Initiatives To Cost More?

Two Democrats (naturally) introduced a bill into the Washington State Senate to increase the filing fee for initiatives. SB 5216 increases the current fee to $500. they must be smarting from the restoration of the two thirds majority requirement imposed by Initiative 1053.

Democracy does not seem to agree with Olympia's Democrats.

The two legislators are Paull Shin and Maralyn Chase.

Olympia Plans Home Inspections

Olympia is introducing regulation to inspect residential rental units supplied by private owners.

HB 1266 is ostensibly designed to ensure landlords will not supply the market with "substandard" housing.

If you rent, the bill will authorize government agents to inspect your home for whatever the current definition of substandard is.

At this writing, the list includes a number of judgment calls to be made by an inspector by way of an unsworn statement; Owners will be compelled to comply without any benefit of witnesses against them.

If the inspector discovers a "defect", such as a dent you made in the wall with your couch when you moved in (I used to rent), the inspector will be able to force the landlord to repair the hole, at the tenant's expense. It all depends on whether the inspector thinks the tenant might be at some sort of risk.

That's not all....

If you have recently rented a place, you are aware of the large amount of written material the landlord handed you. That bulk is to be increased with noticed of how you should exit your home in am emergency; a notice there is a smoke detector in the unit, with a detailed description of how the detector works, plus you will have to sign the notice and hand one copy back to the landlord; an alert about the health dangers of mold; and more micromanagement.

The legislature is making a clear attempt to invade privacy with warrantless searches. The way the bill is written, it can be expanded to include all privately owned housing.

We need to tell Olympia to stop screwing with us. We can take care of ourselves.

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This legislation will probably result in some state inspector being beaten up by an irate renter. We should start a legal defense fund for those renters. The renters will be the victims.

Please let your legislator know what you think of this stupid bill.

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Olympia's planned home invasions will cost renters much in money and privacy. Renters live under protection of a contract with their landlords. The US Constitution, Article 1, Section 10, states, "No state shall enter into any ... law impairing the obligation of contracts...."

Contact the sponsors and remind them they serve under higher laws. The sponsors of the bill are: Jamie Pedersen, Jay Rodne, Judy Warnick, Phyllis Gutierrez Kenney, and Troy Kelley.

Betrayed! Democrats vote to gut I-1053

The Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee voted to gut I-1053 concerning fee increases. The house committee vote re-delegates all authority to impose tolls and ferry fares to Gregoire's unelected, unaccountable Transportation Commission.

I-1053 is the requirement that tax and revenue increases be enacted by a 2/3rds majority of the legislature. Democrats spit in the eye of the voters on Wednesday by undermining I-1053's fee increase requirement a mere 77 days after voters approved it.

They are following Gregoire's call for to screw the People: "I'm not gonna let 1053 stand in the way of me moving forward for what I think is right." -- Gregoire http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jan/10/legislature-convenes-local-lawmakers-get-down-to-b/

On Wednesday night the Democrats on the House Ways & Means Committee were debating the current year general fund budget. Without public notice, without public hearing, an amendment was offered by Rep. Larry Seaquist (Democrat, Gig Harbor). (Seaquist's district voted 69% in favor of I-1053) to re-delegate all authority to impose tolls and ferry fares form the legislature to Gregoire's unelected, unaccountable Transportation Commission. This is totally contrary to the explicit language in I-1053.

Despite providing no public notice, no public hearing, no public testimony, and no public input, his amendment was adopted on a party-line 16-11 vote (all Democrats in favor, all Republicans opposed).

So now, as the House and Senate debate how to balance the current general fund budget deficit, a totally unrelated item is buried in the bill which completely repudiates the voters' ballot box decision requiring a recorded legislative majority vote for any fee increase, including new tolls or ferry fare hikes.

This isn't about whether tolls or ferry fare increases are good or bad, it's about who should decide.

Voters very clearly decided that issue with I-1053. The People have spoken.

Democrats ignored that unambiguous voter mandate on Wednesday. This is the Democrats at their absolute sleaziest.

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The levels of voter support for I-1053 by legislative district are stunning. Look at the district-by-district results for the anti-democracy Democrats on the House Ways and Means Committee:

(Green means the legislator voted against the will of the People in his/her district.)

Carlyle, Reuven (D) Homepage
Cody, Eileen (D) Homepage
Darneille, Jeannie (D) Homepage
Dickerson, Mary Lou (D) Homepage
Haigh, Kathy (D) Homepage
Hasegawa, Bob (D) Homepage
Hudgins, Zack (D) Homepage
Hunt, Sam (D) Homepage
Hunter, Ross (D) Homepage
Kagi, Ruth (D) Homepage
Kenney, Phyllis Gutierrez (D) Homepage
Ormsby, Timm (D) Homepage
Pettigrew, Eric (D) Homepage
Seaquist, Larry (D) Homepage
Springer, Larry (D) Homepage
Sullivan, Pat (D) Homepage

The legislators in red at least represented the majority of their districts, even though the voted to undermine the state Constitution.

These public employees have violated the law in utter contempt of election. It is appropriate they be removed from office with loss of all retirement benefits. Further, they should never be allowed to take an office of public trust.

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Get a pdf listing of all the House legislators here. Email them.

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Tim Eyman furnished some elements of this report.

