COLUMN: Initiative 1 – It’s just another tax increase from the state

With regards to this election, it’s just as important to vote NO on Initiative 1 as it is to re-elect President Bush. Let’s take a good look at what’s at stake here. Initiative 1 threatens us with yet another tax increase along with blatant disregard for private property.  

Initiative 1 is by far one of the greatest threats to our state I’ve ever seen. Make no mistake about it, this initiative was drafted by liberal Democrats. If you believe in conservative values then please vote NO.

To be quite honest, I don’t see how any Republican or Independent conservative could vote yes on this initiative. It has “liberal” written all over it. I’m well aware of the support for Initiative 1 by a small handful of prominent Republicans only to be touted by its proponents. Just because Sen. Jake Garn and Jon Huntsman Jr. support Initiative 1, doesn’t mean it’s right. As a Republican, let me remind my fellow Republicans of something. A Republican is a conservative. To be conservative fiscally, you generally oppose tax increases and stand up for the principles of protecting the private sector. I’m voting for Jon Huntsman Jr. but respectfully disagree with him and fellow Republican Jake Garn on Initiative 1. They either don’t fully understand the negative impact of Initiative 1 or stand to personally gain from it.   

My greatest opposition to Initiative 1 is its deceptive nature. The ill-informed believe it will “preserve lakes, rivers, and streams” as well as the other “feel-good” propaganda attached. What they don’t realize is that $25 million will go to convention centers and $5 million will go to museums. This is unnecessary spending.

Many don’t realize that about 78 percent of Utah is already owned by the government and that Initiative 1 will set in motion ways to increase government ownership of land past 80 percent. The government owns 97 percent of Garfield County. This is the degradation of private ownership at its finest. Government has no business purchasing or controlling private land. Even worse, this initiative delegates power to unelected people who in turn can take your land. It’s alarming to know that unelected committees can appropriate money as well as have power over various land issues and not be held accountable. They don’t have to answer to constituents. This is all about funding new bureaucracy while attacking private property.

Lastly, proponents state that this initiative would only be a small tax increase. We’re talking about more Utah debt accompanied by a tax increase of more than $150 million with interest attached. The principle here is that taxes always trend upward. Many Utah citizens can’t afford the current tax rate. About every few months there is always some new local or state wide tax increase.  

I would hate to see the Utah tax burden 40 years from now at this sustained rate. Ironically, the federal government has performed better with taxes than the state of Utah. Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush have cut taxes to stimulate the economy and put more money back in the pockets of Americans. Utah and its local municipalities on the other hand continue to increase taxes. Utah is the third highest taxed state in the nation. When will we say enough is enough?

Get the word out! For more information on the initiative, visit www.utahtaxpayers.org.

Jamie Forbush is a former USU student and Cache Valley resident. Comments can be sent to jamie@ztron.com.