Socialized medicine proposition

Senate Bill 5747 proposes health care financing be controlled by the state.  If this Obamacare type insurance scam is enacted, it pretty much means Washington State will have the highest taxes in the US. and poorest medical care.  A lot of the language is similar to Obamacare, such as "[SB5747 will] generate savings sufficient to ensure coverage for all Washington  residents." Not likely.

Anyway, there will be a hearing on 01/18/2018 at 10:00AM, at the J.A. Cherberg Building, Senate Hearing Rm 2, Olympia, WA.  The notice for this hearing was time stamped Wednesday, January 17, 2018 4:18 PM. Such short notice makes it pretty clear the legislature thinks this such a bad idea, they had to rush to ram it down our throats.

Civilian gun restriction plans in Washington State

The Washington State Senate Law & Justice Committee has indicated it will hold a public hearing on multiple gun bills on the following Monday, January 15^th from 10:00AM-12:00PM. 

The committee agenda has not yet been posted for which bills will be heard; however, anti-gun legislators have already made it clear they are going to push several sweeping gun control bills this year.

• Senate Bill 5050, sponsored by Senator David Frockt (D-46), and House Bill 1134, sponsored by Representative Strom Peterson (D-21), would prohibit all possession, purchase, sale or transfer of commonly owned semi-automatic rifles and ammunition magazines holding ten or more rounds.


• Senate Bill 5444, sponsored by Senator Frockt, and House Bill 1387, sponsored by Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-27), would impose a registration-licensing system for commonly owned semi-automatic rifles and ammunition magazines holding ten or more rounds.  Among the idiocies, Section 1. (27)(vi) restricts marine flare guns "assault weapons."


• Senate Bill 5463, sponsored by Senator Frockt, and House Bill 1122, sponsored by Representative Ruth Kagi (D-32), would require individuals to lock up firearms or potentially face Class C Felony charges [All of Section 2, especially (2)(a)].  This intrusive government legislation invades people’s homes and forces them to render their firearms useless in a self-defense situation by locking them up.

Update:  Next Thursday, January 18th, House Bill 1122 is scheduled for a vote in the House Judiciary Committee.  Please contact members of the House Judiciary Committee and urge them to oppose this bill! Comment on the bill to voice your opposition.

Suitable storage of firearms varies by personal circumstances as different gun owners have different requirements and it is unreasonable for the law to attempt to impose a one-size-fits-all solution.

Senate Bill 5463, the companion bill of HB 1122, has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Law and Justice Committee on Monday, January 15th at 10:00AM.

• Senate Bill 5992, sponsored by Senator Kevin Van De Wege (D-24), would make it a crime to knowingly possess a firearm accessory or any other device, part or combination of parts that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm.

Update: Trigger Modification Ban Passed Committee
Earlier today, the Washington state Senate Law & Justice Committee passed Senate Bill 5992 out of committee with a 4-3 vote. As drafted, this legislation has overreaching language that would ban modifications commonly made to firearms by law-abiding citizens (post your comment here).  This bill is expected to be on the Senate floor as soon as Thursday.  Please contact your Senator and urge them to OPPOSE this legislation.

Senate Bill 5992, sponsored by Senator Kevin Van De Wege (D-24), mirrors federal legislation proposed by anti-gun California U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA).  This bill would make it a crime to knowingly possess a firearm accessory or any other device, part or combination of parts that is designed or functions to accelerate the rate of fire of a semi-automatic firearm.  The broad and overreaching provisions in SB 5992 could potentially criminalize firearm modifications such as competition triggers, muzzle brakes, and ergonomic changes that are commonly done by law-abiding gun owners to make their firearms more suitable for self-defense, competition, hunting, or even overcoming disability.

• Senate Bill 6049, sponsored by Senator Frockt, would prohibit the possession of ammunition magazines holding ten or more rounds, with limited exceptions.

It’s imperative that Second Amendment supporters make their voice heard during these hearings and throughout the legislative session. If you are able to, please tentatively plan to attend the committee hearing in Olympia on January 15^th.

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We the People can claim our constitutional defense against these proposals, but that won't stop the Democratic Party from choosing to support their criminal constituents over innocent people.  Witness what happened in California to Kate Steinle.

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Washington State Constitution, Article 1, Section 24: RIGHT TO BEAR ARMS. 

"The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired, but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men."  [A citizen has the right to be armed, but not to form a private army].

United State Constitution, Amendment 2:

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

Children or guns?

People are interested in good society, not murdering each other.  Don't be puzzled that more guns in law-abiding,  civilian hands results in less crime.

