Involved in Olympia

Bob Williams, Evergreen Freedom Foundation

The year 2011 will bring problems both old and new. While budget problems are old news, our state is facing one of the worst budget problems in its history. Next year our state will have the third-largest deficit as a percentage of its budget in the nation…7.1%. Only Illinois and Arizona are in worse shape.

The budget cuts and temporary patches passed by the legislature during their recent special session only delayed the inevitable. The legislature will have to make some hard decisions about what are the most important things for the state to do. We are working with legislative leaders to use this crisis to build a priority-based budget. This means fully funding the most important things first and reducing or eliminating everything else.

But legislators will not make good decisions without the backbone provided by active citizens from around the state. This is one of the reasons we began our Citizen Action Network several years ago. After so many years of working with lawmakers and holding them accountable before the public, we realized that lasting change would only come about when “we the people” became active and joined together to make a difference.

This is one of the reasons we have shifted many of our activities to educating and empowering citizens. While we still work with elected officials, we also work with large groups of freedom-loving people who are awakening to their duty to this and future generations.

Email your legislator.

Say WA?

Remember Say WA?

That was Washington state tourism slogan in 2006. One supposes it was meant to inspire tourists to make noises, when the tourist saw the state's majestic mountains, rugged coastline and glorious sunsets.

The dim bulbs who raise our taxes are as stogy as ever.

WADH, the Department of Health, always strange about something, presently is simpleminded about the flu. BobOne sent in a recent screen shot.

Since then, the DOH has gotten slightly more erudite in their approach. The odd, health care photo-postcard concept appears as only an image on their "FluNews" home page.

Its easy to smile at this until you realize this is not some private company indulging a silly whim. This is state government frivolously wasting your money.

Too harsh of an assessment? This is the same government which has raised your taxes over billion and a half dollars (over $200 per person) this year, while the state is in an economic depression. That's a pretty good argument for not letting the children in state government have our money.

Olympia and the Giant Sucking Tax Increase

Taxes are going up lots. The tax hikes were much bigger than anyone knew. There is no deficit in Olympia, and we are screwed.

“Democrats” and their special-interest-group-backers are whining about getting "no new revenue" because the voters reinstated I-1053's two-thirds vote requirement. But the truth is there's a lot of "new revenue" coming in to government coffers. The Office of Financial Management (OFM), the state budget office, confirms these numbers:

After suspending I-960, Gregoire and the "Democrats" imposed $774 million in "revenue enhancements," i.e. taxes. The voter-approved I-1107 repealed only 7% of it, meaning we're still paying $719 million in higher taxes. In other words, 93% of the “Democrats” original tax package remains in effect.

In the next budget (2009-2011), the “Democrats” revenue package from this year was expected to bring in $1.69 billion. Even with I-1107's repeal of food & beverage taxes, Olympia will still receive $1.473 billion in "new revenues."

The OFM said the 10 year cost of this session's revenue package totaled $7.1 billion. I-1107 repealed just 5% of that, meaning their "temporary" suspension of I-960 still resulted in a $6.748 billion hit on Washington's families and businesses.

The most up-to-date revenue projection for the 2009-2011 budget is $28.127 billion (Economic & Revenue Forecast Council). And for the 2011-2013 budget, it's $32.605 billion. That's a $4.48 billion increase (and $1.473 billion of that -- see #2 above -- came from this year's tax hikes).

It is totally untrue that state government is getting "no new revenue" even with the passage of I-1053 and I-1107. Both in the short term and long term, the taxpayers of Washington will continue to pay heavily for the Legislature's "temporary" suspension of I-960's fiscal restraint.

We must never let this happen again. Even a single day without the 2/3's super-majority requirement will result in Billions Of Dollars In Higher Taxes Forever.

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Part of I-960 (and revived with the passage I-1053) was the transparency requirement regarding new taxes or fees. When the Legislature increased taxes or fees, they had to reveal the increase, and who voted for it, immediately.

When the “Democratic” Party controlled Legislature “suspended” I-960, they made sure to suspend the transparency requirement. We are only now finding out how much the “Democrats” despise the People. The “Democrats” massively increased taxes when they gave themselves a little dark corner to plot and scheme against the People of Washington State.

The election makes it clear the Legislature increased taxes against the will of the People. Its also clear the Legislature maliciously knew their tax increases had to be made in secret so they could be re-elected. This Legislature has lost its moral authority to govern our State democracy.

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The OFM website makes repeated reference to reduced revenue. The state is taking far more than they should, but because they are getting less than they want, they feel deprived. We have a perfect example of spoiled brat government in Olympia.

City Government Hikes Taxation

The State legislature must have a 2/3rds majority to raise taxes (I-1053). But hyperactive local government marches on.

Lynnwood Council Boosts Taxes To Avert Layoffs by Lynn Thompson of the Seattle Times.

The Lynnwood City Council approved several new taxes Monday night to close a projected $22 million budget deficit for the 2011-2012 biennium and avert the layoff of up to 102 city employees.

A majority of the council said the new revenues, including higher property and utility taxes, were necessary to preserve the jobs of 25 police officers, 15 firefighters and other city workers.

"The message we heard was that people are willing to pay a little more as long as they know what they're buying. We've reduced the cuts in the Police Department from $9 million to $3 million and saved 25 officers' jobs," said council President Mark Smith. [Is Smith lost in a fantasy? According to official Snohomish County results, about 64% of the SnoCo vote favored reduced taxation. - Impolite]

But anti-tax activist Tim Eyman, who was on hand for the council's approval of new $20 car-tab fees as well as the other taxes, denounced the measures as a "tax-hiking rampage" that ignored voters' message in the November election.

"Taxpayers are totally tapped out and can't afford any more taxes. Governments need to stop taxing and spending and start prioritizing and reforming," he said.

Even with the new taxes, Smith said that about 25 city employees will likely be laid off in January in order to cut $10 million in spending for the biennium and put the city budget on a more sustainable basis. The city had been heavily reliant on sales-tax revenue, which dropped $4.6 million in 2009.

A final budget must still be approved by the council before Jan. 1. The city is also negotiating for wage concessions from its unions.

A state audit released in October criticized elected city officials for spending millions in reserves in 2009 without raising new revenues or cutting services. That left the city with a negative general-fund balance in 2009.

In its meeting Monday night, the council agreed to raise property taxes by 11.5 percent. That means the owner of a $250,000 house will pay about $90 more next year.

It also approved an increase in utility taxes to 6 percent from 4 percent. Residents will see bigger bills starting in January for water, sewer and storm drains. The increases for electricity, gas and cable television go into effect in April.

The council also approved an increase in the city's business-license fee from $15 per employee to $85, over the objections of the local business community. Jean Hales, president of the South Snohomish County Chamber of Commerce, said imposing new taxes on an "already overburdened public" did not address the city's long-term financial picture in which liabilities — including employee pensions and benefits — continue to outstrip revenues.

Councilman Ted Hikel, who with Jim Smith cast no votes on the hikes in property and employee taxes, said that while the new revenues likely preserve most of the threatened jobs in the city, the plan isn't sustainable in the long run.

"Two years from now, when we fall off a cliff, there will be nothing to do but lay off an extraordinary number of people or adopt a B&O [business-and-occupation] tax, which is the worst possible option," Hikel said. "We've maxed out all our available taxes."

When the People of Washington State voted, they made it clear they were taxed enough (I-1053 & I-1107 were enacted). I suspect the People would have added they are restricted and regulated enough too. Perhaps we will get to the bottom of the problem and stop government from providing all the extra restriction they lay on us that they call $22 million in "service."

But, gee, aren't police and fire protection worth it? Lynnwood suffers from the same malfeasance as other Washington State cities: The actual public servants -- the people on the line -- are the first to be cut from the payroll. The staffers who make the bureaucracy top heavy are never threatened at all. This must change. Hold your city government accountable.

