Same-day voter registration. While I would agree that the main reason for the closing of the voter rolls is to ensure the integrity of the rolls, and so it's good that the bill would require verification of voter information before tabulation, I have no faith whatsoever that there won't be many errors made. Same-day registration is an invitation to fraud, abuse, and error. Suggestion: fix our current problems with our voter rolls and improperly counted ballots, and then maybe we'll consider this step.
SB 5727 cracks me up. Politicians can lie with impunity, throughout an election, but if someone lies about the date of the election it's jail time and thousands of dollars in fines. Make this apply to ALL lies close to an election, and I'd consider supporting it. Then maybe Gregoire wouldn't have said Rossi supports lowering the minimum wage for seniors, that we weren't facing a deficit, and so on.
And it seems to me that SB 5706 does the opposite of what it says. Read the underlined portion of the bill carefully, and compare it to the summary. I think the bill, rather than presuming longer-than-24-hour marks are unreasonable, actually lists them as reasonable (saying an unreasonable act "is likely to cause and which does cause bodily harm greater than ... minor temporary marks that last longer than twenty-four hours").
House Bill 1448 (Granting tribal authorities limited control over speed limits)
Introduced by Rep. Christopher Hurst, (D-Enumclaw) (D) on January 21, 2009, authorizes tribal authorities, within their reservation boundaries, to determine, based on an engineering and traffic investigation, to set speed limits on a nonlimited access state highway or part of a nonlimited access state highway. See also SB 5331.
House Bill 1792 (Department of corrections arrest and search authority)
Introduced by Rep. Mary Lou Dickerson, (D-Seattle) (D) on January 29, 2009, provides that an offender may be required to submit to pat searches by, correctional officers, and other agency approved staff, without reasonable cause, when present on department premises or vehicles. (See also Companion SB 5700).
House Bill 1797 (examining rural and resource lands)
Introduced by Rep. Scott White, (D) (D) on January 29, 2009, declares an intent to provide for an examination of the environmental, economic, and social consequences of current and expected patterns of growth in rural and resource lands. Calls for the adoption of a widely accepted strategy for identifying how best to maintain the character of rural and resource lands. Requires that any strategy adopted must support the goals of the growth management act and the Puget Sound regional council's vision 2040, respect landowners' rights and assist in maintaining forest and farmlands, among other considerations.
House Bill 1798 (allowing voter registration up to and on election day)
Introduced by Rep. Mark Miloscia, (D-Federal Way) (D) on January 29, 2009, allows voter registration up to and on election day. Requires the county auditors and the secretary of state to devise and implement a uniform statewide system that will allow for voter registration under RCW 29A.08.145 (late registration, special procedure) and protect ballot integrity beginning May 1, 2011. The system must provide for the sequestering of a ballot issued pursuant to RCW 29A.08.145 until the county auditor has verified the new voter registration by the secretary of state pursuant to RCW 29A. 08.107 (review by secretary of state). Only after the verification of the new registration has been completed shall the ballot be tabulated.
House Bill 1819 (Reducing greenhouse gas emissions)
Introduced by Rep. Dave Upthegrove, (D-Des Moines) (D) on January 28, 2009, makes findings that early participation in greenhouse gas emission programs that are market driven will bring the best results and sets forth various procedures and conditions for the state's participation in regional and federal "cap and trade" programs. (See also Companion SB 5735).
Senate Bill 5693 (Eliminating art purchases for public buildings)
Introduced by Sen. Steve Hobbs, (D-Lake Stevens) (D) on January 29, 2009, removes, for the 2009-11 biennium, the requirement to purchase art for public buildings.
Senate Bill 5695 (Authorizing the Washington state patrol to accept donations)
Introduced by Sen. Eric Oemig, (D-Kirkland) (D) on January 29, 2009, authorizes the Washington state patrol to accept any and all donations, bequests, gifts, conveyances, devices, and grants or other things of value which may be received from any agency, person, or corporation, to be held, used, or applied for the purpose of fulfilling its mission.
Senate Bill 5706 (Regarding unreasonable use of force on children)
Introduced by Sen. Dan Swecker, (R-Rochester) (R) on January 29, 2009, adds to the list of actions presumed unreasonable when used to correct or restrain a child to include actions that leave minor temporary marks that last longer than twenty-four hours.
Senate Bill 5726 (Integrating shoreline policies with the growth management act)
Introduced by Sen. Adam Kline, (D-Seattle) (D) on January 29, 2009, brings the shoreline management act in line with growth management act considerations. Directs that wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat conservation areas within the jurisdiction of the shoreline management act (SMA), must be governed by that act while conservation efforts directed at wetlands outside the SMA jurisdiction will be governed by the Growth Management Act.
Senate Bill 5727 (Prohibiting false voting information)
Introduced by Sen. Joe McDermott, (D-West Seattle) (D) on January 29, 2009, makes the providing of false information to a voter regarding the date of election, ballot mailing deadlines, or other voting information within fifteen days preceding an election a gross misdemeanor.