Rigging judicial elections

A bill has been introduced into the Washington State Senate which would require public campaign sponsorship for State Supreme Court judge election. The State Supreme Court primarily hears reviews of government actions and legislation.

In the interest of "fairness" the Democrats in the Senate have determined they ought to take over funding control of Supreme Court elections. There is a “Judicial Integrity Surcharge” fee. Its supposed to net the state treasury over $590,000 in fees.

They say the concern is the we the People are too easily corrupted by campaign spending. We might vote for someone who puts on a better campaign.

In short the legislature plans to control who does reviews of the legislature's action, by control of the public vote -- Democracy be damned.

Its a clear power grab by the legislature. If this bill becomes law, the legislature will control the purse strings of judge campaigns, effectively controlling who gets to run. They hope to expand their power by reducing unfriendly reviews of their actions.

If you think carefully about your ballot, let your state Senator know you are watching their vote. Look up your legislator here.

The bill is 5010 SB.

I-1053 - Protection at last (again)

Thank Heaven we have protection again. One of the protections of I-1053 (and the earlier I-960) is the "sunshine" provision. The State Legislature is required to report all proposed fees and taxes and who proposed them. When voters know what legislators do, the legislators scurry for dark corners the way cockroaches do. I-1053 is working as it should.

1046 HB will increase the fee to vehicle and vessel quick title fees has been introduced into the Washington State House. The total cost over the next ten years is expected to be a mere $1,524,713. The proposed bill is not up for vote yet.

Compare this to the 30 days or so the legislature was hiding in a dark corner, sneaking in billions in new taxes, while they had "suspended" I-960 --- That cost the state's citizens over $200 million per day in increased taxation.

The Legislature are still rascals who spend your money as if you had too much. They deserve a close eye. If your own legislator voted to suspend I-960, canvas to get the creep unelected, starting right now.

Sign up for emailed sunshine reports on the Legislature's activity at the I-1053 information Subscriptions page.

Look into the Legislature's other activity at Legislative Bill Information.

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Update 01.21.2011

The House Ways and Means Committee has decided to reject I-1053 (The Will of the People). They decided to pass fee increase decisions to Gregoire. This is an illegal move. But it will remove fee increase decisions from the bright light and legislative control required by I-1053.

Email your legislator and tell them what you think of this illegal act. Get active or get screwed.

Governor Gregoire Offers to Sieze Control of Education

Governor Christine Gregoire proposes she control education in Washington State. Naturally Gregoire used smooth speech and honeyed words, but what is she up to?

This will require Gregoire "edit" the current state constitution.

ARTICLE III
THE EXECUTIVE
SECTION 1 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. The executive department shall consist of a governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, attorney general, superintendent of public instruction, and a commissioner of public lands, who shall be severally chosen by the qualified electors of the state at the same time and place of voting as for the members of the legislature.

"Every Governor I've known has wanted more power. This is a smokescreen that takes time and energy away from the more important issue of funding," the elected Education Superintendent Randy Dorn said. "In February 2009, a King County Superior Court Judge ruled that basic education is underfunded in the state - and that ruling was based on financial data from two years before. Since then, education has been cut even further [by Governor Gregoire's administration.]"

Governor Christine Gregoire has already proven she will not fund education adequately. Now she wants to re-write the state constitution and take total control. Will we resist?

Video

Governor Gregoire Rebels Against the People

"I'm not gonna let 1053 [the law] stand in the way of me moving forward for what I think is right."
-- Governor Christine Gregoire

On Tuesday, at a pre-session Associated Press event in Olympia, Gregoire placed herself firmly in favor of lawlessness, and against the will of the people.

I-1053 is the law.

I-1053 was approved by 64% of the voters and it is the 4th time it has been approved by them.

Thanks to Senator Roach and Attorney General McKenna, we have an AG legal opinion that backs up this clear principle supported by 64% of voters: decisions about taking more of the people's money must be made by elected representatives in the Legislature -- we, as a state, reject taxation without representation.

It is truly scary when the highest ranking official in the government declares her superiority to the rule of law. No one is above the law, not even the governor.

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As many as nine Democrats lost their seats in November for refusing to abide by Initiative 960 approved by 51% of the people 3 years ago. Now we see governor Christine Gregoire advocating disrespect of 64% of the people who approved I-1053 just 2 months ago.

Voters will assuredly go medieval on officials who follow Gregoire on her lawless, political-suicide mission.

A super-majority of voters approved I-1053 in November. The initiative requires taxes and fees be treated differently: Tax hikes need a 2/3 vote of the Legislature and fee increases need a majority vote. Simple, plain, understandable.

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The opinion by Attorney General Rob McKenna, requested by Sen. Pam Roach, backs up what we've been saying since day one. State agencies -- including the Transportation Commission on tolls and public schools on tuition -- can no longer unilaterally impose new fees. (The transportation commission, and other state commissions are staffed only by bureaucrats. Bureaucrats are unelected and are unresponsive to the will of the People.)

And if a tax increase is truly necessary, then getting 2/3's legislative approval or a vote of the people -- I-1053's requirement -- shouldn't be a problem.

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But Governor Christine Gregoire advocated overthrow of lawful government.

Governor Christine Gregoire - This is America. You work for Us! You are not above the law!

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Washington State Constitution
ARTICLE I
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS

SECTION 1 POLITICAL POWER. All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.