The choice the leftist controlled media would have us believe is  'children or guns.'

The media can sound so self-righteous when they insist the free person is too free and must be controlled to save children's lives.  But that has never been the choice.

It is the right of life to have means of self-preservation.  By far most people have a weapon for self-defense, against a day they hope will never come. 

Attorney General Bob Ferguson calls for Gun Bans

Attorney General Bob Ferguson authored a couple of unfair gun ban & seizure bills which are currently under consideration in the Washington State legislature.  The bills are also probably unconstitutional: "Article 1, Section 24:Right to Bear Arms. "The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired [its a private right], but nothing in this section shall be construed as authorizing individuals or corporations to organize, maintain or employ an armed body of men [no private armies]."

Gun control is a stagnant idea.  Guns are not the problem; guns are neutral tools.  Criminal behavior is the problem.   Gary Kleck demonstrated that an American uses a firearm in self defense, on average, every thirteen seconds.  This does not ennoble a firearm.  It only re-demonstrates that guns are not the problem. 

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Senate Bill 5050 would prohibit all possession, purchase, sale or transfer of commonly owned semi-automatic rifles and ammunition magazines holding ten or more rounds, and House Bill 1387, which would impose a registration-licensing system for these so-called “assault weapons” and “large-capacity magazines.”

In the United States, firearms registration has always preceded seizure:  The New York example; and the California example.

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The following reasoning is clear and accurate:

“If you are for gun control, then you are not against guns, because the guns will be needed to disarm people. So it’s not that you are anti-gun. You’ll need the police’s guns to take away other people’s guns. So you’re very pro-gun; you just believe that only the Government (which is, of course, so reliable, honest, moral and virtuous…) should be allowed to have guns. There is no such thing as gun control. There is only centralizing gun ownership in the hands of a small political elite and their minions.”
-- Stefan Molyneux

Seattle City Clowncil -- Fool Speed Ahead!

There has been no shortage of big news in Seattle this past week. Between (1) Amazon's bombshell announcement they were setting up a new headquarters, and (2) Mayor Ed Murray resigning in scandal, city government has been rocked to its core.

At least, it should be rocked to its core. Instead, you saw council members signal that they just don't get it.

Some lambasted Amazon for daring to expand elsewhere, and called for new taxes on successful Seattle businesses. It all sends a signal to other businesses: Look elsewhere.

This is a council determined to stay the stupid course and impose ever-more taxes, fees, and rules on the businesses that have helped make Seattle vibrant and wealthy. Seattle city government is more likely to view thriving businesses as leeches than contributing employers.

The city budget has grown rapidly yet city government is a mess, and the obvious anti-business stance of the city council is clearly creating economic downsides.

Time for a course correction? No, they say, full speed ahead.

-Rob McKenna

Resistance to Seattle council income tax

Freedom Foundation attorneys joined with the Seattle law firm of Lane, Powell, PC – the region’s most respected tax law specialists – to file a lawsuit on behalf of 19 Seattle residents that would kill the new income tax before it takes effect and spreads to other parts of the state and other income classes.  

The tax measure, which requires residents to pay a 2.25 percent tax if they are a single filer and make more than $250,000 annually or file jointly and make more than $500,000, is a clear violation of the state constitution’s equal protection language because it holds Washingtonians to different standards based on their income level.

It also violates state law, the Seattle city charter, 100 years of legal precedent and the will of the voters as expressed at least 10 times over the years.

“This is clearly bad policy and illegal, but it’s also an assault on the rule of law,” David Dewhirst, Freedom Foundation litigation counsel, told Fox News. “If they can get away with it this time, where does it stop?” 

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Among those covering the story:
National TV

• Fox & Friends (FOX News): Freedom Foundation Lawsuit Against Seattle’s Income Tax
• Varney & Co (FOX Business): Freedom Foundation’s Lawsuit Against Seattle’s Income Tax
• Varney & Co (FOX Business): Freedom Foundation’s Lawsuit Against Seattle’s Income Tax
• Mornings With Maria Bartiromo (FOX Business): Freedom Foundation’s Lawsuit Against Seattle’s Income Tax
• FBN AM (FOX Business): "Two groups" suing Seattle
• Kennedy (Fox Business): Freedom Foundation Lawsuit Over Seattle's Tax On The Rich
• Trish Regan (Fox Business): Freedom Foundation Lawsuit Over Seattle Income Tax

