Washington State Property Rights Intiative Is Opposed By the Government

The Seattle Times reports:

A statewide property-rights initiative on the November ballot would cost the state, counties and cities $7 billion to $9 billion over the next six years, the state budget office estimated Wednesday.

That's enough to replace both the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the Highway 520 floating bridge, even by the latest estimates.

But that sky-high cost estimate for Initiative 933, from the Office of Financial Management (OFM), rests on a controversial assumption: It assumes the initiative would require governments to compensate landowners in every case in which regulations reduce property values — without the option of waiving the rules.

I-933 sponsor Dan Wood called that assumption "nonsense." He maintains the initiative would allow such waivers.

"The governor has come out against [the initiative]," said Wood, who is also the government-affairs director for the Washington State Farm Bureau. "These people work for the governor. It's shameful they're using taxpayer money to oppose the initiative."

Are you suprised that government workers would defend eminent domain? Theft is theft.