Initiative 1098

We have an opportunity this year to support Washington's students, families and small businesses. Initiative 1098 will provide $1 billion a year for public education and health care and cut taxes for families and small businesses.

LEV has endorsed I-1098 because it provides a dedicated funding source that will raise $700 million a year to support high quality education opportunities for students of all ages from preschool through higher education. As you know, public education funding has been moving in the wrong direction in Washington State. In the 1991-92 school year, we ranked 17th in the nation for K-12 per pupil funding. Now, we're 46th.

I-1098 will help reform Washington's regressive tax structure. We think voters should have the opportunity to have this important debate.

Referendum 52

Too many children in Washington State learn in unhealthy classrooms. Funding shortages and maintenance backlogs mean many schools are in need of repair and cleanup of dangerous toxins like mold and asbestos.

LEV has endorsed Referendum 52 because it will provide healthy and safe environments for our kids to learn in school. R-52 will provide vital funding now to fix critical problems--replacing lead pipes, removing asbestos, and installing new heat and ventilation systems--to make our schools healthy for kids and more efficient for taxpayers.

R-52 will reduce school energy costs and put the money saved back to work in the classroom--savings could be used to hire a new teacher, buy new books, or save for a rainy day. It will also create up to 30,000 new construction jobs across the state.

R-52 is supported by a broad coalition of education advocates, environmentalists, teachers, parents, and the business community.