BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – The City of Bellingham has come out in opposition to all four Let’s Go Washington initiatives on the general election ballot.
In a special meeting 0n Monday, Oct. 14, the Bellingham City Council heard testimony from the public on the four initiatives appearing on the Washington ballot.
The council voted nearly unanimously yes on their resolutions that opposed each initiative, with Council member Michael Lilliquist abstaining from the vote regarding I-2124, the long-term care initiative.
The four initiatives seek to repeal the state’s capital gains tax and carbon cap and invest program, make its new long-term care tax voluntary and stop the state from discouraging the use of natural gas.
Members brought commentary forth explaining why they would vote in favor of the resolutions. Council member Lisa Anderson cited concerns that the initiatives are not investing in the future.
“It will bankrupt the state in about 20-30 years if everyone needs long-term care,” Anderson said about I-2124. “That’s just the direction we’re going.”
Every commentator spoke against the council’s resolutions, with one shaming the council for what she said was their partiality. Lilliquist countered the shaming comment with saying that he and the rest of the council are legislature, not judges.
“I do want to point out that everyone who has spoken today is in opposition to you opposing,” Ashley Butenshoen said during her second time at the podium. “It doesn’t really feel all the time that council listens to the people and that frustration is out there.”