Olympia Feels the Squeeze

Olympia is sucking around for ways to pay off their Union Bosses with taxpayer money. These days, Olympia must work to raise taxes under the people's fresh re-imposition of a super majority requirement. Cutting costs is another legislative option, but that would require a break with their Union buddies.

The "Democratic" Party controlled legislature would rather break the People.

But we should make some suggestions

How about getting rid of the stupid new regulations on housing? For example, there is new requirement that every rental unit and every house offered for sale must have a carbon monoxide detection system: Cost about $100 per unit. Another example, the new requirement that housing older than 1978 must be painted by someone with lead abatement certification. The certification costs about $300.

Stupid regulations require more enforcement effort and personnel than wise regulation. The Left's tendency to make oppressive, stupid regulations is because they want to throw their weight around and make gifts of our resource to their corrupt buddies.

Wise up everybody. Hyperactive government micromanagement is cruel. If Olympia legislators won't do good and fair government you want, elect someone else next time. But voters keep putting the "Democratic" Party in power. The voters must be in love with pain.

What's Happening in Olympia?

The gloom of November is thick in Olympia. You can hear politicians rustling about as they scurry in the darkness.

Initiative 1053 was enacted by the state's voters. I-1053 only re-enacts I-960, which the "Democrats" in the State Legislature set aside last Spring in their lust for more taxes.

One requirement of I-1053 (and the old I-960 for that matter) is the legislature is to report who voted for or against on each taxation or fees bill. State government should be transparent.

You'd think the Legislature would have gotten the message from the People they work for. But no... the Legislature is behaving like a bad employee.

The Legislature has voted on several tax increase measures since the election. They are not reporting the results. We don't know for sure if they are increasing the tax burden or not. I-1053 does not go into effect until next January. So the Legislature is not obliged to report what they are doing. And they aren't reporting.

Impolite is pretty certain our taxes are going up. If the Legislature was voting these measures down, they would say something --- if only to bask in the glow of finally doing the People's will.

But who knows? The politicians aren't telling. We the People are in the dark. When politician can make law in a corner they are most dangerous.

Reviewing the Election

Sometimes you go back over an election and think about why things turned out the way they did.

I was reflecting on a comment left on the blog. about Mr Gates backing I-1098, the failed income tax initiative. The commenter said something like, "Just because Mr Gates is rich doesn't mean he doesn't care about society," by was of explaining why Mr Gates should back an income tax. (The actual remarks are found here)

Naturally, my innocent commenter had overlooked the detail that had 1098 been enacted, we would all be paying income tax in two years. Mr Gates would not be first among equals, but a leading backer of oppressive taxation for the little people. That is, Mr Gates liberalism manifested itself just like someone who is accustomed to controlling the little people.

In a free market, rich people get rich because they are good at what they do. Talent and good work ought to be rewarded in a free society. The motive for the already rich to tax the up-and-coming rich is obvious. The already rich people are content being in control. People working on becoming rich are loaded down with income tax. That tends to leave the already rich in control.

Hot Enough? Climate Change and the Great Northwest

Wednesday's high temperature at SeaTac airport was 74°, breaking the daily record by 4° and tying the all-time record for the month of November set in 1949.

In case you are thinking of packing away your winter clothes, canceling your Hawaiian vacation and starting to believe Al Gore really did invent global warming - the winter of 1949-1950 went on to be the coldest and snowiest in Seattle history.

Just thought you might want to know... .

Report filed by Bob1

Election Results Continue

The election news is mixed. Patty Murray leads Dino Rossi by less than 28,000 votes. A recount is likely -- in which case the "Democratic" Party will betray the citizenry again and print as many extra ballots as needed to put Patty Murray in office.

King County inexplicably slowed down on their ballot counting, letting the rest of the state's less populous counties submit their totals first. Inexplicable, until you remember that's where most of the election fraud has happened before.

The King County officials in charge of election fraud will hold off until they see how many extra ballots Patty Murray needs. Then they will print them. No doubt.

A useful link to track fraud is the Voter Turnout page. The page offers information about the rate of voting. If the King County rate of ballots cast versus voters casting them exceeds 100% like it did in 2004, its time to make some arrests.

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Up to date results on state-wide races are near the top of the page.

Election 2010 Summary

"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatreds."
-- Abraham Lincoln

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"Voters see a bloated government riding in the wagon constantly bitching that the people aren't pulling hard enough. Governments need to stop taxing-and-spending and start reforming-and-prioritizing using existing revenue. But what I liked most about the voters' decision tonight concerns what resonated with people and what didn't:

"With all three initiatives, the voters rejected the argument that the business community and successful people are the enemy. Divisive efforts to demonize them backfired. They are allies, not enemies. They are heroes, not villains. They are the job creators who provide the fuel for our economy's growth. They are role models who deserve a pat on the shoulder, not a knife in the back. Voters rejected the ugly politics of envy, resentment, and class warfare -- that's just not how most Americans think or feel. Our state and our society benefits from appreciating and encouraging our entrepreneurs and risk-takers. Voters rejected stealing their earned achievements.

"Tonight, the voters embraced a positive, hopeful, we're-all-Americans attitude. And that's inspiring.

"The citizens of Washington are smart and fair -- they're perfectly capable of making decisions on initiatives. Attempts by the elite to belittle the people's intelligence and underestimate their interest in public policy have only energized the electorate even more.

"We ask everyone to join us in thanking those who helped with this year's various initiatives. Taxpayers appreciate your efforts and so do we."

(edited from Tim Eyman's remarks about Election 2010)

Condescending to America

Is there any doubt the "Democratic" Party takes a dim view of the middle class?

The "Democratic" National Committee is running a smear ad for their pet Senator, Patty Murray. The Party says her Republican opponent, Dino Rossi, is "Not on our side."

According to the "Democratic" Party, middle class Americans cannot forget the fact that Dino Rossi voted not to extend unemployment benefits beyond the state's ability to pay, that he voted against increasing the minimum wage, that he voted not to require low income children enroll in Washington State's government controlled health care.

The "Democratic" Party insists middle class values require unemployment compensation be extended (the alternative is to let the People get a job). The Democrats insist on increasing minimum wage (they want no one ever to make more). The Democrats are certain the middle class needs government to control health care (or else the middle class might be able to get the health care they need).

The "Democratic" Party is sure the middle class needs the "Democratic" Party to control them.

Or else the middle class will discover they can stand on their own, with dignity and self-respect. The "Democratic" Party can't let the middle class discover that.

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Its clear what the Demos mean when they say "not on our side": They mean Rossi didn't vote the Demos's way.

In review, the Demos have controlled Congress from the 2006 elections when they took over the Congress. Polling data from 2008 indicated this fact escaped 43% of the Demos' base.

The economy started to run rough in 2007.

The Demos have had an absolute majority in the Congress and the hold the White House. Everything that has happened to the economy in the last two years is entirely caused by the "Democratic" Party.

Incredibly, the Demos keep saying the Republicans are causing the economic problems. More incredibly, the Demo base keeps agreeing with them.

If the "Democratic" Party policy of deceit continues to put them in power, we're in for a very rough future.

This is cross posted from wallpaperandlife.blogspot.com

End the tax tug-of-war: Vote Yes on 1053

by Jason Hagey, October 23, 2010

The basic idea behind Initiative 1053 - to require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise taxes - is certainly not a new one.

Voters have previously approved of it on three separate occasions, only to watch elected lawmakers overturn it each time.

It's back on the ballot this year in the form of Initiative 1053, and it's timing couldn't be more critical: The economic recovery is fragile, at best. Unemployment remains high. And families and taxpayers are just beginning to absorb the $770 million tax hike that lawmakers approved earlier this year.

Amid this backdrop, lawmakers will encounter an estimated $4.5 billion state budget shortfall when they convene this January in Olympia. If they choose to follow this year's near-record tax hike with another big boost in taxes, it could have a disastrous impact on struggling businesses.