Local TV

• KOMO 4 (ABC): Freedom Foundation’s Lawsuit Against Seattle’s Income Tax
• KIRO 7 (CBS): Freedom Foundation, Opportunity For All File Lawsuits 
• KIRO 7 (CBS): Freedom Foundation, Opportunity For All File Lawsuits 
• KING 5 (NBC): Freedom Foundation’s Lawsuit Against Seattle’s Income Tax

National Articles

• Fox News: EXCLUSIVE: Freedom Foundation Sues Seattle Over Controversial New Income Tax
• Wall Street Journal: Lawsuit Says Seattle’s ‘Tax-The-Rich’ Measure Violates State Constitution
• Washington Examiner: Seattle Sued Over Controversial Income Tax On The Wealthy
• Red State: Seattle Adopts Illegal Income Tax: Freedom Foundation Files Suit To Stop It
• Fox Nation (Red State): Seattle Adopts Illegal Income Tax: Freedom Foundation Files Suit To Stop It
• Fox Business (WSJ): Lawsuit Says Seattle’s ‘Tax-The-Rich’ Measure Violates State Constitution  
• The Blaze: Freedom Foundation Sues Seattle Over Tax Targeting The ‘Rich’
• PJ Media: Seattle Sued Over ‘Tax The Rich’ Law
• Newsmax: WSJ: Seattle’s ‘Tax-The-Rich’ Measure Spurs Freedom Foundation Lawsuit
• Politico (Morning Tax): See You In Court
• Reason: Lawsuit Says Seattle's Income Tax Illegal, Unconstitutional
• Vanity Fair: Wealthy Seattleites Are Having None Of This Income Tax Crap

Local Articles 

• Associated Press: 3 Suits Filed Against Seattle Target Income Tax On Wealthy
• KOMO: Freedom Foundation Files Lawsuit Against Seattle’s High-Income Tax
• Seattle Times: Two More Suits Filed To Block Seattle’s New Income Tax
• Seattle PI: ‘Illegal For Many Reasons’: Group Sues Seattle Over Income Tax
• Seattle Weekly: Fremont ‘Baroness,’ Shoe Designer, Microsoft Exec Sue Over Income Tax
• My Northwest: Seattle Hit With More Lawsuits Over Income Tax

Local Radio

• KPLU-FM: 4:30 p.m., 5 a.m., 7 a.m.
• KOMO-AM: 2 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m.
• KUOW-AM: 5:30 p.m., 5 a.m., 7 a.m., 11 a.m.
• KNKX-FM: 4:30 p.m., 5:30 a.m., 7 a.m.

Video

• Fox News: Seattle Tax Hike: Think Tank Fights Back With Lawsuit
• Fox & Friends (FOX News): Freedom Foundation Lawsuit Against Seattle’s Income Tax

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Story and links provided by the Freedom Foundation
 

Inslee gets petty

If you ask a Democratic insider in Olympia (off the record, of course) how influential Gov. Jay Inslee is in his party's legislative caucuses, you're bound to learn a lot. Legislators just concluded a bruising budget negotiation, but "the fingerprints of Inslee's December budget proposal are scarcely to be found" in the final product,  I point out on the SmarterGovernmentWashington website.

His fingerprints are smeared all over a very public veto he made yesterday of a bipartisan agreement to extend the B&O tax rates that Boeing receives to other manufacturers. These lower rates were "paid for" by ending other tax incentives, and are key to the final budget deal. Inslee vetoed the provision anyway, then gave a needlessly inartful, lecturing answer about it at a press conference.
What if legislators are upset about his veto, he was asked. "I can't control their tender feelings," he retorted. There were plenty of other such lines, but his fit of pique mostly revealed the weak hand he plays from in the state capitol (he is, he has insisted, "a player on the field").

Sen. Michael Baumgartner (R-Spokane) tweeted out, "There will 100% NOT be a Capital budget unless House helps overide Veto. Deal is a deal. 88 yes votes."

Rep. Drew Stokesbary (R-Auburn) wrote, "Reneging on difficult deal in which all sides gave up something is going to have profound consequences on future #waleg budgets negotiations." Turns out the other players on the field have moves to make, too.

-Rob McKenna

Special session update, revenue forecast released

The Legislature has concluded its second special session. There is still no agreement on an operating budget or an education funding plan. However, negotiators are very close.

I understand there is some concerns about a government shutdown and possible state employees being furloughed. However, while it is a situation we must prepare for, it is unlikely.

Contingency plans are being made if we do get to June 30 and a budget is not in place. We may be in a situation where the budget and education funding plans get passed by the end of the month, but we need to take a couple extra days in July to finish other business such as the capital budget and Hirst.

