Permanent Defense
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Permanent Defense is a grassroots political organization in the U.S. state of Washington which opposes Tim Eyman's anti-tax initiatives and works to advance an agenda of tax reform and healthy public services.[1] It is a division of the Northwest Progressive Institute.
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[edit] History
Permanent Defense was founded by Andrew Villeneuve in February of 2002 to fight against Tim Eyman and his organization after Eyman's tearful confession that he took and was planning to take over $200,000 in donations from his own supporters. Eyman had lied about taking the money for seven months. He admitted to his scheme after coming under heavy fire from the media.
The name is a play on words, as Eyman's organization was previously named Permanent Offense, though it has since changed its name to Voters Want More Choices.
During the latter half of 2002, Permanent Defense worked with the NO on Initiative 776 campaign to defeat that measure. Despite its efforts, Initiative 776 passed by a slim margin — 51% to 49%.
In the spring of 2003, Eyman tried to get a new measure, Initiative 807, onto the November ballot. However, Eyman failed to muster enough financial and grassroots support for the initiative, and it was vigorously opposed by Permanent Defense and its allies. The initiative died in July of 2003.
One month earlier, in June of 2003, Eyman announced he would "retaliate" against the Legislature’s passage of a five cents per gallon gas tax, which would be used to fund transportation improvements across the state.
Because of the way the bill was written, Eyman had no chance to force a referendum on the law. So he announced that his next year's initiative would be a drastic rollback in property taxes — a rollback identical to the amount of money that the gas tax was raising.
Throughout the autumn of 2003, and the spring of 2004, Permanent Defense worked hard to combat the new initiative. The organization purchased its own domain name, www.permanentdefense.org, in July of 2003. The same month, it also re-launched its website and pioneered the debut of its new electronic newsletter — Permanent Defense Extra!
The measure, which eventually became Initiative 864 after it was officially filed in January of 2004, faced even stiffer opposition than Initiative 807. Permanent Defense helped organize a loose-knit grassroots coalition across the state, including firefighters, librarians, and other public servants. Their efforts paid off in July of 2004 when Tim Eyman failed to collect the required amount of signatures for Initiative 864.
However, another Eyman measure, launched unexpectedly in March of 2004 and financed by the gambling industry, called for the legalization of electronic slot machines, also called "video lottery terminals" across the state of Washington in neighborhood restaurants, Bars, bowling alleys, and casinos. Thanks to the help of industry money, enough paid signature gatherers were hired to collect the required signatures.
Permanent Defense worked with a number of other groups to form the NO on I-892 campaign to fight the measure on the ballot. Initiative 892 was rejected by voters on November 2nd, 2004.
Permanent Defense also continued its opposition to Tim Eyman in 2004 with its allies, TaxSanity.org and Taxpayers for Washington's Future, by filing a complaint against Eyman with the state Public Disclosure Commission, accusing Eyman of violating the public disclosure law and secretly moving funds from one political committee to another without reporting them.
[edit] Beliefs and triumphs
Permanent Defense argues that Tim Eyman is a threat to Washington state, and that he mercilessly attacks government with falsehoods and sound bites. Its central argument against Initiative 864 was that public services would be decimated by the initiative.
This view was supported by a number of city officials from across the state, from Moses Lake to Olympia. The Association of Washington Cities also endorsed no on the initiative and was instrumental in helping defeat it.
Permanent Defense also states that it fights for tax reform. It proposes enacting a state income tax in Washington, along with a value added tax to replace Washington's business and occupation tax. It also argues for the creation of a "rainy day fund", and the passage of a "Homestead Exemption" for lower and middle income families and individuals.
[edit] Mission and vision
Permanent Defense claims that its mission is for the good of Washington state and its taxpayers. The organization supports the view that taxes are a necessary evil and that Eyman's annual initiatives are a threat to the financial stability of the state budget, yet it acknowledges that the tax system in Washington state is regressive and in need of an overhaul.
The Permanent Defense Mission Statement expresses a desire to be active politically both for a cause and against one:
"We will work to oppose Tim Eyman and Voters Want More Choices, working and fighting for real tax reform, promoting the value of public services, and the consequences of cutting taxes, in every appropriate means through a multitude of media, primarily the Internet."
The organization’s vision is that voters, by becoming more informed, will wake up to the dangers of Eyman's initiatives and begin to appreciate that their taxes go to pay for something that is worth paying for:
"To aid voters and alert taxpayers by providing them with information about the consequences of cutting taxes, promoting the understanding of public serices, and highlighting the need for a balanced tax system."
[edit] Critics
Permanent Defense's main critic is Tim Eyman. Though he has never addressed the organization by name, or addressed any of its members, he has alluded to its attacks against him multiple times.
Permanent Defense's Chair, Andrew Villeneuve, and other Eyman critics often appear in the local media trading charges and statements with Eyman.
Eyman takes the position that government is essentially an evil that must be kept in check by very watchful taxpayers, and that elected officials are by nature dishonest.
Eyman claims his initiatives are necessary to keep tax rates from skyrocketing out of control and becoming obscene, despite the fact that his critics continually offer evidence that refutes the idea that taxes are "skyrocketing".
[edit] Future of Permanent Defense
Permanent Defense's Chair vows that the organization will be around as long as Eyman continues to be active in the political process. The organization has weathered several defeats, including the passage of Initiative 776.
Since Eyman has repeatedly stated his desire to remain involved, it's likely both he and Permanent Defense will be engaged in many future political battles in the fight over taxation and public policy in Washington state.
[edit] References
- ^ Gambling measure qualifies for ballot The Associated Press, (July 03, 2004).
