TEA PARTY PROTEST SPEECH
(to be ) Delivered at the Property Tax Tea Party
on the Steps of the Washington State Capitol
January 14, 2008 - First Day of Legislative Session
AS A SYMBOL OF OUR FRUSTRATION, WE ARE HERE TODAY TO REJOICE IN OUR COUNTRY’S GREAT TRADITION OF SPEAKING OUT AGAINST UNFAIR TAXATION
WE ARE HERE TODAY WITH OUR OWN VERSION OF THE BOSTON
TEA PARTY - THE PROPERTY TAX TEA PARTY
OUR FOUNDING FATHERS UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPERTY OWNERSHIP
THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE REFERENCED THE
UNALIENABLE RIGHTS OF MAN - THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS ORIGINALLY REFERRED TO THE OWNERSHIP
OF PROPERTY
DESPITE THE REINSTATEMENT OF THE PEOPLE’S INITIATIVE 747, DESPITE THE SPECIAL SESSION
OF OUR LEGISLATURE - IT IS NOT ENOUGH!
IT IS NOT ENOUGH FOR THE RELIEF AND PEACE OF MIND OF SENIORS, OUR VETERANS, THE DISABLED
AND LOW INCOME FAMILIES
OUR SLOW-TO-ACT POLITICIANS IGNORE THE CRIES OF THE PEOPLE, OUR LEGISLATURE TURNS
A DEAF EAR
THE PEOPLE WE HAVE ELECTED TO SPEAK FOR US HAVE DENIED US A TRUE VOICE ON PROPERTY
TAX FOR 40 YEARS
NO MORE! THIS GRAVY TRAIN IS STOPPING
OUR LEGISLATURE’S REINSTATEMENT OF 747 IS BUT A BANDAID - AND IT IS NOT ENOUGH
OUR PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM IS DRACONIAN- RELYING ON PROPERTY TAX TO FUND VITAL SERVICES
IS AN OUTDATED CONCEPT WHOSE BETTER DAYS ARE BEHIND IT
OUR PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM TAXES US YEAR AFTER YEAR ON 100% OF OUR HOME’S VALUE
OUR PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM TAXES UNREALIZED GAINS - PROFITS WE CANNOT ENJOY UNLESS
WE SELL OUR PIECE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM
OUR PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM DOES NOT GIVE US PEACE OF MIND WHEN OUR EARNING YEARS ARE
BEHIND US
OUR PROPERTY TAXES ARE SUBJECT TO UNEXPECTED INCREASES EVERY SINGLE YEAR
OUR VITAL SERVICES DESERVE A MORE EQUITABLE SYSTEM TO FUND THEM - ONE THAT INVOLVES
ALL CITIZENS
50% OF OUR CHECKS WRITTEN TO THE PROPERTY TAXMAN
GO TO EDUCATION
STUDIES SHOW GOVERNMENT RUN EDUCATION IS A FAILING SYSTEM - DESPITE THE EARNEST EFFORTS
OF THOSE WHO CARE
OUR CONSTITUTION MANDATES IT IS THE STATE’S RESPONSIBILITY TO FUND EDUCATION
- IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF ALL TO FUND EDUCATION
BUT THE PEOPLE WE HAVE ELECTED TO SPEAK FOR US HAVE BEEN SHIFTING THE BRUNT OF THAT RESPONSIBILITY ONTO THE BACKS OF HOMEOWNERS
NO MORE! THIS GRAVY TRAIN IS STOPPING
TO OUR LEGISLATORS
LISTEN TO YOUR CONSTITUENTS
HEAR WHAT WE ARE SAYING
AND WHAT WE ARE NOT SAYING
WE ARE NOT SAYING WE DO NOT SEE THE NEED TO FUND VITAL SERVICES
WE ARE NOT SAYING THAT WE OBJECT TO FUNDING EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN - BUT
IT MUST BE SUPERIOR AND EXEMPLARY - WHICH IT IS NOT
NO MORE! THIS GRAVY TRAIN IS STOPPING
25% OF OUR PROPERTY TAX CHECKS GO TO STATE FUNDING, BUT THE PEOPLE WE HAVE ELECTED
TO SPEAK FOR US HAVE INCREASED THEIR OPERATING COSTS 32% OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS
ALONE - OUR GOVERNMENT HAS GROWN BY 3600 JOBS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS ALONE
NO MORE! THIS GRAVY TRAIN IS STOPPING
WHAT WE ARE SAYING IS
OUR PROPERTY TAX SYSTEM IS DRACONIAN, THE SYSTEM TO FUND OUR SERVICES NEEDS TO BE
AN EQUITABLE ONE, ONE THAT DISTRIBUTES THE COST TO ALL CITIZENS
PROPERTY OWNERS SAY
NO MORE! THIS GRAVY TRAIN IS STOPPING
LAST SESSION NEARLY 50 BILLS WERE WRITTEN TO ADDRESS PROPERTY TAX REFORM - NOT ONE
MADE IT TO OUR BALLOTS
THIS SESSION LEGISLATORS MUST SIT DOWN WITH THE PEOPLE TO DRAFT LAWS THAT ARE GUARANTEED
TO GET TO OUR BALLOTS
A SHORT SESSION IS NO EXCUSE
SHORTCHANGE YOUR CAMPAIGN TIME
BUT NOT ON OUR DIME
WE SAY TO OUR LEGISLATORS
NO MORE! THIS GRAVY TRAIN IS STOPPING