And yet without the protection of I-1053, that's exactly what The Seattle Times predicts will happen.

"If I-1053 fails, taxes will go up within six months," the newspaper said.

The Daily News of Longview, while claiming that it's generally not a fan of of supermajority requirements, said the past several budgets have convinced the editorial board that the Legislature needs a push toward fiscal reform.

"The current budget, in particular, was an eye-opener," the paper said. "It's a patchwork of one-time spending cuts, revenue enhancements and budget gimmicks. Resorting to tax increases was just too easy."

Critics of the initiative say it's "undemocratic" because it takes away the idea of "majority rules," and that it will bring California-style gridlock to Washington state. Newspaper editorial boards have exposed the fallacy of those arguments.

"The opponents should rethink that strategy," The Spokesman-Review said, pointing out that "if I-1053's foes really fancy majority rule, they should side with the majority of state voters who have approved variations of the two-thirds requirement three times, only to see it circumvented by a scant several dozen legislators in Olympia."

The Seattle Times was equally blunt: "I-1053 is a direct act of the people upon the state. You cannot get more democratic than that."

In addition, the Times discredits comparisons to California, calling claims by critics that Washington will experience California-style government gridlock a "hysterical prediction." That's because in California, legislators need a two-thirds majority of both houses to pass a budget. I-1053 only requires a two-thirds majority to approve a tax increase.

I-1053 wouldn't be necessary, of course, if lawmakers had not suspended Initiative 960, the last voter-approved supermajority requirement. Likewise, it wouldn't be necessary if lawmakers had tackled the hard work of restructuring government rather than simply raising taxes.

"On the disgust-o-meter, it's a toss-up between legislators' unwillingness to budget with restraint instead of new taxes, and their habitual willingness to dump the will of the people," the Kitsap Sun writes.

The premise of I-1053 is not new, but it's as necessary as ever. "If the people want to prevail in this, they have to impose the rule again," The Seattle Times said.

"This time," the Yakima Herald declared, "Democrats really deserve this initiative. They have repeatedly ignored calls for reforming a broken fiscal system and instead have imposed a patchwork of budget cutbacks and tax increases. Apparently the voters need to push lawmakers along into finding long-term solutions. Consider this the push."

The full list of newspapers endorsing I-1053 (with a link to the endorsement article):

* Bellevue Reporter
* Centralia Chronicle
* The Everett Herald
* Kitsap Sun
* The (Longview) Daily News
* Port Orchard Independent
* The Seattle Times
* The Spokesman-Review
* The (Vancouver) Columbian
* Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
* Wenatchee World
* Yakima Herald-Republic

Patty Murray is Recycling Lies

No Lie Like a Recycled Lie.

Dishonest people are usually not very imaginative or creative. Their lies are complicated enough they have a hard time remembering them, so they have to stay stodgy and unimaginative. Patty Murray's latest authorized campaign ad recycles the old song, “Dino Rossi Favors Wall Street Instead Of Us.”

Is Dino Rossi the deceiver? Or is Patty Murray telling lies?

Patty Murray voted for the Financial Regulation bill enacted by Congress last term. Then Patty Murray collected $500,000 in campaign contributions from Wall Street bankers. Are we supposed to believe Patty Murray got Wall Street special interests to give her a big half-million payoff for whittling those same Wall Streeters down to size?

Here's the link to the Federal Government's list of Patty Murray's list of PAC contributors. Examine the list for yourself. Its 1219 records long. It takes little while. But follow the money -- Would entrenched Wall Street interests give an enemy $500,000 for hurting them? You find Patty Murray holding the money at the end.

On the other hand, Rossi threatens the entrenched Wall Street interests. He will work to reverse the corrupt Democrat Patty Murray's so-called Financial Regulation bill. The end result will be cleansing competition of the financial interests on Wall Street.

Here's the link to the Federal Government's complete list of all 30 of Dino Rossi's PAC contributors. Click on the "Show All" link. There are no bank PACs at all. Dino Rossi got nothing from Wall Street interests. The list takes only a few seconds to scan.

You see, Financial Regulation is how Patty Murray gave her Wall Street buddies control of our future and piles of our money.

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Patty Murray's next example of reused baloney:

Patty Murray says Rossi tried to reduce the minimum wage – This fear mongering fits with the “Democratic” Party's view that we should all be working for minimum wage. Who would really be satisfied working for minimum wage? Would you?

The minimum wage acts as a fence to keep out new and inexperienced (unproven) workers. Thus the minimum wage serves Patty Murray's buddies, the union bosses. Make no bones about this one, Murray favors the Union bosses over the people.

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Patty Murray is dishonest. She claims to be on Washington State's side because she would take from other parts of the country and "give" it to us. Isn't that called stealing? And Patty Murray causes more damage to good morality. With her "gift" she also takes away the sense of accomplishment and honor.

Its no surprise Patty Murray and her Special Interest backers will say and spend anything to assure the defeat of government responsible to the People. Patty Murray completely lacks personal integrity.

Well, at least Patty Murray is recycling.

Examining King County Ballots

Live webcam in King County's election ballot counting room.

This is the room where about 1,400 ballots cast by imaginary King County voters were counted in the 2004 over-vote scandal. Since this is a live web cast, it will be interesting to see if anything is revealed in 2010. Probably nothing, since the extra ballots were "found" in a mail room before being brought here to be counted.

Scandals like the over-vote weaken the confidence of the voting public in election results. Democracy is based on the idea that the majority of the People constitute the wisest government. If the voice of the People is being squelched by corrupt politicians, then wisdom is also squelched.

That's the old democratic theory of democracy. Its a shame the modern "Democratic" Party has brought so much doubt into the ballot count. King County is a "Democratic" Party machine controlled county.

Reasons to Vote for Dino Rossi

The "Democratic" Party won't tell you where Dino Rossi actually stands. (Do you believe the cartoon of Dino Rossi the "Democratic" Party is pitching?)

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Government has been complicating the economic recovery in the United States. So the number one issue is the economy.

Economic Growth is harmed by the National Debt - The current federal debt load is unsustainable, yet the Demos announced plans for a $1.4 trillion in federal deficit for 2011. That will increase the federal debt to $15.4 trillion. Reduce federal deficit. Keep the politicians from spending all our money. We must consider the future.

Reduce Government Spending - Our national debt topped $13 trillion this year. If Congress keeps spending your money at this unprecedented pace, our national debt will reach $19.6 trillion by 2015.

Health care is the ultimate individual issue. Nothing is more personal than health care. Has health care been improved or worsened by the current administration's health care law?

Fix Health Care - The bill passed by Congress was standard tax-and-spend with a little bit of health care sprinkled on top. It must be repealed in entirety. The spending must be stopped and the taxes must be controlled.

Real health care reform must be enacted - Access to health care must be improved. So permit citizens to buy health insurance from out-of-state (this is presently restricted). Allow small business to join together in health insurance buying groups (this is presently forbidden). Give individual buyers a full tax discount for their health insurance premiums.

Rossi on health care

Taxes are one of the two principle tools government uses to implement policy (the other is regulation)

Tax Code Reform - Economic development and innovation are being strangled by hyper taxation. Control taxes to promote economic growth and job creation. Straighten out the tax code so it is equitable instead of labyrinthine. Stop new broad-based taxes.

Energy - We need to reduce American dependence by developing more of our own resources. Cap & Trade is a terrible idea - it is a tax, not a solution.

National governments must control the border or else the nation ceases to be.

Control the Border and Fix Immigration

Rossi on Immigration

Defend America - We need a strong military, and a strong sense of mission.

More on the issues at DinoRossi.com

Does Dino Rossi Really Support Tax Loopholes?

The Democratic Party and Patty Murray carry ads announcing "Dino [Rossi] supports keeping tax loopholes for corporations that send our jobs overseas."

