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The Democrats have “punted” key issues forward until after the November 2008 election. Among the items kicked into 2009:
- The State Budget – The budget is projected to be more than $2 billion in the red and the Democrats aren’t saying how they will pay for it.
- Family leave funding – still no benefit funding source
- The Viaduct – still no plan
- Tolls on I-90 and SR-520 – still working on it.
- Ferries – New ferry chief with no maritime experience receives only one bid for new boat and rejects it. Back to the drawing board.
- Pension funding – we have yet to follow the Actuary’s recommendation.
- Basic education funding – final recommendations due in 2009.
- DSHS reform – nothing planned
- Port container fee proposal – study due to the Legislature in 2009.
- New taxes on all passenger vehicles. In 2008, they floated trial balloons based on fuel efficiency or engine size (Sen. Murray, SB 6923; Sen. Tom, SB 6900 ) Now they’re talking about just taxing all cars: “I really think we’re moving toward vehicles miles traveled…that’s next year’s conversation.” – Rep. Judy Clibborn, House Democrat budget news conference, 2/20/08
- Sonics: “…come back next year…” – Gov. Gregoire, The Olympian, 3/14/08
Bad Idea of the week, Session 2008:
This year’s legislative session the Democrats have delivered more than their fair share of bad ideas harmful to the citizens of Washington.
More Democrat bad ideas, March 3, 2008:
Throwing I-960 the the Courts. Senate Democrat Leader Lisa Brown announced March 2 that she is going to court to throw out Initiative 960, passed by the voters this past November. She particularly wants to get rid of the two-thirds requirement to increase taxes.
For some reason, voters continue to pass laws to limit the Legislature's ability to raise taxes. But, Sen. Brown isn't going to let something tiny like "the will of the people" get in the way of her drive for new tax money.
Sen. Brown will be fighting for higher taxes. Defending the initiative, and the voters, will be Attorney General Rob McKenna. See you in court!
Taxes. Speaker Frank Chopp let the cat out the bag a few days ago when he confessed that the Democrats are looking at tax increases in 2009. The AP story says: "Chopp's statements also seemed to confirm months of Republican warnings about the need for tax hikes or spending cuts to deal with a looming state deficit, recently pegged by nonpartisan Senate staff at nearly $2.4 billion in the next biennium." You can read the whole story here: WA House speaker: Taxes possible to shore up next year's budget
The latest bad ideas, February 20, 2008:
The Budget. A study released this week by the nonpartisan Senate Ways and Means Committee showed that the current budget is set to balloon to a $5 billion deficit in the years ahead. The office is now projecting a $2.4 billion deficit in 2009-11 and $5.1 billion deficit in 2011-13. This is a remarkable turnaround from a budget that had a massive surplus just last year. The Democrats are learning what we all know: that out-of-control spending leads to debt and problems.
No More Presidential Votes. The Senate Democrats passed an extraordinary bill that would take away Washington citizens rights to vote in presidential elections. It's SB 5628 sponsored by Senator Eric Oemig that would change the way Washington voters choose their electoral college votes. According to the official bill report, it would allow "the awarding of Washington electoral votes to the presidential candidate who receives the most popular votes in the country as a whole, instead of to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in the state." It would only to effect if some other states adopted similar laws.
The same Democratic party, the same week, had a primary election where none of those votes counted towards choosing their nominee. So this may be a new trend with the Democrats: elections where the votes don't count.
Here’s bad ideas from February 10, 2008:
Senate Bill 5343 Reducing Penalties for Theft. This law is an inflation-adjuster to help criminals, raising the amount they can steal from $250 to $750 before they can be charged with felony theft. Professional shoplifters all across the state will be happy to hear that they can now steal Blu-Ray and HDVD recorders and discs without worrying about felony charges. For many drug addicts, this kind of theft is an important source of income to fund their addiction. Special thanks to Senator Adam Kline, sponsor of this bill.
Senate Bill 5278 Allowing Public Funds to Finance Campaigns. It sounds like the worst idea imaginable – using taxpayer funds to pay for election campaigns. Who on earth would support such an obvious source of corruption and waste? Sponsors include Democrats Senator Rasmussen, Senator Rockefeller, Senator Spanel, Senator Kastama, and Senator McAuliffe … all up for election this year. In committee, the Seattle Ethics and Elections Committee testified in favor as the city that brought us the monorail once again leads the way in suggesting creative uses of tax funds.
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