Chamber Board Opposes Initiative 985

The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce board of directors voted at its Oct. 23, 2008 board meeting to accept a recommendation from the Chamber’s public affairs committee to oppose Initiative 985.

The board voted unanimously to oppose the measure, billed as the “Reduce Congestion Initiative” sponsored by tax activist Tim Eyman “primarily for the reason that the measure allocates general fund dollars for a specific transportation issue, continues Clark County as a donor to Puget Sound funding and unduly restricts the ability to use the highway system to provide alternative modes of transportation.”

The measure would open high-occupancy vehicle lanes to all traffic during specified hours, require traffic light synchronization, increase roadside assistance funding and dedicate certain taxes, fines, tolls and other revenues to traffic-flow areas.

Identity Clark County (ICC) has also taken a stand against the initiative. The GVCC and ICC have partnered together to run an advertisement that urges citizens to vote “no” on the initiative. The ad will run in the Oct. 31 issue of the Vancouver Business Journal.

Both groups oppose Eyman’s initiative, stating that it removes more than $100 million annually from the general fund; reduces allocations for education, criminal justice, health care and other priorities; as well as clogs HOV lanes used by public transit and van pools.