The Democratic Party controlled government has spent a lot of our money, so they are hungry to tax us. Mr Obama targeted American based corporations who manage overseas operation from America. He seeks to disallow the tax deduction of the cost of American operations.

Management is an expense. If an international company cannot deduct the expense of the American based operations, the company will not keep any operation in America. The effect of disallowing cost deduction of American management will send the management jobs overseas. The Democratic Party proposal will have the opposite effect of what they claim; their policies will ship American jobs overseas.

There is second prong. Murray attacks what is called "foreign tax credit." If an American corporation has foreign taxes assessed, the corporation can deduct the tax from the American tax bill. As you would expect, the American tax credit has percentages and limits applied to it, so sometimes the whole foreign tax is not offset, but the basic idea is fair: American companies should not be double taxed.

Patty Murray is against it. She pushed a bill through Congress to decrease the allowance for foreign taxes. That will increase the amount of double taxation on American corporations. That also will also encourage American multinationals to leave the US.

Patty Murray is practicing the same economics which Washington State did when they drove Boeing headquarters out of Washington. Meanwhile she claims she is for the worker. But workers have to have jobs. Patty Murray does not seem to understand this.

Beating up corporations and management is the wrong way to restore the economy. Patty Murray's ideas are old and too outmoded. She has been in office for 18 years. Its time to say goodbye to Patty Murray.

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Dino Rossi signed a "Taxpayer Protection Pledge." the pledge means Rossi pledges to oppose any increase in taxes or any net reduction in tax credits -- for all taxpayers. Its time to vote for Dino Rossi for the US Senate.

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King5 posted an article and video critical of Murray's recent attack ad. This is interesting, since KING5 Broadcasting was a major endorser of Murray 18 years ago.

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Some Democrats have reservations about such whole-hearted attack on American corporations. Patty Murray may not comprehend how much damage her policies will inflict.

New Patty Murray Attack Ad Is Out

The tangled new Patty Murray attack ad, called "Trust", claims Dino Rossi would 'turn back the clock' on abortion rights. Patty Murray had to turn back the calendar several years to find material she could distort into an attack.

The ad menacingly insinuates Mr Rossi would deny women self-sovereignty. He voted against Washington State mandating all private insurance be required to cover contraception, funding of abortion, and battered women unemployment coverage.

Mr Rossi did not vote to make women a target of domestic violence. The "Democratic" Party controlled legislature did by rigging the bill with government control garbage. The "Democratic" Party did this to manufacture an issue at women's expense.

Mr Rossi was voting for your freedom to get the kind of health insurance you wish to buy --- not state mandated, compulsory one-size-fits-all insurance coverage.

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Ask Patty Murray this question: What kind of self-sovereignty do you get if you are entirely dependent on the government to provide it?

The answer is: None at all.

WA Ballot Measures Voting Recommendations 2010

For information and recommendations for the 2012 ballot, click here.

The People's dissatisfaction with Olympia's performance is manifest. The Legislature has done much in direct opposition to the will of the People and sensible government.

Its time for the People to be Impolite! Here is Washington State Impolite's Voter's Guide for statewide issues.

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Initiative Measure 1053 - Concerning tax and fee increases imposed by state government.

I-1053 would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities.

The legislature "suspended" the existing statutory requirement so the could spend us into an illegal $5.5 billion budget imbalance. The legislature did this by enacting taxes which have damaged the state's economy, and thus could not be collected, but were used to pretend-offset the spending madness.

(The Washington State Legislature can repeal or amend an initiative by a two-thirds vote of each house during the first two years of enactment. After those first two years, the Legislature can repeal or amend by majority vote [WA Constitution, Section 41]. The Legislature had to wait for two years to elapse because only a slight majority wanted to go on their insane spending spree.)

I-1053 re-asserts the People's control of the legislature's spending habit.

Impolite recommends you vote YES on I-1053

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Initiative Measure 1082 - Reforming the state's industrial insurance.

Present law requires nearly every worker in the state be insured against on-the-job accidents. The state government maintains a monopoly as the only source of workers' insurance.

I-1082 expands workers' choice by allowing private companies to compete with the state government. Required on-the-job coverage is total. Worker premium co-pays to the state are eliminated.

Impolite recommends you vote YES I-1082

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Initiative Measure 1098 - Establish a state income tax

I-1098 directly imposes a tax on people earning more than $200,000 ($400,000 if married). Sundry other taxes are reduced for the 2 year life of the initiative.

After the 2 year limit, the legislature may extend the income tax to all earners in Washington state, and re-escalate the reduced taxes.

I-1098 is odious in more ways. See Reasons To Vote No on I-1098 for more. Do you really want a new tax?

Impolite recommends you vote NO on 1098

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Initiative Measure 1100 - Liquor (beer, wine and spirits) distribution and sales.

I-1100 removes the state from the business of importation, distribution and sales of liquor. The state would continue to regulate retail liquor sales permits, but with an additional classification of distilled spirits. The legislature will still lay and collect taxes on liquor sales, so state income is unaffected.

Sales to minors would still be against the law.

I-1100 does not affect state micro-brewers nor wineries. That is a lie spread by opponents of the initiative.

Impolite recommends you vote YES on I-1100.

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Initiative Measure 1105 - Liquor (beer, wine and spirits) retail sales.

I-1105 would close the State Liquor Stores, but leave the State Liquor Control Board intact. Private retailers of liquor would become operatives of the state.

Impolite predicts corruption if this Byzantine initiative is enacted.

Impolite recommends you vote NO on I-1105.

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Initiative Measure 1107 - Repealing the new taxes on food.

I-1107 would repeal the sales tax on candy; end temporary sales tax on some bottled water (only some bottled water was taxed); end temporary excise taxes on carbonated beverages; and reduce tax rates on in-state food processors.

I=1107 is largely a repeal of Olympia's new taxes on foods.

Impolite recommends you vote YES on I-1107

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Engrossed Substitute House Joint Resolution 4220 aka Referendum Bill 52
Issuing state bonds for energy efficiency projects.

Referendum 52 asks voter approval to issue general obligation bonds for energy improvement in education buildings. The bonds are to be paid for by taxes on bottled water. The details on this are intricate. See this summary to study this measure.

In short, the state legislature seeks authorization to spend more money. Tra-la, tra-la

