveness of existing revenue. And "more revenue" will only be a last resort and only with voter approval.

Initiatives are not forever.

Two years ago, voters approved Initiative 960 that requires two-thirds legislative approval for tax hikes. During this past legislative session, I-960's policies successful shielded taxpayers and the business community from massive tax hikes. But since I-960 is now two years old, under our Constitution, the Legislature can now more easily get rid of it (as they did previously with I-601). And thats exactly what's happening  theres an all-out effort in Olympia to make it easier to raise taxes in the 2010 and 2011 legislative sessions by repealing it. I-1033 would extend I-960's protections for another two years.

Have we had any experience with inflation-and-population growth limits? You bet. From 1993 through 2005, government lived with I-601's growth limit, the same as I-1033s.

That changed in 2005, when Gregoire and the Democrats got rid of I-601's limit.

The result?

They created a huge fiscal roller coaster, overextending themselves in good times - creating unsustainable budgets - which inevitably made the bad times even worse, ending with a $9 billion deficit. If they hadnt repealed I-601's reasonable growth limit, government would have grown to where it is today  but there wouldnt have been a wrenching $9 billion deficit.

I-1033 brings back I-601's fiscal discipline  we need it now more than ever. What's being said about I-1033 is simply not true. I-1033 allows government to grow, but at a stable, sustainable rate that doesn't outpace the taxpayers ability to afford it. And if I-1033's automatic increase isn't a big enough increase, government can go to the voters and ask for more. I-1033 also allows funds to be transferred into the constitutionally-protected rainy day fund. And if government receives excess tax revenue beyond that, that extra revenue will be used to uniformly lower property taxes for everyone. Interestingly, what'll happen is governments will proactively reduce taxes on their own to stay below I-1033's limit (so they can take credit for it). So I-1033 will spur state and local officials to keep the tax burden more affordable and stable in Washington.

Remember, under I-1033, government cant raise your taxes, increase fees, or inflate property valuations  not without voter approval and at least for the next two years.

Vote Yes.