Not just "No", but "Hell, no!". Same-day registration has no purpose other than to enable vote fraud (as demonstrated by the fiasco in Ohio prior to the general election last year).
Posted by: ewaggin on January 30, 2009 12:18 PMIf all same-day voter registrations were done with automatic provisional ballot status, what would be the problem with it?
Posted by: Benjamin Johnstone-Anderson on January 30, 2009 12:20 PMIf we could have a more reliable, more efficient, more trustworthy system in place, such that we know when a provisional ballot is cast that it is almost certainly going to be counted only when the voter is proven to be a legal voter at that residence, then I might consider supporting it. We are far from that.
If that is too much trouble or only allows you to vote once, than the best people will win honestly by those should be voting.
If disabled, than a team of two qualifed persons should visit each and every disabled person who cannot travel to the polls. Verify their identify and be present, but not observing their vote to insure the disability is such, they can form their own opinions. This could be done, for a short time before the election.
The same with people who must travel, but wish to vote.
The goal should be, to have each and every voter positively identified a minimum of one day before election day. With as few as possible voting any other way. Most must be present to vote and accept the badge of a purple finger for a couple of days.
At the least, we will know the loudest complainers, did or did not take their citizenship requirements to heart.
I do expect, that we will soon hear of some unknown people carrying an ink jar and forcing people to dip their finger, before they could vote.
Posted by: Sam on January 30, 2009 01:22 PMThe last election was such a deal where we heard horror stories of studies voting in two states.
Fix that and then we can talk. It is an ideal that can't be met.
Posted by: swatter on January 30, 2009 01:54 PMEvery eligible person should vote, but only once. The last thing we need is for Acorn to drive bus loads of people from precinct to precinct casting provisionals.
Posted by: Vince on January 30, 2009 02:05 PMFirst, Show me your proof of citizenship and eligibility to vote. Then show me your current photo ID, which shows a residence in the precinct. And possibly show some form of proof that you have lived in the county when college is out.
Right now, the problem is that requiring proof of citizenship and Photo ID are considered some kind of plot to suppress the vote. Well, it does suppress the fraudulent vote. Not eliminate it, but it does reduce it.
Posted by: peter on January 30, 2009 02:09 PMImplementation is guaranteed to inflate the cost of electricity by 30% or more, as it has in the UK, EU, Australia and NZ. All smelted metals, cement, petroleum products, agricultural and livestock products, fossil fueled transportation, and other goods and services that consume fossil fuels will cost considerably more.
Gov Gregoire needs to try to justify the increased costs to build and maintain infrastructure, for energy and transportation, etc when the state economy is in the toilet. She cannot because there are no rational explanations for inflating the cost for many of the contemplated economic stimuli without any benefit to the public whatsoever.
The Western Climate Initiative (WCI), even if fully implemented in all participating jurisdictions, will have no impact whatsoever on our climate. It will not reduce pollution, because the main greenhouse gases are not pollutants. Temperatures will not be altered. Our climate has been cooling for the past 10 years. The prospects are for continued cooling all due to natural forces and phenomena that we can neither control nor influence.
My take on HB 1819 follows:
Conceptually, it is a cap and trade system, ala the Kyoto Protocol, that is destroying the economies of the EU, Australia, Canada and NZ, that is to the extent that these nations are complying with Kyoto. So long as major emitters, Russia, India and China refuse to participate, full compliance by Kyoto signatories and us will not reduce CO2 emissions going into the atmosphere.
It is noteworthy that 58% of the US Senate voted down a similar proposal last year. The prospects for future passage worsen due to the lack of warming, scientific dissent, and the poor economy.
HB 1819 fully implements C&T per the WCI that involves 7 western states and 4 Canadian Provinces.
The justification for this bill includes: "reduction of fossil fuel use; protection of low and moderate income citizens; save the State $9.6 billion annually it now spends on imported fossil fuels; limit greenhouse gas emissions; minimize the potential to export pollution, jobs and economic opportunities; and reduce emissions at the lowest cost to Washington's economy, consumers and businesses." Although not stated directly, CO2 is categorized as a pollutant.
Here a some of the specifics of the bill:
1. Much of the justification for immediate implementation of cap and trade (C&T) is premised upon the availability of new, but yet to be invented, technology that will replace fossil fuel produced energy.
2. Direct emissions are defined as those from fossil fuels used for transportation, energy production, manufacturing, both industrial, commercial and residential heating and cooling, and from ALL IMPORTED ENERGY PRODUCED BY FOSSIL FUELS. This can limit electricity imports to electricity produced by solar, wind, hydro, nuclear and other renewable sources.
California and other states with similar mandates already pay significantly more for imported electricity in order to make politicians a feel good.
3. DOE is the regulatory agency with expensive rule making authority. Several appointed advisory groups are granted considerable influence on policy formation and administration.