Impolite recommends you vote NO on Referendum 52

~~~~

The state legislature proposed amendments to change to the state constitution.

Senate Joint Resolution 8225 -- Wishful Accounting amendment

Current law requires the legislature to allocate 9% of current revenue toward reduction of state debts. The state constitution allows bonds to be issued for buying things like schools buildings, bridges, fire brigade buildings other public works.

SJR 8225 would allow the legislature to pretend the federal government will send money to cover some part of current state debt, and overspend accordingly.

Impolite recommends you vote NO on SJR 8225

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Engrossed Substitute House Joint Resolution 4220 - Grounds for Denial of Bail Amendment.

Current law allows a court to deny bail for a capital offense, such as murder. In other cases, bail must be "reasonable," which depends on that particular judge's judgment.

This proposed amendment would allow a court to deny bail for a persons charged with a criminal offenses which, upon conviction, could result in a life sentence.

This amendment allows the legislature to continue to decrease imposition of capital punishment. Life is valuable and execution ought to be rare, but the penalty should be available for imposition in any dastardly crime. Innocent life is most valuable life. Its hard to see how requiring an un-convicted person to sit in prison enhances the judicial process. The nature of the proposed amendment violates the judicial canon of presumption of innocence.

Impolite recommends you vote NO on HJR 4220

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You can find more information on these issues at Vote Smart - Washington

Patty Murray Revises Her Lies About Rossi

Clarification of a Lie by Exaggeration.

Patty Murray decided to exaggerate about Dino Rossi instead. The latest smear ad from Patty is an update of her "Repeal" smear from a few months ago. In the current version Murray states Mr Rossi "owns part of a bank." The ad's insinuates Mr Rossi would work against the "FinReg - Wall Street Reform" for personal gain.

The Facts: Mr Rossi invested $10,000 in 2001, in the now financially troubled Eastside Commercial Bank of Bellevue, WA. (From Politico). Rossi is one of 35 stakeholders who started the bank. Rossi's investment is currently worth $75,000, if the bank remains solvent. Like many other U.S. banks, Eastside may have overextended the bank's resources. This is not a result of Murray's FinReg.

But other, bigger banks, are affected.

The new mortgage disaster at Bank of America is happening in spite of the new financial regulation Patty Murray voted for. The storm stems from messy or incomplete paperwork in Bank of America foreclosures. Bank of America's problems are freezing the whole consumer real estate market, screwing up service to potential home buyers. Is Bank of America alone to blame, or is there something more?

Government ham-handed policy has been instrumental in the collapse of 279 banks since 2008. This is the largest number of bank failures in 20 years. It has eliminated jobs, aggravated lending problem and left surviving banks more the unwelcome power to squeeze customers. Wall Street Journal

So ask yourself who is more of an expert to do adequate financial reform; Patty Murray the lawyer, or someone with banking experience?

Its important the banks not get crushed by government regulation, or else we will all be crippled. And its important they deal honestly with depositors and borrowers. Regulations which exceeds these limits is bad for the economy and the country.

Patty Murray should have studied the Law of Unintended Consequences before she voted for FinReg. Good intentions don't make good policy results (assuming her intentions were good). Competence is required.

Should government make banking regulation? Yes. But the policies must work.

Mr Rossi can craft better banking regulation. He bought the hard lessons in banking with his own money, like the rest of us.

Patty Murray is a lawyer, used to thinking in terms of "billable hours," with no real concept of what its like to earn a living in the real world. For 18 years she has been out of touch in DC.

Dino Rossi is better qualified to serve the People of Washington State.

Patty Murray & Her Newest Dishonest Campaign Ad

Originally posted as Patty on Dino on Boeing on the Seattle Times opinion page, by Bruce Ramsey

In a new ad, Sen. Patty Murray has charged Dino Rossi with not caring about Boeing jobs, which is ridiculous. The ad goes like this:

Announcer: Illegal foreign subsidies are threatening Boeing jobs, putting the Air Force tanker contract in jeopardy. When Dino Rossi was asked if he thought Boeing workers should have a level playing field, he said…

Dino Rossi: No, not as far as I’m concerned.

Announcer: Dino doesn’t get it… He doesn’t care enough about our jobs going overseas. Dino Rossi - just not on our side.

Sen. Murray: I’m Patty Murray and I sponsored this ad because the men and women who defend our country should be flying planes built in America.

This ad pulled a Rossi quote out of context. He said it in an editorial board at the Tacoma News Tribune. Here is how it went:

QUESTION: On the issue of trade, I wanted to ask Mr. Rossi about WTO rulings that have come out both against the EU and the US - and I realize we’re still sorting out the U.S. and how bad that may be. But if it does come out as it appears, at least from the US side, that Airbus got harder than Boeing did, do you believe that should have a factor - be a factor in the awarding of the tanker contract?

ROSSI: We need to fight for the tanker contract no matter what. The ruling, how it ever comes out - the reality is that the Boeing company since 1977 has lost 30,000 jobs in our state and we have to make sure we fight hard for that. You know, I’ve had a family member working continuously for the Boeing company since World War II and I - talk about a Boeing family, you want to talk about a Boeing family. And unfortunately there - this is, I think, where we - where I divert from Senator Murray on a number of different things. The Boeing company, they don’t want things like - that Senator Murray’s sponsoring such as card check, which is eliminating the secret ballot for unions. They don’t want the $150 million tax increase that they calculate as going to be coming from the health care bill. These are the sorts of things that are going to hurt the Boeing company.

I will be there. I will fight the, obviously fight for jobs. The reality is that we have to make sure that we have the right playing field to do that. And I will be, you know - strong on those issues.

Q: When you say “fight for it,” and “you want a level playing field” - I’m not still understanding if you’re saying that that WTO ruling should have a factor in the tanker bid?

ROSSI: No, not as far as I’m concerned, no.

Is the questioner asking about the WTO ruling against Airbus earlier this year or the WTO ruling against (and also for) Boeing just released? The question is not clear. The Boeing ruling is news; the Airbus ruling isn’t, so it’s more likely the questioner is talking about the Boeing ruling, and that Rossi is saying that it not be a reason to deny the contract to Boeing.

Rossi’s spokeswoman said that’s what he meant. The Murray campaign assumed otherwise, and issued a statement that began this way:

"Seattle, WA , Sept. 20- Instead of standing up for Washington state Boeing workers as Senator Patty Murray has always done, constant candidate Dino Rossi today said that illegal, job-killing WTO subsidies given to Airbus should NOT be taken into account in awarding the next Air Force tanker contract.

"The next day, a Rossi spokeswoman was asked whether Rossi would have the Air Force ignore the French subsidies to Airbus as well as the U.S. subsidies to Boeing. (The USAF has said it is ignoring both rulings, but nobody was asking them.) And the Rossi spokeswoman said she'd have to ask Rossi."

Which was reasonable. If the spokeswoman doesn't know, she shouldn't make stuff up. The Murray camp immediately put out a press release saying:

“Dino Rossi’s first instinct was to throw Washington workers under the bus and even upon reflection he’s not so sure whether job-killing subsidies should be considered in the tanker bids. He doesn’t understand or doesn’t care..."

And then the Murray camp went on the air with their ad accusing Rossi of not caring about Washington workers.

This is nonsense. Dino Rossi did not express an uncaring sentiment; he was for Boeing "no matter what." And further: as a senator from Washington he would have to be. No senator from Washington, Democrat or Republican, would put the interests of France, Spain and the U.K. ahead of the Boeing Company.

The senator's ad is dishonest. It is preposterous.

In slamming Murray's ads, I am not defending Rossi’s. He has one that blames Sen. Murray for Boeing setting up 787 assembly plant in South Carolina, and also for moving its headquarters from Seattle to Chicago, implying that it was her job to prevent those acts. They were corporate acts, and Murray cannot be blamed for them. Nor could any other senator. So those, in my view, are misleading. But they are not as grossly malicious as the Murray ads.

~~~~~~~~~

Patty Murray issued the video "Airbus" repeating her lies about Dino Rossi. Power is so important to Patty Murray she will repeat a distortion even after the lie is exposed. She ought to retire from the Senate.

Patty Murray is lying about Dino Rossi.

In this official campaign ad, Murray claims Dino Rossi sold himself to Wall Street Financial interests.

Patty Murray is lying.

The Facts
According to the Federal Election Commission, Dino Rossi got donations from 30 Political Action Committees, for a total of 6.4% of all of his campaign donations. Almost 87% of Rossi's campaign donations come from individual donations. But...

Mr Rossi got no banking PAC donations at all.. None. Zero. Zilch.

On the other hand, according to the Federal Election Commission report on her, Patty Murray got donations from a total of 1219 Political Action Committees, 1121 of which are out-of-state. Patty Murray received 24.3% of her campaign funding from PACs. Only 75.7% came from individuals.

Senator Patty Murray took in $11,600 from 3 different banking PACs. If you count non-banking financial institutions, this amount goes much, much higher.

Patty Murray's claims are so outrageous they call for investigation. Washington State voters have to decide if they like Patty Murray lying to them.

Did Patty Murray help?

Senator Patty Murray boasts she backed all the bailouts and small business "tax breaks." (See YouTube) Despite what CNBC and like Party controlled cheerleaders say, its clear the bailouts have prolonged the economic malaise.

Normal economics require re-allocation of productive assets and labor be done freely. In normal economics this hurts for a short time. But free markets are very quick, then everyone is back to work again. Patty Murray worked to freeze the economy instead, causing a longer agony.

