WA firebrand Eyman digs in on Pasco road fee issue, blasting officials online
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- Washington anti-tax activist Tim Eyman criticized Pasco officials over proposed road repair taxes.
- Eyman labeled a public August meeting a 'secret' and demanded public input first.
- He used online newsletters to solicit support and promote legal defense fundraising.
Washington anti-tax activist Tim Eyman is lashing out at Pasco city officials in emails and online newsletters packed full of video clips, emojis and screenshots.
Eyman drove to Pasco from the Seattle area to sound off at Monday’s council meeting about a possible tax increase to pay for Pasco street repairs.
He was livid over the way the council discussed creating a transportation benefit district during an August workshop session that he keeps labeling a “secret meeting.”
He contends the council should have asked for the public’s opinion about a tax increase before it even started talking about what kind of tax it should consider – a sales tax increase or a car tab fee.
Officials say public hearings will be held on the issue in a couple months.
On Monday, Eyman, wearing a neon orange shirt with the words $30 TABS and carrying a poster with the same message, had his three-minute turn to speak during the public comment portion of the meeting.
Later, he took to the internet to blast Pasco officials to his online supporters and to ask for donations for his legal defense fund.
“Watch SHORT VIDEO of me ripping Pasco politicians. 8 hours of driving to rip into a bunch of Sneaky, Tax-Hiking politicians for 3 minutes,” his newsletter posted Tuesday reads. “WORTH IT!”
On Wednesday, he posted a newsletter with the subject, “Pasco politicians are squealing like stuck pigs because we’re putting a bright spotlight on their secret tax-hiking scheme.”
He told the Pasco council that he sent the newsletter to 60,000 people.
He wrongly claimed that the council’s meeting on Aug. 25 was a “secret meeting” and that there was no opportunity for public comment. Mayor David Milne made a callout three times, soliciting public comments after that initial discussion. But no one spoke.
At the bottom of the newsletters, Eyman made a call for donations to the Tim Eyman Legal Defense Fund, a personal campaign to pay his legal costs.
He claims that as Attorney General, now-Governor Bob Ferguson wanted Eyman to pay a $2.1 million fine and ban him from all future political activity.
“Without your help, the AG will bankrupt me and my family. If that happens, it’ll be the end of government-limiting initiatives in Washington state,” his website states.
He’s been at the forefront of the debate since 1999, pushing “$30 Tab” initiatives forward to cap car tab fees at $30 and put an end to transportation benefit districts and other taxes.
The statewide ballot measure passed in November 2019, but it was later struck down by the Washington State Supreme Court in October 2020.
He said he hasn’t renewed his car tabs for six years.
