I-1125 Supported by Business Groups, Opposed by Eastside Transportation Partnership

The debate surrounding Tim Eyman's state Initiative 1125 is heating up, with several organizations coming out either for or against the measure.

Eyman announced the support of the Washington Retail Association last week, while the National Federation of Independent Business is reportedly backing the measure after polling its Washington members and finding that 76 percent support the initiative.

“Small-business owners support transportation projects that increase capacity and expedite the shipment of goods to market," NFIB/Washington State Director Patrick Connor said in a news release. "However, small-business owners also expect that their gas tax dollars will be spent wisely and that tolls will be limited only to the specific project for which they were approved—not diverted to other projects or purposes.”

Meanwhile, members of the Eastside Transportation Partnership (ETP), a group of about 20 Eastside elected officials — which includes Mercer Island City Councilmembers Bruce Bassett and Jane Mayer Brahm — decided on Oct. 14 to oppose the initiative. After hearing presentations by Kemper Freeman, owner of Bellevue Square, in support of I-1125 and by former the state transportation secretary Doug MacDonald and Deputy King County Executive Fred Jarrett in opposition to the measure.

Bassett, who joined the majority in an 8-1 vote to voice his opposition to the initiative, said he had a harder time deciding whether or not he should vote against it or abstain, as a majority of the ETP representatives present did. Kenmore City Councilman Allan Van Ness voted against taking a stand against the initiative.

"I based my decision on three questions," said Bassett, "where do our community members land on it; and where does the council land on it; and where do I land on it. And I believe the answer for all of those questions is a vote against this intiative."

The future of Mercer Island will be directly affected by the vote, which would block light rail on I-90, prevent possible tolls on I-90 to pay for the 520 bridge replacement, and change the way the state is allowed to set highway tolls.

Bassett specifically cited Mercer Island's past support in favor of light rail in 2008.

The initiative is on the Nov. 8 ballot.