Jane Milhans is mad -- and not just because the State Department of Licensing briefly considered revoking her "John 3:16" vanity license plates. She's mad because, come July 1, it's going to cost her $1.33 more a month to drive the BMW with those plates.

Milhans, a US Bank vice president and former chair of the Pierce County Republican Party, filed a statewide ballot initiative last week to repeal the funding for the historic $8.5 billion transportation package, a measure that passed the legislature with bipartisan support and was just signed into law by Gov. Christine Gregoire. Her initiative's text is not yet available, but it's part of an effort by two right-wing radio hosts -- possibly working in collaboration with initiative profiteer Tim Eyman -- to repeal the gas-tax increase that pays for the transportation projects.

The deadline for Milhans & Co. to submit the 225,000-plus valid petition signatures necessary to qualify for this fall's ballot is July 8.  She's gotten a late start, but the talk-show contingent claimed last week to have raised more than $90,000 for the effort and Eyman has some deep-pocketed devotees financing his firm.  So they could conceivably buy enough signatures to qualify.

At stake are more than 270 highway, bridge, intersection and ferry system projects -- with a heavy focus on safety improvements and reducing congestion -- in every county in the state, including contributions for the Alaskan Way Viaduct and 520 Floating Bridge mega-projects in central Puget Sound. The 2005 transportation package also includes funding for freight rail, passenger rail, bus service, park-and-ride lots, and other strategies that take vehicles off the road.

Also at stake are thousands of family-wage jobs planning and constructing these projects that finally address the No. 1 priority issue cited by the Governor's Competitiveness Council to make Washington a better place to do business: relieving traffic congestion and improving freight mobility.

But nothing in life is free (except misdirected outrage over high gas prices). The projects are financed through a 9.5 cent increase in the gas tax phased in over the next four years and small annual weight fees on passenger vehicles, light trucks and motor homes.

THE 2005 TRANSPORTATION PACKAGE: WHAT WE GET

Olympia is filled with politicians, lobbyists and pundits from across the political and ideological spectrum that all talk about doing the same thing: creating good jobs and improving our state's economic climate. What they continually disagree upon -- often adamantly -- is how to go about it. That's why it was so remarkable this year when Democrats and Republicans from both sides of the Cascades were able to unite successfully behind one of the most important economic development efforts in state history: an historic $8.5 billion investment in our state transportation system.

The plan funds projects in every corner of the state, including:

• $2 billion toward replacement of the Alaskan Way Viaduct in downtown Seattle;
• $500 million toward replacement of the 520 floating bridge
• $992 million for Interstate 405;
• $602 million for Interstate 5, SR 167 and other projects in Pierce County;
• $150 million toward the completion of U.S. 395 in Spokane (the North-South Freeway);
• $240 million for I-5, Interstate 205 and other projects in Clark County;
• $435 million for Interstate 90 just east of Snoqualmie Pass;
• $162 million for the new Hood Canal bridge; and
• $60 million for U.S. Highway 12 improvements in Walla Walla County.

Download a comprehensive statewide list of projects (a 22-page PDF file) or a county-by-county list (a 53-page PDF file) to see which projects will be happening in your area.

WHAT IT COSTS

The 2005 transportation funding package calls for a 9.5 cent per gallon increase, phased in over four years: 3 cents in July 2005, 3 cents in July 2006, 2 cents in July 2007 and 1.5 cents in July 2008.

A driver that gets an average of 22 miles per gallon and drives 12,000 miles per year will pay an additional $1.33 per month in 2005, $2.75 per month in 2006, $3.67 per month in 2007, and finally by 2008, will pay an additional $4.33 per month.

All passenger cars currently pay a $30 license fee. Under the new transportation plan, an additional weight fee will be added:

• Cars and trucks under 4,000 -- which accounts for about 84% of cars in this state (like Ford Tauruses and Jeep Grand Cherokees) and 20% of light trucks (Ford Rangers) -- will pay a $10 annual weight fee.

• Cars and trucks between 4,000 and 6,000 pounds -- 15% of cars (Buick Roadmasters and Lincoln Navigators) and 54% of light trucks (Ford and Chevy Extended Cabs 1/2 tons) -- will pay a $20 weight fee.

• Cars over 6,000 pounds -- 1% of cars (Hummers and Ford Excursions) and 26% of light trucks (GMC 3/4 ton 4x4 Extra Cabs) -- will pay a $30 weight fee.

ACCOUNTABILITY

The 2005 transportation plan establishes even more strict accountability provisions to reassure the taxpayers that the projects will be completed on time and within budget. Independent performance audits on the projects will be commissioned by the state auditor, and the state's Secretary of Transportation is now answerable to the governor to promote department efficiency.

For more information about the 2005 transportation package, visit the Washington State Department of Transportation's Web site at www.wsdot.wa.gov.

The following press release was distributed Tuesday by Teamsters Local 174:

Teamsters Local 174 struck Ric's Transfer, a Seattle freight company, May 13 charging the firm with unfair labor practices for imposing lower wages and benefits for new hires and for failure to make scheduled payments for pensions and health insurance.

While strikers and volunteers walk the picket lines at the Ric's terminal at 53 S. Dawson, union "flying squads" follow Ric's trucks driven by supervisors and strikebreakers to inform Ric's customers and the public about the strike wherever they try to make deliveries.

The unfair labor practice strike was called after the company fell several months behind in their scheduled payments for pensions and health coverage.

The union and the company had been in negotiations for a new contract covering the 12 Ric's employees. "We've been very patient," said Jonathan Pelham, an 8-year Ric's driver. "We offered more concessions than this company deserves, including a two-year wage freeze. But it wasn't enough."

Dan Scott, Local 174 Secretary Treasurer, said, "We're not going to let this employer slough off their commitments to their workers, and make a mockery of the collective bargaining process. We'll strike them as long as necessary to win justice for our members."

Local 174 Business Agent Tom Mann said, "This company is trying to destroy the union and wipe out over a dozen family-wage jobs. We're not going to let them do that. We'd rather see them go out of business and let other companies who are willing to pay decent wages and benefits handle that work."

For more information, contact IBT 174's Dan Scott at 425-830-6413 or 206-441-6060.

The Bremerton Metal Trades Council brings you the devil in the details of the new National Security Personnel System with "The Truth Tour," a final event to let federal employees know how their working conditions will change beginning July 2005. It will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 24 at the Admiral Theater, 515 Pacific Avenue in downtown Bremerton.

The BMTC has worked to keep all of the area's federal employees informed on issues involving the new personnel system, says BMTC President Ron Ault. Now that the Department of Defense and the various affected unions have finished the 30-day consultation process, the BMTC wants to let workers know what to expect when the Labor Relations aspects of the NSPS are implemented nationwide in July.

Among the changes to be discussed at the May 24 Truth Tour:

• Position Descriptions

• Determination of Pay and Grade  

• Within Grade Increases

• GS Pay Adjustments

• Locality Pay

• Reassignments

• Change to Lower Grade

• Pay Retention

• Qualifications

• Retention Standing

• Reduction In Force

• Rating of Record Challenges

• Discipline Part of Performance Rating

• National Security Labor Relations Board

• Bargaining Unit Status

• Mandatory Removal Offenses

• Conditions of Employment

• Performance Based Pay

• Setting Pay Rates and Adjusting Pay

• Performance Based Pay

• Rating and Rewarding Performance

• Performance Pay Pools

• And other issues

For more information, call the Bremerton Metal Trades Council at 360-377-0811.

TUESDAY, MAY 17
Stern says SEIU will quit AFL-CIO if Sweeney is re-elected

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