Voters Want More Choices

Your donation is needed to secure $30,000 grant to I-985 -- your contribution is worth double this month -- matching program in May gets the ball rolling in retiring my loan and ensuring I-985 qualifies for the ballot

"I'm jumping off a big cliff - please help catch me." That's what I said last week after announcing I'll be taking out a $250,000 loan to ensure I-985 qualifies for the ballot.

Thankfully, we're hearing from a bunch of you who are willing to help break my fall. We've been getting swamped with emails and phone calls from supporters willing to help out. Thank you all very, very much for your support and enthusiasm.

And late last week, we got some great news. Here's the email we received Friday morning:

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From: Eric O'Keefe
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 8:15 AM
To: Tim Eyman
Cc: Paul Jacob
Subject: Yes on 985

To: Tim Eyman, co-sponsor of Initiative 985
From: Eric O'Keefe, President, Sam Adams Alliance
cc: Paul Jacob, Senior Advisor, Sam Adams Alliance

Paul forwarded us your e-mail about the loan you have taken to finish the petition drive that will allow Washington voters to vote on some sensible transportation reforms without raising taxes. Thank you for your determination to offer voters a say on important issues. Paul explained how this initiative builds on your 2005 accountability initiative on performance audits.

You have been a friend of Washington taxpayers for many years, and we enjoyed getting to know you at our Sammy awards party in Chicago last December. The Sam Adams Alliance was proud to be able to contribute to your successful petition drive for Initiative 960 last year, which voters approved last November.

We would like to support your current effort while at the same time encouraging others to join and help the effort as well.

Therefore, we're willing to match (dollar-for-dollar) any donations you receive from your local supporters during the month of May ($30,000 max). This is a great, great way to encourage your supporters and maximize their contributions to I-985. If they take full advantage of our program, you will have $60,000 new dollars toward your crucial effort.

Tim, your team has done great things for the taxpayers of Washington and Sam Adams Alliance is proud to support you on their behalf. Email me back and we'll work out the details. Go get 'em.

P.S. Your situation reminds me of why we launched the Sam Adams Alliance (from our website: America needs a political network that stands outside of the partisan struggle for power; a network of effective leaders and citizen watchdogs who can hold politicians and bureaucrats accountable without trying to take their place. The Sam Adams Alliance was formed to connect and support these citizen leaders across the country. http://www.samadamsalliance.org/about/id.355/default.asp)

-- END --

Here's what I wrote in response:

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From: Tim Eyman [mailto:tim_eyman@comcast.net]
Sent: Friday, May 02, 2008 10:44 AM
To: 'Eric O'Keefe'; 'Paul Jacob'
Cc: 'Jack Fagan'; 'Mike Fagan'
Subject: RE: Yes on 985

Wow, this is really, really fantastic. I/we really appreciate your support and enthusiasm. When we sent you our proposal last month, I'd hoped you would at least match last year's $10,000 donation but I'm absolutely blown away by your $30,000 matching program proposal. We've been getting tremendously positive feedback from our supporters about helping I-985 get qualified for the ballot and helping retire this huge debt. I'm confident we can take advantage of the full $30K. I'll give you a call in a few hours to work out the details. Thanks again for doing so much to support our efforts and giving the voters of Washington the chance to sign petitions and vote on I-985. You guys are real heroes and I sincerely respect your commitment to the cause.

-- END --

We ask that you please help us benefit fully from this wonderful opportunity.

With this matching program in May, your $5 donation means $10 is received by I-985. $25 means $50 to I-985. $100 means $200. $500 means $1000. $1000 means $2000. $5000 means $10,000. Remember, we need to raise an additional $290,000 for I-985 of which $250,000 is for my loan. So this $30,000 match doesn't SOLVE our financial challenges, but it certainly gets the ball rolling in that direction.

And don't forget, your donations help get I-985 on the ballot, help retire my huge debt, and drive our opponents completely crazy. This is a critical effort to improve transportation without raising taxes, reinforce State Auditor Brian Sonntag's performance audits under I-900, and keep our pro-taxpayer, pro-freedom mission and momentum going forward.

Please help us give the voters of Washington the chance to approve I-985 in November. We can't do it without your help. FULL STEAM AHEAD!

Best Regards, Tim Eyman, ph: 425-493-9127, email: tim@permanent-offense.org, http://www.ReduceCongestion.org

P.S. Here's a quick summary of this year's initiative: ReduceCongestion.org I-985 implements the State Auditor's recommendations to reform the Department of Transportation and reduce traffic congestion by using existing public resources more effectively. It opens carpool lanes to everyone during non-peak hours, requires local governments to synchronize traffic lights on heavily-traveled arterials and streets, and increases roadside assistance funding to clear out accidents faster with the implementation overseen by the State Auditor. These policies are funded by taxes and charges we already pay: 15% of vehicle sales taxes, revenue from fines generated from red light traffic cameras, and a percentage that previously went to art on transportation-related public works projects. Finally, I-985 doesn't impose tolls, but it institutes critical taxpayer protections if tolls are created and levied.


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