The governor indicated yesterday he would veto any temporary budget that would keep the government running for a few extra days until lawmakers reach a deal. Nobody wants to see a government shutdown and we want to do whatever is possible to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Negotiations

The education funding negotiation team continues to meet. Progress is being made, but given the extensive amount of detail involved, it is a difficult process. I remain positive that we will reach a solution for the education funding plan and the operating budget by the end of the month.

As for taxes with the operating budget, – I am hearing there are some still on the table – the internet sales tax and possibly adjusting the real estate excise tax. As I stated in my last update, I wouldn’t expect a capital gains state income tax or an increase to the B&O tax, as much as the governor would like to see one. I am still uncertain as to whether or not they have 50 votes for tax increases in the House, and 25 votes for tax increases in the Senate. We do not need to increase any taxes given the amount of revenue coming into the state.

Revenue Forecast

The Economic Revenue Forecast Council released their latest revenue forecast on Tuesday. The revenue  forecast has been increased by $81 million for the 2015-17 budget cycle and by $87 million for the 2017-19 budget cycle. The increases are smaller than the increases in the March forecast, but they are still positive.

While this provides some additional dollars that may be beneficial to budget negotiations, more dollars for the budget is not necessary. A reminder, we are expecting more than a 13 percent increase in revenue – taxpayer dollars – this biennium. Revenue is not the issue. I am concerned about what the level of proposed spending may be in the final budget plan. However, we will talk about that when the plan comes out.

I urge everyone to stay optimistic. From what I am seeing, a responsible, sustainable solution is within reach.

Sincerely,

Cary Condotta

Seattle taxes soda pop.

The Seattle City Council adopted a soda tax this week.  The rate is 1.75 cents per ounce, which means the tax would be about $1.18 for a 2-liter bottle of soda.  That rate will more than double the  price of some flavors.

The Left in Washington has grown bold, weaponizing taxes in the war against its opponents. They single out those they don’t like or the activities they find immoral, and use tax policy to compel submission to their fuzzy-headed, stupid-utopian dreams. Targeted authoritarianism is un-American and the precedent is dangerous.

The Left is committing public nudity; they no longer dress up their taxes and regulations as "support of the working class."  The Teamsters union recognized that taxes damage jobs and called this part of the war on workers. The council compromised by offering to use $1.5 million of the money the job-killing tax collected to give to workers for job retraining.

Ironic?

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http://www.freedomfoundation.com/

Stop the King County plan to promote opium use

The opioid epidemic is taking thousands of lives across our country. According to the Center for Disease Control, prescription opioids and heroin take more lives every day than car accidents.

...

Last year King County Executive Dow Constantine and Seattle Mayor Ed Murray assembled a task force to recommend how King County can address this problem. Among many suggestions was a proposal to create two-one in Seattle and one outside the city-“safe” sites for users to inject heroin and other illegal drugs.

These sites would be their first of their kind in the United States, but to understand how they impact communities, one must only look to Vancouver, B.C., home to the only heroin injection site in North America.

The statistics are startling. Overdoses in British Columbia are up over 490% since they opened their injection site, and they fail to get 98.5% of the users off lethal narcotics. Vancouver police estimate over 5,000 intravenous users live within a few blocks of the site’s neighborhood, where needles are littered all over the streets.

Is this an ethical way for King County to spend taxpayer dollars?

Many don’t believe it is, which is why a group called Safe King County, led by Bothell City Councilman Joshua Freed, have launched I-27 to ban heroin injection sites. They believe the money we’d spend on operating these sites-which costs $3 million per year in Vancouver-would be better spent on proven, compassionate solutions that will get people off drugs and save their lives.
I-27 is in the signature gathering stage, and is open to any registered King County voter. If you feel as I do that these sites are wrong for our neighborhoods, you can ask Safe King County to mail you a petition form here.

If you don’t live in King County, you should still be concerned about these sites. Like any other King County proposal, it’s only a matter of time until advocates try to build heroin injection sites statewide.

Donate today to help Safe King County gather enough signatures and stop heroin injection sites from popping up in communities across the state.

To qualify I-27 for the November ballot, Safe King County needs 47,443 signatures. When I talked to Joshua earlier this week, he told me they already have 8,000 signatures and have mailed out over 300 petitions to people that have requested one from their website.

The support is truly impressive, and if you’d like to have your voice be heard, visit their website and request a petition. Together we can push King County toward real solutions that will save lives.


Rob McKenna