"Democrats used power to spend"
The state Legislature kicked off three months ago amid widespread predictions that the Democrats in charge would increase taxes, spend more money, and cater to the demands of political allies.Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 26, 2005 01:23 PM | Email ThisThe predictions were right.
This is one I am going to blame Bush's spending habits on.
Posted by: swatter on April 26, 2005 02:14 PMTalk about disenfranchisement!!!!! I bacame US citizen in Jan 2004, voted for the first time last November, and I am not sure if voting really matters any more since changes in government is always after the fact anyway, and nothing is undone and never will.
Tinkerbell,
That's the thing. This current pacakge won't do diddly/squat for transportation.
Why? Because it doesn't fund anything all the way. Take the viaduct - they're $2billion (at least) short. The rest of that money has to come from Seattle and King County. Think about that one - 1 city has to match the tax load provided by the rest of the state.
The whole transpo bill is a farce, IMO. They did it to collect some more revenue that they can "tax" at 9% (remember, the state charges itself sales tax, and that goes right into the general fund).
In other words, in the next couple of years you'll see a mysterious boost in revenue in the general fund...and the democrats will crow about how good they are financially. Makes me wretch.
Posted by: Steve_dog on April 26, 2005 03:38 PM
ACK!
No offense tinkerbell....but.. you aren't from this state ..are you?
Finally doing something in Olympia on transportation? The only something they are doing in Olympia is robbing the taxpayors blind!
Were you aware that nationally - gas prices went down 4.5 cents over the past 2 weeks? We didn't see it here in Washington did we? We will never see it here......
Why do you suppose we have the 3rd highest gas tax in the country - BEFORE this new tax is added? Because the Liberals in the legislature have already pulled this transportation scare tactic on us in years past! Yet - they never used our money for the transporation purposes they scared us into paying for...They just squandered our money on their machine politics and now are wanting more!
Light at the end of the tunnel? Heh....the Dems won't even use our money to replace that tunnel light when it burns out.....
Pollyanna comes to mind....
Posted by: Deborah on April 26, 2005 04:25 PMWe've sent a very clear message on taxes, controlling spending, the budget shortfall is new spending above this years revenue increase. Audits and accountability, they consistently refuse. Pushing mail in ballots after this years elections fiasco. King Co. the CAO.
Government is out of touch, and out of control.
We need to make Government accountable to the people again. We start with term limits at the ballot box. No-one gets reelected.
Posted by: JCM on April 26, 2005 05:04 PMAnd now we have a legislature that is full of people with the same mindset. These folks don't understand the idea of budgeting within one's means and of putting a bit of money away. They are a group who have been raised with credit cards... don't have the money? Charge it and pay by the month!
The thing that torques me the furthest is the way that THIS legislature has tossed out a couple of citizen initiatives. The PEOPLE of the state told them that we wanted a 2/3 majority vote for new taxes. But the dems didn't like it so they back-doored us and tossed it out. We told them that our our automobile license fees were too hing, and passed a citizen's initiatie to lower them to a reasonable rate. So now we are going to see them go back up again, based on weight.
It's a shame.
Posted by: Darrell on April 26, 2005 05:09 PMMakes a low tax state like Nevada look more attractive every day!
Posted by: Clean House on April 26, 2005 05:12 PMDINO ROSSI SHOWS NO LEADERSHIP, STAYS QUIET THROUGHOUT ENTIRE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
Think about it, won't you?
Posted by: JDB on April 26, 2005 05:19 PMEither JDB hasn't read the deposition (showing partisan lack of interest), or JDB realizes exactly how Dean Logan just admitted fraud and willful violations of Washington State election statutes.
But I'll keep looking for JDB on the other comment threads.
Posted by: Larry on April 26, 2005 06:19 PMSince construction is due to start sometime between 2008 to 2013 (depending on the source of the rest of the money), a considerable amount will have been set aside and may never be used. A vote, out of convenience, will then deposit some of those funds into that black hole they call the general fund...and in turn they will give themselves more raises while the rest of us b*tch about prices at the pump and the high cost of booze and tobacco used to numb the effects of incessant tax increases.
If there are mandates built in to the tax increase legislation, they will figure out a way to get around it. They always do!