The "tax breaks" have been so intricate they applied mainly if the small business was already flush enough they could afford to hire the staff necessary to comply with the breaks. In other words, the only businesses who could afford the breaks were businesses which didn't need them. The other way a business could obtain a "small business tax break" is by towing the "Democratic" Party line, i.e. kickbacks and corruption.

Patty Murray has helped to push the nation deeper into debt. Murray has saddled the children with a monster debt burden for decades to come, but Patty doesn't care. She has power and she boasts about it. This is the "Democratic" Party's main failing: Eating the young.

Get State Government Out of Liquor Sales

The forces arrayed against Initiatives 1100 and 1105 are lying through their teeth. They claim the initiatives will ruin small, privately owned wineries. Talk about fear mongering.

Wineries will be unaffected. Bottled wine is already sold through grocery stores and other licensed retailers. Taverns and restaurants already dispense wine by the glass or bottle. The distribution of wine will be unchanged.

The only thing the initiatives do is reduce the state's control of hard liquor sales through the State Liquor Control Board owned stores. Retailers would still be licensed and required to operate according to the rules. Liquor taxes are unaffected.

The State Liquor Control Board is an artifact of the national attempt in the 1920s to eliminate alcoholic beverages. The 18th Amendment prohibited sales of any sort of spirits and the Federal Volstead Act underscored prohibition with federal enforcement. 1920s government control of society was set to soar.

It didn't work out that way. Instead, gangsters got their foothold in American society. Nearly all modern crime problems and government gun control got started during the government's effort to change society morals.

When national Prohibition failed, the US Government recognized it and in 1934 repealed prohibition. Ever backwards, Olympia immediately instituted the State Liquor Control Board for control of -- and to profit from -- Demon Rum.

Its time to eliminate the State Liquor Control Board altogether and get the state out of the liquor trade. The legislature will still set liquor taxes. I-1100 will do this.

I-1105 is a half-hearted attempt which will close the State Liquor Control Board retail operations; the SLCB will still exist and administer prices and distribute profit. (That explains why the SLCB has never made any money)

The Impolite should vote for I-1100.

Reasons To Vote No on I-1098, the Income Tax Initiative

In a television advertisement, Bill Gates Sr. came out in favor of Initiative 1098 -- the income tax initiative. Mr Gates is not as wealthy as his son, the Microsoft Bill Gates, but the senior bill is a pretty wealthy lawyer. There is nothing wrong with being wealthy; I'd like to try it too.

But a rich guy is for it: Does this mean I-1098 income tax is good for Washington State? Or does it mean the rich Gates Sr. thinks he can dodge income taxes? Would anybody sincerely try to increase his own taxes?

1098's real hazard is in the details. Washington State's constitution effectively bans income tax. In order to get around the ban, the initiative would legally redefine your income as not your property, but rather a purchase subject to excise tax. This is so nutty most people can't believe it, but its there (See the section 501 pdf)

The other hazard of I-1098 is the legislature will not be satisfied with the tiny amount of tax collected from the rich people. Washington's constitution allows the legislature to change initiatives after a two year waiting period. The legislature will have a voter approved tax. The legislature's recent history shows they will extend the income tax to everyone who makes an income.

If you're tired of paying taxes on nearly everything in Washington State, you should vote against new taxes on income. They'll get around to taxing you with whatever you vote for. Vote No on I-1098.

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Afterword

The top five donors to the Initiative 1098 campaign, according to Ballotpedia

Most revealing is the government bureaucrats' union, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), gave $1,237,954. The Washington State Federation of State Employees gave $100,000. The union bosses will be delighted to tax you.

Bill Gates Sr. gave $500,000 to sponsor I-1098. The other two major donors are Nicolas Hanauer at $250,000 and Ann Wyckoff, $200,000.

Legislators fiddle while Washington burns

Governor Gregoire has announced she will authorize across the board cuts to state agencies starting October 1. We won’t know how big those cuts will be until Thursday’s quarterly revenue forecast update.

The state has collected about $190 million less than expected since the June revenue forecast. (This is no surprise. Taxes depress economic activity, a point the "Democratic" Party mulishly refuses to get --- BQ.)

Thursday’s forecast is likely to be bad enough to wipe out the state’s remaining reserves, and to push the budget into the red. Hence, Governor Gregoire’s executive order for budget cuts.

Posted by Amber Gunn at Liberty Live

Senator Patty Murray Heroically Saved Jobs?

Not at all.

Senator Patty Murray is lying about ObamaCare in truly creative ways.

Patty Murray's latest campaign ad tries to take credit for leaving privately owned medical facilities somewhat less clobbered by the feds.

Her target in this particular propaganda is Wenatchee Valley Hospital. The Hospital is also called the Wenatchee Valley Medical Center, a privately owned medical center in Wenatchee, Washington. Wenatchee is in the esophagus of Washington State, sort of.

Senator Patty Murray claims the "[T]he Wenatchee Valley Hospital was in danger of closing its doors. Senator Patty Murray fought to restore funding and saved 1,500 jobs in Central Washington." By "fought" she means she was mud slinging again.

Senator Patty Murray conveniently forgot she and her "Democratic" Party cronies are the cause of the pending shutdown. ObamaCare prohibits privately owned hospitals. After bilking the Hospital and voting for ObamaCare, Patty Murray agreed to champion a change in federal regulation which "saved" the Hospital.

Pure extortion.

Of course the ad spins it differently. Patty Murray got 3 of the dozen or so Democrats on the hospital staff, plus the establishment-liberal mayor of Wenatchee, to agree that she saved the Hospital. The truth is, Congressman Doc Hastings(R) has been working to save the clinic from stupid legislation since 2007.

Senator Patty Murray should check with the rank and file employees of the hospital, who despise her for using their job security so deceitfully.

Report filed via Bob1, from Wenatchee

Patty Murray saved us all --- yawn

To hear Patty Murray tell it in her campaign advertising, she single handedly saved us from "Wall Street Bankers" The "Wall Street Bankers" threaten our way of life so the "Democratic" Party controlled government had to restrict the bankers from lending us money. You see, Patty Murray knows we the People are too stupid to mind our own business.

So Patty Murray voted for financial regulation (FINREG) which richly rewarded "Democratic" Party operatives with positions of great power. Yay, Patty Murray.

Naturally, Dino Rossi thinks we can be trusted to mind our own financial affairs, so he would like to reverse the FINREG. Boo... Hiss....

I can't believe the stupidity the Democratic Party expects from their own supporters.

~~~~~~~~

Now if only Patty Murray would save us from the "Democratic" Party economic platform.

Since the Democratic Party took control of Congress (where the laws are made) in 2007, U.S. unemployment rates have increased dramatically. Here's an month by month overview


The chart shows the last ten years of data. You can download the raw data spreadsheet for yourself from the US Government Bureau of Labor Statistics. The link is rigged to download the latest spreadsheet, so the data will grow next month.

The chart shows the economy began to get worse within 12 months of the "Democratic" Party taking control. The immediate impact is the same magnitude as the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, which shows in the 2002-3 employment statistics.

The "Democratic" Party damage gets worse the longer it goes on. The clear cut cost of having the "Democratic" Party control Congress and the White House shows as an increase in unemployment of over 4% --- from under 6% to 9-10%.

Millions are out of work thanks to the "Democratic" Party. That much unemployment is a lot of human misery.

Gun Control's Senator Patty Murray

When Senator Patty Murray was elected in 1992, the very first thing she did upon being sworn in was to propose a 10,000% ad valorem excise tax on ammunition. That bill died, since it would dramatically increase the cost to local government of outfitting police forces (Apparently Murray wouldn't mind this).

Then Patty Murray voted for the Brady Law, which gave us national waiting periods and the “Instant” Check. Senator Patty Murray also voted for the “Violent Crime Control And Law Enforcement Act Of 1994,” which gave us magazine bans and the so-called "Assault Weapons Ban."

Her contempt of self-defense goes even farther. That same year, Senator Patty Murray introduced legislation that would raise the handgun tax to 25 percent and extend the tax to all intermediate transactions — from manufacturer to distributor through retailer to consumer. The total tax would be a 95% added to the cost of a firearm.

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Gun Control by Taxation Archives

Lying Politicians

I really shouldn't watch television at all. Lying politicians tick me off.

Incumbent Senator Patty Murray's lying is fevered in intensity. Now Murray's ads assert candidate Dino Rossi is somehow going to prolong the economic depression Patty Murray voted to start.

Murray takes this stand because she sold herself to the Union bosses.

The union bosses insist she defend monster raises for the rank and file government workers so operatives like Gov Christine Gregoire raise taxes on the people of Washington State to pay inflated wages to State union employees.

Presently the state employees make about 22% more per hour than citizens who are lucky enough to have a job. Plus deluxe medical, dental, eyeglasses, etc. The kind of stuff we get to pay for, especially under Obamacare, another Patty Murray backed people restriction.

Senator Murray is doing nothing other than pushing the addiction to federal control and government intrusion.

