New Poll Shows Support For I-912 Eroding

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By By KOMO Staff & News Services

Summary

A recent Stuart Elway poll now shows the initiative to roll back the gas tax is behind by 7 points.

Story Published: Oct 18, 2005 at 9:12 AM PDT

Story Updated: Aug 31, 2006 at 2:06 AM PDT

OLYMPIA - Pollster Stuart Elway has noted a steady erosion of support for I-912. The initiative to roll back the gas tax increase was once expected to pass easily.

A recent Elway poll showed it behind by 7 percentage points, although 11 percent remained undecided.

The poll was taken before initiative foes launched a media campaign that could outspend supporters 10-to-1.

Voters will decide Nov. 8 whether to erase the 3-cent gas tax increase that went into effect in July plus upcoming increases amounting to nearly 10 cents on the gallon.

A majority vote would revert the tax back to the old rate of 28 cents a gallon. That would eliminate $5.5 billion in planned spending over the next 16 years. Cities and counties would not get $562 million in new road money.

Governor Gregoire, legislative leaders and a coalition of business, labor and environmentalists are fighting the initiative. They say lawmakers were farsighted to pass the gas tax increase to help pay for needed transportation improvements.

Opponents don't trust the government to use the new money to reduce congestion. They say the government should make better use of existing tax revenue.