As for those of you who would leave the great State of WA…cowards!….all of you! Pay no attention to the fact that the more hostile business environment will force you out whether you like it or not. (Come-on! leave broke, like the rest of us migrants looking for a job and some tax relief). So if you could get out of the way, my bags are already packed! I will, however, wait until November. Casting a ballot for a straight Republican ticket…with the hope that those Party members that voted for this increase won’t make the first cut during our primary. OK….I am done being cynical.
The package passed provides for $2 billion so Seattle can have a more esthetically pleasing highway without paying the tab. I-405, $975 million, and 520 $500 million.
This legislative session was about Seattle and democrats and their supporters, have no doubt. The Viaduct received more funding than 520 and 405 combined, yet 520 arguably benefits Seattleites as much as Eastsiders. The Viaduct received the most funding, yet Seattle has less than one-third the population of King County.
Those are two reasons that Seattle Democrats are so ignorant. Reason number three is Jim McDermott. Murray, Cantwell, and McDermott have no power whatsoever on Capitol Hill. They are openly mocked more than they are respected. Yet Seattle keeps voting them in, and wondering why no federal monies come out this way. Go figure.
Posted by: Larry on April 26, 2005 07:45 PMIf the liberals in Seatle would understand that simple fact, they might evaluate a candidate more for thier abilty to represent our needs not so much our desires.
No sane indivdual will suffer the extremists on the left to impose some socialist/utopian agenda. It's an impossible dream...come back to earth and address the needs.
We need qulity representation to bring home the bacon for the benefit of our State as a whole. this will not happen because Dems seem more concerned about their own ego. When they finally put their own concerns aside and strive to make a large majority of their constituants happy, they will become great leaders ala Scoop Jackson.
Posted by: r on April 26, 2005 09:02 PMThese new fees go to a "domestic violence advocacy account." What that means is that angry man-hating social workers and lawyers will be working extra time to convince as many women as they can to get a divorce. The underlying theory they work with is that the institution of marriage is a tool of patriarchy and therefor should be destroyed.
Think of the cynisism of this fee. They are essentially saying that marriage results in domestic violence, and so the men getting married (since they are usually the ones going out and buying the marriage license) should have to pay a tax up front because down the road they will beat their wives.
That is pretty sick and twisted on the part of our politicians. The mythology of domestic violence has gone too far.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on April 26, 2005 10:11 PMFrom what I understand ....the legislature passed an emergency act that protects their new gas tax from the people's referendum process?
Can someone verify this?
Posted by: Deborah on April 26, 2005 10:58 PMSection 504 – Sections 101 through 105,107,301 through 304, 403 through 408, and 501 of this act are necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of the state government and its existing public institutions, and take effect July 1, 2005.
This makes it exempt from referendum
I say park your cars for a week and see how quick the gas price drops, and let those in Olympia understand Supply and Demand economics.
Next thing you know, they are going to be pushing an income tax. If there is any saving grace of this, hopefully, it will be that taxpayers will vote these asswipes out of office. Of course, King County elections might have a thing or two to say about that.
Posted by: DeadManVoting (aka Iguana) on April 26, 2005 11:45 PMHopefully those currently so employed will not be and the ringleaders enjoying life as involuntary guests of the state.
Exactly right. This is what I said the minute it became clear that they were going to steal the election for Fraudoire. Any Republican who cooperates with an illegitimate Governor and the Party of same should be drummed out of the party. They aren't doing themselves, the people they represent, or their party any good by doing that.
In fact, they should go a step further. Tie all these 'Rat proposals up for as long as possible, using whatever means necessary. It's the only tool you have to show your continuing opposition to an illegitimate Governor. Any cooperation only lends credibility to an illegitimate process, as will be used, you can be sure, by the 'Rats come the next election ("See, we got things done in a bipartisan manner, so re-elect us."). IMO, when the had their faux coronation of Fraudoire, any Republicans in that chamber should have gotten up and walked out, if they had any guts. That place should have been empty of any Republican lawmakers. Let Fraudoire and the 'Rats engage in their circle jerk if they want, but let them stand alone doing so.
Posted by: Interested Observer on April 27, 2005 10:07 AM