[Jeff Higgins]

I think what irks most people is the manner in which they (yes, those nasty Dems) went about this. Any tax increase would have, under those circumstances, caused an outrage. The first thing they did upon returning to work this year was to repeal the law enacted by initiative that would have required a super majority to raise taxes. Just too damn inconvenient for your average tax-and-spend Dem to rally bi-partisian support. I think the nine cents is secondary to that. If they would have kept the law intact and had gained enough support to pass the new tax, I think it would have a much greater measure of credibility.

So here we have a governor that won under very questionable circumstances; many feel her party "stole" the election in King County to get her in. First thing she does is repeal the "will of the people", the initiative that was meant to keep taxation a bit in check. Her next inspired act is to raise taxes for one and all to pay for what is very clearly a King County transportation problem (with some spillover into Pierce and Snohomish counties). No, it's not about the money this time. The whole set of circumstances leading up to the increase have left a very bad taste in most people's mouths. The "Governor of King County" and her maternalistic party are trying to make a fed up citizenry take their medicine. It may be good for them, but they are not happy and they are not going to swallow it.