Washington State Redistricting Plan

Population growth entitles Washington to another seat in the US House of Representatives. Washington State is being redistricted.

The new redistricting map is the product of a bipartisan committee headed by Republican commissioner Slade Gorton and Democrat commissioner Tim Ceis, both of King County.

Under the plan, Thurston County is almost entirely in the new 10th District including the Cities of Olympia and Yelm. Bits of other counties include the Cities of Shelton (Mason County), Dupont and Puyallup (Pierce County). This seat is calculated to be very safe for the Democratic Party.

The new layout will leave the Democratic Party in control of 5 districts and the Republican Party in 4. Ironically, the First District goes from a safe Democratic party seat to more of a toss up.

Its not a done deal yet - the plan will be finalized January first.

The district maps
The current map from 2001
The new map

Sources:
Seattle PI
The Olympian

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Update 1/5/12 - The plan is finalized and is being transmitted to the Legislature on 1/9/12

Governor Gregoire to increase taxes

Gregoire finally announced the specifics of her plan to deal with the state's overspending - She really plans to increase of the base sales tax to 7%. The total sales tax you pay will vary according to the rate in the taxing authority you live in. Seattle will be 10%. This will cost taxpayers at least $5 billion over the next 10 years. Don't think this sales tax hike will be "temporary".

Gregoire's political pals announced higher gas taxes and car tab taxes costing taxpayers $21 billion over the next 10 years. Gregoire has had a long running affair with raising fuel taxation. In November, the voters rejected a 2 cents per can of pop in taxes. Instead of taking the hint, Gregoire is pushing for $26 billion in higher taxes.

Washington State voters need to un-elect a politicians whose only skills are taking more of our money, mis-managing state government, and making a bad economy even worse. Gregoire and her tax and spend Demo-buddies need to go.

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A couple of possible new fees/taxes you'll be seeing

HB 2166 - A new and additional tax on "solid fuel burning devices" (wood stoves). Buy a sweater.
SB 5981 - A seed dealer license fee, which will primarily impact "Grown in Washington" foods. The impact would be small, but the attitude is all wrong.