4. Regulated greenhouse gases include: CO2, methane, NO2, and several fluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. Regulated indirect emissions means greenhouse gases associated with the purchase of electricity, heating, cooling or steam.
5. Sec 8-9 lay out the distribution of emission allowances and program coverage.
6. Sec 10 lays out provisions "ENSURING A FUNCTIONAL AND EFFICIENT MARKET" designed and administered by DOE rule making. This market, in conjunction with WCI participants, will conduct trade for surplus emission allowances between eligible buyers and sellers.
7. Sec 11 provides for the design and operation of auction process for emission allowances by DOE.
8. Sec 12 provides for an auction system for trade in carbon emission offsets. These credits are a form of indulgence that allow emitters to continue emitting in excess of their quota.
Eligible credits include:
"(4) The department may also accept for compliance purposes offset credits from developing countries in accordance with the clean development mechanism of the Kyoto protocol or if the clean development mechanism is replaced, a protocol developed by the department. The department may develop criteria for these offset projects to ensure similar rigor to offset projects within the state.
(5) Any offset credit that is used to meet a compliance obligation must conform to the rules adopted by the department, which must be consistent with the regional cap-and-trade program."
9. The bill subsidizes the forestry industry to develop offset credits. (Sec 13 -14)
10. Sec 15, Compliance and Enforcement, prescribes a system of fines, penalties and enforcement for violations of this law. The DOE is accorded broad discretion. Their decisions are subject to both administrative and judicial review per the Administrative Procedures Act.
11. Sec 16 dedicates the funds collected for violations for disposition. The first priority is
to "Reducing price impacts for consumers with incomes within two hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level." Blatant pandering to Democrat voting constituency is obvious.
35"Moneys in the account may be spent only after
36 appropriation. Expenditures from the account may be used only for
37 reasonable administrative costs to develop, implement, and enforce the
HB 1819 p. 16
1 program, including Washington's share of any necessary and reasonable
2 costs of the regional organization described in section 17 of this act.
3 Additionally, moneys from the account may only be expended for the
4 following purposes, which are listed in order of priority:
5 (1) Reducing price impacts for consumers with incomes within two
6 hundred fifty percent of the federal poverty level;
7 (2) Strategies to create jobs and provide for worker transition,
8 especially in and for those communities and workers that have been
9 disproportionately affected by economic downturns, through efforts to
10 reduce emissions, reduce energy use, and develop clean energy supplies;
11 (3) Supporting transit and transportation projects that will reduce
12 greenhouse gas emissions;
13 (4) Energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives including
14 matching electric utility sponsored programs that support customer
15 energy efficiency investment, new renewable energy resource
16 development, including related transmission, energy storage, and
17 integration technologies;
18 (5) Promoting emission reductions and carbon sequestration in
19 agriculture, forestry, waste management, and other uncapped sectors;
20 (6) Efforts funded by local governments to reduce community
21 greenhouse gas emissions except for reductions to covered emissions
22 where the local government is the person with the compliance
23 obligation;
24 (7) Recognizing early actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
25 where those actions do not qualify for early reduction allowances;
26 (8) Adaptation to climate change impacts, including impacts on
27 affected species, habitats, and communities; and
28 (9) Research, development, demonstrations, and deployment of
29 technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions."
The remainder of the bill deals with various forms of boiler plate and administration.
Any one who believes that WCI will be beneficial is delusional.
Posted by: Paddy on January 30, 2009 03:27 PMExhibit A: "we do not have a deficit today [in Washington State]" ~ Governor Gregoire
Posted by: Rick D. on January 30, 2009 03:41 PMSome races are too close and require recounts - ergo, same day registration and voting. The news is reporting polls saying your candidate is behind? Gen up your GOTV program and flood (some place) with new registrations/voters/votes - turn the tide.
Without polling stations (all over the place) where would someone go to register (and vote) same day in the precinct of their "abode"?
If they register and vote somewhere else, then one assumes that they could only vote for statewide or some federal elections - unless where ever they went to register and vote same day could print an on-demand ballot for them for where ever their "abode" is.
Does state law require ALL counties to have provisional ballots be distinctly different from the standard ballot, or is this still up to the individual counties to screw up like King County did in 04?
Again, when you eliminate the polling places due to all mail balloting, where do the same dayers go? I'm not a fan of same day registration due to the easy way it can be manipulated into fraud. But when you put it on top of a drive to have mail ballots only, it seems rather stupid.
Posted by: SouthernRoots on January 30, 2009 04:15 PMI posted the article on Jim's thread but he took it down. Guess Jim would rather ramble about nonsense than take a look at the single biggest disaster to hit Washington State since Mt. St. Helens blew. Oh well.............herein lies the problem for Conservatives. Too many are too busy with nonsense when the big story is right in front of them.
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on January 31, 2009 09:20 AM