~~~~~~~~
American jobs are being shipped to China because of Patty Murray and the rotten policies she votes for.

1. The present administration has gotten us deeply into debt with the Chinese. They want payback, and Senator Patty Murray has voted for those programs.

2. Senator Patty Murray has repeatedly voted to enslave private enterprise to the federal government. This raises the cost of US domestic production to the point it the doors of the factory must be closed.

3. Senator Patty Murray never met a tax she didn't like to tax us with.

4. Senator Patty Murray voted to impose ObamaCare. The "Democratic" Party now admits ObamaCare will raise everybody's cost of medical care.

Senator Patty Murray, you got to go. Your kind of government is way too costly.

~~~~~~~~
For more about “Democratic” Party gun control efforts, see Just Facts

Vote Against Income Tax

Its another tax
If passed, Initiative 1098 will impose an income tax on Washington State wage earners making more than $200,000 per year.

The Legislature is greedy
Despite the fact that the drafters of I-1098 stipulated income tax would be imposed only on high wage earners, the State Constitution says the legislature can change that restriction after 2 years. Want to bet the legislature will make all income taxable? Remember this is the legislature which threw out I-960 tax restrictions as soon as they could. All other accountability and transparency measures in I-1098 are just as vulnerable.

If 1098 is passed, what you earn is not yours.
Income taxation is not the most pernicious part of 1098. In order to get around the State Constitutional restrictions (Article 7, section 1 requires uniform, not "progressive" taxation on property), I-1098 re-defines your income as not your property, until you take physical possession of the income. This is obscene.

Vote NO on 1098.

The Myth of Wage Inequality.

Washington State voters are going to vote on I-1098 to decide whether the state gets to tax our income.

The statistic keeps popping up that the top 20% of wage earners earn 9, 10 or 11 times as much as the bottom 20% of wage earners.* Governor Christine Gregoire and her buddy Bill Gates Sr. would have us believe this requires a state income tax to set straight.

What we have to pretend is that if someone finds himself in the bottom 20% of wage earners, he's stuck. There is nothing he can do to get increased income. This assumption is bogus.

The most important thing you can do to increase your income is get older. The bottom 20% of earners is overwhelmingly inhabited by young people. A special example of a young person getting a lower annual wage is the college student who works only in the Summer.

Generally, the young wage earner is most likely the newest person on the job. That makes him or her least experienced and least productive. As people gain experience, they also gain income, unless they decide to stay with perpetually low income jobs by frequent quitting.

As a worker ages, he or she gains experience and stability. Both of these qualities makes the worker more desirable and productive. The employer will pay more to retain the better worker.

Compare age versus income, 2008 **

There is no such thing as an income tax on the rich in America. Riches are always property, not income. There is only a tax on better workers, better producers. The drop in average income after age 65 is presumably based on the effect of retirement form the work force. By the age of 65, you hope to be rich enough to be able to pay for the remaining years of your life.

In order to justify "progressive" income taxes, the politician must pretend to be interested in social justice or similar lies. In fact, politicians are greedy to take more of the peoples' money.

More taxes means less sales, less sales means fewer jobs, fewer jobs means no recovery anytime soon.

~~~~~~~~

* The precise multiplier is dependent on whether the statistician compared pre-tax wages or post tax wages. You see, politicians love to find new excuses to raise taxes so they can take more of the peoples' money for themselves.

** table based on ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/ce/standard/2008/age.txt

Well, you're on your own....

Tomorrow you can finally start working for yourself.

The typical Washington State slave citizen must work more than two-thirds of the year — 241 days to be exact — to pay for all the expenses of government at all levels of governnment (federal, state, and local), including regulatory burdens.

Calculated by Americans for Tax Reform, today - August 29 - marks the day when the average Washington resident stops working to pay for the enormous cost of free spending Democratic PArty controlled government.

Washington’s Cost of Government Day is 10 days later than the national date, August 19. In 2010, we are fifth worst in the country. Last year Washington’s Cost of Government Day fell on August 17.

Not only do we work longer than 45 other states to support our bloated government, Washington State's debt to Gross State Product ratio is nearing 26%. Only eight other states are worse off. Washington State is only few hundredths of a percent less in debt than California.

The "Democratic" Party controlled government has been giving their cronies billions of our tax dollars. Christine Gregoire and the Olympia "Democratic" Party have saddled us with huge debt.

~~~~~~~~

See US Debtclock dot Org

Mr Kettle Black, Sen. Pot "Reports."

Senator Patty Murray slings mud at the Dino Rossi campaign

The Dino Rossi campaign solicited donations, and the corporate lobbyists came to donate. Patty Murray pouts this theme in her new advertisement. Murray tried to suggest Rossi has sold out to his donors, as if Patty Murray were as pure as the driven snow. Of course she is innocent Democrat, 18 years in Washington DC Beltway insider. Her insider status explains why she is pure.

~~~~~~~~
Open Secret

From OpenSecrets.com report posted July 7 2010, "LOBBYISTS TOP LIST OF SENATOR'S BIGGEST CAMPAIGN DONORS: Now seeking her fourth term in office, the donor list for Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) may reflect one of the benefits of incumbency: Lobbyists are the senator's biggest campaign supporters."

According to the OpenSecrets.com list of 100 top donors in 1998, Boeing Co donated $24,230, making them number 3 on the list of corporate donors. No wonder she campaigned for the Boeing KC-767 Tanker design rather than the Northrup design. KC-767 would be made in Everett Washington.

If we are to judge Senatorial candidates by the donors they keep, certainly we should judge the candidate by the accusations leveled against those donors, PMA Group, an Arlington, Virginia based corporation. PMA has not been found guilty of anything, yet but does the accusation color the water?

By Murray's subsequent action is does. She felt so guilty about the PMA donation, she made a donation to a food bank. Gee, doesn't that make her all warm and fuzzy?

