1. Ok, can SOMEONE please explain this part of the Washington State Constitution to me? I thought I have a good grasp of the English language, but perhaps I don't. I must not.

"ARTICLE VIII SECTION 5 CREDIT NOT TO BE LOANED. The credit of the state shall not, in any manner be given or loaned to, or in aid of, any individual, association, company or corporation."

And then there's this:

"SECTION 7 CREDIT NOT TO BE LOANED. No county, city, town or other municipal corporation shall hereafter give any money, or property, or loan its money, or credit to or in aid of any individual, association, company or corporation, except for the necessary support of the poor and infirm, or become directly or indirectly the owner of any stock in or bonds of any association, company or corporation."

I must have forgotten something...

Posted by: Jeremy on January 17, 2006 12:53 PM

2. Kind of interesting you would post this abuse of taxing authority and blatant circumvention of law right after you post an 'election reform' article.

And then the legislators make it extremely difficult to call them on their abuse of power. Read: election challenges.

This same group is proposing a nice project. Well over 250 million will be spent to beatify their dilapidated and mismanaged North Marina area. Can't complain there.

But, this group is prohibited by law in being involved with housing. It is illegal for Ports to do housing. So, this group will sell the "housing" land to their developer at below market rates in order to circumvent the law. But, get this, since it will be condos, any smart attorney will drag the Port into the condo lawsuit. How does the Port get around this when they get a piece of all the profits from the sale of the condos?

What was started to be a project for the people- marinas, restaurants, sidewalks, parks, etc. is now becoming all "housing" even on land outside the "sold" land.

How does this pass muster with the State Auditor?

The poor taxpayer in the Port may be on the hook for a ton of extra taxes if this doesn't pan out.

Posted by: swatter on January 17, 2006 01:05 PM

3. No one likes to see pork like this, but at the very least, it is keeping lots of people employed in actual jobs, as opposed to DSHS handing out MILLIONS to people who don’t feel like working at all:
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/205685_dshs29.html

Posted by: Rich on January 17, 2006 01:37 PM

4. rich, can I get some handouts, too? I promise to pay it back in a few years.

Democrats call this corporate welfare. What do you call it?

And, tell me again, why should the pork and Boeing follow the international rules? Why do they have to hide behind a lie?

Posted by: swatter on January 17, 2006 02:04 PM

5. Swatter, why do they have to hide behind a lie?

How's this?

"Article VIII, Section 7 CREDIT NOT TO BE LOANED. No county, city, town or other municipal corporation shall hereafter give any money, or property, or loan its money, or credit to or in aid of any individual, association, company or corporation, except for the necessary support of the poor and infirm, or become directly or indirectly the owner of any stock in or bonds of any association, company or corporation."

Posted by: Jeremy on January 17, 2006 02:11 PM

6. I'm still steeming from the last post!

Can you say corruption!? I know you can!

Posted by: dcat on January 17, 2006 02:12 PM

7. This sweetheart deal was approved by the last governator.

Posted by: swatter on January 17, 2006 02:20 PM

8. I'm guessing that legally this gets by because Boeing doesn't own either the pier or the rail line. It would belong to the city I imagine. Even though it will evidently be used solely by Boeing.

Posted by: RBW on January 17, 2006 03:15 PM

9. I WAS GOING... TO...PEN ...SOMETHING...BUT ...I...THINK...I'AM...GOING...TO...BE...SICK...NOW!!!

Posted by: TACOMA PHLASH on January 17, 2006 03:23 PM

10. About that section 7 Jeremy, where it says no city or town, shall give money or property...How is it done with the sports teams then? Namely Key arena. If that isn't public housing for millionaires what is?

Posted by: PC on January 17, 2006 07:45 PM

11. RBW....

The odd or funny part if someone wishes to see it that way. The R/R tracks in that area "only" go to Boeing and that's it. I know this because I ride in that area all the time.

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on January 18, 2006 07:30 AM

12. This sounds like payback time for Boeing. After being mugged for millions of "mitigation dollars" for the privlidge of expanding Boeing production faculties in the past, these dollars are now being recycled to benefit Boeing. Are the Boeing unions listening?

Posted by: Gary B on January 18, 2006 10:25 AM

13. Three or four years ago, a little canary tapped me on the shoulder and told me Boeing was leaving because liberal zealots had demanded millions of mitigation dollars.

Okay, so they paid mitigation dollars. I pay mitigation dollars but no one is jumping over themselves to pay me back. BTW, my mitigation dollars were a higher percentage than Boeing's.

Posted by: swatter on January 18, 2006 10:47 AM

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