If you think you cannot trust incumbent Senator, you're on to Patty "Murky" Murray.

~~~~~~~~
Compare Candidates

Mr Rossi has been a businessman with experience in the real world. Private business will teach you right away about the importance of fiscal responsibility. A businessman must think in terms of priority and restraint. Mr Rossi understands the economy is broken because of Big Government inteference, something Ms Murray doesn't seem to grasp. Rossi is also serves as academician on the Dean’s Advisory Board for the School of Business at Seattle University. More at the Dino Rossi campaign site.

Ms Murray has never been anything but a lawyer or a Senator. Lawyers think in terms of "billable hours." Democrat Senators tend to think in terms of "taxability," not accountability. This lack of real world experience gives her a blind spot about responsible government. She has voted largely the party line, and she voted for federalizing health care and she voted for the catastrophic increase in taxes that will require.

Democratic Party versus the truth

We get to suffer for their mistakes.
"Who cares?" they say, "Have another fat cigar."

Some people think the President makes law. The President makes suggestions, but Congress makes the law of the land, which the President then signs. When George W Bush was President, it was the Republicans in Congress who made us prosper.

Democratic Party members insist George Bush's policies failed. If so, the timing is interesting, because it wasn't until after the Democratic Party took full control of Congress the economy began to wobble. When the Democratic Party took control of the Presidency too the nation's economy collapsed.

The Democratic Party must believe George Bush has spooky influence now that he is out of office. Repu-u-ublican... boo!

Clearly the policies of the Democratic Party have failed. And no wonder. Their policies are based on the notion that central planning works. If that were so, the militaristic Soviet Union would still be around. Central planning requires force. I doubt the Democratic Party have the nerve, but for them not to use force means more and more malaise.

So how do you plan to vote this November?

Washington State Primaries Recommendations

State Positions
The State Supreme Court contests are vital to the future of Washington State. Please make sure you vote in these races. The Court must not be controlled by the massive government interests which currently control the legislature. Keep in mind, the Big Government legislature currently has us slated for another $3 billion in taxation. Do you support that?

My picks for the State Supreme Court
Pos.1. Jim Johnson. The primary determines who wins this race. http://www.jimjohnsonforjustice.org
Pos.5 Barbara Madsen (unopposed)
Pos.6 Richard Sanders http://www.friendsofjustice.com/

Federal Positions
Opposing Big Government and massive centralized power in the federal government is just as vital for the future of the United States. I believe these candidates will resist the growth of federal intrusion into private life and will resist the growth of government debt.

U.S. Senate: Clint Didier - I watched Mr Didier take a live interview from some hostile policy wonks. Mr Didier impressed me as genuinely interested in building federal government which is responsive to citizens, and which would function within the bounds of the US Constitution. Mr Didier's website.

If you have already voted for Rossi, you're still okay with me, even though he is not as good a choice as Mr Didier. Mr Rossi is a far superior choice to the corrupt incumbent Patty Murray. Patty Murray must go.

U.S. House
1st District (Bainbridge Island, to north King County, to Kirkland and Redmond): James Watkins.
2nd District (Everett north to the Canadian border): John Koster
3rd District (Thurston county south to the Oregon border): Either David Castillo or Jaime Herrera. Both candidates are good.
4th District (Wenatchee - Yakima – Tri Cities): Richard (Doc) Hastings
5th District (Spokane and most of the rest of eastern Washington): Cathy McMorris-Rodgers
6th District (Bremerton – Peninsula): Jesse Young
7th District (Seattle): Bill Hoffman
8th District (Bellevue and east King County to Mt. Rainier): Dave Reichert
9th District (Pierce-Thurston counties): Dick Muri

Senator Patty Murray (D) Sucks Up to Public Employee Unions... again

The U.S. economy continues to lose jobs and where is Patty Murray? The headline in the Washington Post says it all --- "Economy Sputters." The nation's economy continued to frazzle out as private-sector employers added just 71,000 jobs in July, reports the Post.

"The small increase in private-sector employment was more than offset by the loss of 143,000 temporary census jobs, and the nation's unemployment rate remained unchanged at 9.5 percent. Overall, the nation shed 131,000 jobs in July."

Meanwhile, Sen. Patty Murray continues to vote for job-killing spending bills we can't afford.

Patty Murray is voting like she thinks there no hard times, no economic crisis and no debt. This week she supported a so-called "jobs" bill that not only cost taxpayers $26 million, but also took away money that was intended to go for U.S. troops.

The bill bails out states with a one-time infusion of federal taxpayer dollars to states to pay for state employees!

The Washington Post description:

"The crusade for an education jobs bill, led by the Obama administration and Democratic leaders in Congress, has always struck us as more of an election-year favor for teachers unions than an optimal use of public resources. Billed as an effort to stimulate the economy, it's not clearly more effective than alternative uses of the cash."

Its worth remembering that during George Bush's final two years in office, the Democrats controlled the Congress, where laws are made. Beginning in 2007, with Democrats making law, the economy began to run rough. Compare that to the entire time Republicans ran the Congress (even under Bill Clinton's presidency) the economy of the country hummed along. Republicans know how to make the economy work for everyone. Blaming George Bush or Republicans for the present state of the economy is nonsense.

Unemployment is at 9.5%. Millions of Americans are in this personal economic disaster, the disaster which is happening on Patty Murray's watch. Yet Senator Murray continues to vote for the same kind of hyper-spending bills which caused the disaster in the first place. The inescapeable conclusion is Patty Murray is out of touch.

Do us all a favor and help vote her out of office come November.

Senator Patty Murray(D) says Dino Rossi(R) bad.

Murray says Rossi is icky-poo too

The Patty Murray campaign made an ad stating Senator Murray(D) backed the Senate's financial regulation bill (the Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010 - ha-ha-ha). The ad stated her opponent Dino Rossi would reverse the FINREG bill.

Patty Murray's ad hinted that FINREG would make Wall Street pay (for what?). Murray hinted that FINREG was hard on Wall Street. BullCrap. Look at the chart. FINREG was enacted into law July 22 (the date is marked with a dot). Wall Street has done okay in the Patty Murray endorsed purgatory.

The ad went on that times are tough in Washington State, job are in decline, things are hard on ordinary folk, etc. Murray's ad concluded since Rossi would reverse the FINREG, he is on the the "Side of Wall Street, not the little people." BullCrap 2.

FINREG was enacted July 22, Stock rise. Clearly Patty Murray wants to set it up so only her buddies on Wall Street win and the rest of us... we can sink. Lying Patty Murray does not care.

Wall Street was a servant of the people until liars like Murray began to use the government to corrupt it. Patty Murray will distort and lie about history itself in order to stay in power.

All the disasters for the "little people" mentioned in the Patty Murray advertisement have happened to us while Patty Murray was on watch. Clearly, Patty Murray is incompetent to help, or worse -- she's cutting herself in on government allocated profits.

We can lose our freedom, investments or grandmother's life savings and Patty Murray will launch another Lie Campaign to trick us. In a classic Class Warfare misdirection, Comrade Patty Murkey seeks to confuse the masses into voting for her.

Patty Murray stinks. She must go.

Simultaneously posted at Resistance and Life.

Government Lobbies Government

There is a horrible cancer growing in Washington State government. Can you imagine anything worse than government lobbying government? The American system of government is becoming so inbred that government self-lobbying is becoming rampant. Government is only talking to government. The people are getting completely shut out.

Evergreen Freedom Foundation formally filed complaints with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC) against sixty-eight public agencies for failing to disclose the hiring of lobbyists with taxpayer dollars. You can view the video showing delivery of the complaints to the PDC by clicking on the image to the right.
When people think of lobbyists, they usually imagine big businesses buying off corrupt politicians. They probably don’t imagine government agencies hiring lobbyists to buy votes at the capitol. It sounds absurd—and it is—but here in Washington public agencies spend millions of our dollars every year hiring lobbyists.

Unfortunately, the flagrant use of tax dollars to lobby for bigger government is a growing problem. While conducting research for the Freedom Foundation’s just-released report detailing taxpayer-funded lobbying in Washington, Preston Mui of EFF found that public agencies spent over $42 million on lobbying in the last decade. And with unreported lobbying, hidden administrative costs, employee benefits, and lobbying at the federal level, the true cost of government lobbying is much, much higher.

Not only do city governments, county governments, public utility districts, and other public agencies spend millions of dollars every year lobbying the state, sometimes they don’t even tell us about it.

View the EFF reports (in pdf)
View the PDC complaints (in pdf)

Similar things happen in other states. Local government lobbies the state government, or state governments lobby the federal government. Then the "little" governments get some project to spend money on. Never mind the project is something the people never wanted, the government officials crow they are "doing something" for the people at no expense.

Yeah, right. All we lose is our freedom and we still pay the taxes in the end.

We the People must require smaller, less controlling, government.