Critical Race Theory and the Washington teachers’ union

The largest labor union in Washington state, the Washington Education Association (WEA), represents nearly 100,000 teachers and support staff in Washington’s K-12 system. It is also one of the biggest forces for transforming taxpayer-funded government schools into indoctrination and recruitment centers for leftist activism.

While it has been true for decades, recent events have awakened many parents to the reality that the values and interests of teachers’ unions do not align with those of their families. Perhaps the biggest driving force behind this realization is the concerted effort to saturate government schools with the toxic and divisive ideology of critical race theory (CRT).

In August, the Freedom Foundation documented how the National Education Association (NEA) — the nation’s largest teachers’ union — had gone all-in backing CRT as a way to advance a far-left political agenda under the guise of fighting racism.

A review of WEA’s statements and materials confirms that the NEA affiliate is every bit as invested in CRT as the Washington, D.C., headquarters.

(Freedom Foundation)

 

Seattle Elementary School Cancels Halloween Celebration

This is not a move for COVID safety, Benjamin Franklin Elementary said.  No.  Instead. the Halloween Celebration marginalizes people of color.

"Following five years of deliberation about the future of the school’s annual pumpkin parade, Benjamin Franklin Elementary School has decided to nix the holiday tradition this year on the advice of the school’s Racial Equity Team (The Daily Wire)."

"The spokesperson says other Seattle schools have also canceled Halloween festivities recently. She claims Black students, particularly males, do not celebrate the secular holiday. The decision was meant to protect them from feeling marginalized."

"'Historically, the Pumpkin Parade marginalizes students of color who do not celebrate the holiday,' the spokesperson claimed. 'Specifically, these students have requested to be isolated on campus while the event took place. In alliance with SPS’s unwavering commitment to students of color, specifically African American males, the staff is committed to supplanting the Pumpkin Parade with more inclusive and educational opportunities during the school day' (MyNorthwest)."

Mental Health Telephone and your phone

The Federal Communications Commission has mandated that everyone must dial all 10 digits of a telephone number, even for local calls.  This is being done to facilitate new 988, three dgit number, to be used to reach the National Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Crisis Lifeline.  The three digit number for the crisis line will start operating on July 16, 2022.  Users will still have to dial the current number 1-800-273-TALK (8255) until then.

The suicide prevention line required a new tax on phone service in Washington State, which the legislature enacted as HB 1477 - 2021-22 (text).  The tax is 24 cents per line per month between October 1, 2021, and December 31, 2022, and is increased to 40 cents per line per month beginning January 1, 2023.  All forms of voice communication are subject to the tax.

Impolite research could not find published results on the effectiveness of using telephone mental health services. 

 

Initiative No. 1408 - No Taxes Based On Personal Income Act

The 2021 Washington State Legislature passed ESSB 5096 which created a 7% tax on the sale or exchange of long-term capital assets.    This tax seems to apply to rich guys only.  But leaked documents show it will be used as a wedge to introduce a general tax on income.  

There was a bill prohibiting taxes based on personal income was introduced duringthe 2021 legislative session in Olympia. Unfortunately, it was not considered.

Now, here, this initiative is being proposed so that the 2022 legislature will consider it. If that legislature does not pass this initiative into law, the voters may do so on November 8, 2022.

Washington  voters  have  voted  10  times  against  state  taxes  based  on personal income. The most recent time was in 2010, when large majorities of voters in all 39 counties—and 64 percent of voters, statewide — rejected Initiative 1098 (A former income tax proposal).

Initiative text link

I will support this initiative.  To make a petition in Washington State is a complicated process.   To get understanding of the process and applications, examine the Washington State Constitution, Article II, Section 1, paragraphs (a), (b), (c) & (d) (WA Constitution link)

The initiative does not have a website yet -- the legislature gets to act, or fail to act, first.. I will post the link.  Most likely we will get a chance to vote for I-1408 in 2022. 
I-1408 will give Washington voters  the  opportunity  to  reaffirm their strong, long-standing opposition to taxes based on personal income. 

Insurance Commissioner Kreidler increased your insurance rates

Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler issued an "emergency rule" banning the use of credit scoring in calculating insurance rates.  This rule went into effect on June 20. Many of you may now be seeing an increase in your home, auto or renter's insurance rates.

Commissioner Kreidler couldn't get any traction with his bill last legislative session, so he decided to use the emergency rule to get around the Legislature. The bill could not make it out of committee in the Senate. There was and is clearly bipartisan opposition to the rule as exhibited by two recent opinion-editorials.

In The Seattle Times, Sen. Mark Mullet said: “Adding on to families' economic burdens is often unwise. But to do so amid the ongoing hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic is downright cruel — and the blame sits squarely on the desk of state Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler.” 

Rep. Brandon Vick also penned an opinion-editorial in The Columbian. In it, he concluded: “If your rates went up, blame Commissioner Kreidler. If you want to do something about it, tell the commissioner how upset you are and then contact your legislators.” 

• OPINION: Your insurance premiums should not rise needlessly (Democratic Sen. Mark Mullet, chairs the Senate Business, Financial Services and Trade Committee/The Seattle Times)
• OPINION: Who is causing rate increases? (Republican Rep. Brandon Vick, ranking minority member on the House Consumer Protection and Business Committee/The Columbian)

Kreidler's actions are another example of abusing emergency rules and why we need emergency powers reforms. His actions are adding unnecessary costs on to families as we continue through the hardship of the pandemic.

- Rep. Keith Goehner 

Washington State redistricting

The Redistricting Commission will be rebalancing the state legislative districts to ensure each district represents approximately the same population. 

This redrawing of district lines is a result of the 2020 census.  The Article 2, Section 43, Washington State constitutional requirement for updated district lines (WAState Constitution) for years ending in one.

The redistricting commission has proposed this map for new voting districts -- it isn't final until it is adopted.  There are not a lot of changes over current maps, but you may wish to comment on how proposed changes that affect you.  

Comments can be made the Washington Redistricting Commission website.  The comment (which they call "testimony") form is located here.

Relevant RCW is at RCW 44.05.030.

Seattle Mayor Durken extends COVID eviction moratorium

Tuesday, September 21 Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan announced an extension of the Seattle’s eviction moratorium through January 15, 2022.

This eviction moratorium includes “residential, nonprofit and small-business tenants, with small businesses defined as those with 50 or fewer employees. Most evictions are prohibited for those tenants, including evictions for nonpayment of rent, though tenants remain legally obligated to pay rent and can accumulate debt.”

This is the sixth time since the pandemic that the Mayor has extended the city’s eviction moratorium.

(Text of the mayor's edict)

Washington High School canceled 9/11 Tribute to avoid offending...

... Which is far more offensive to a large swath of people. 

The Eastlake High School students planned to wear red, white and blue to the football game. 

But the principal, who blamed “leadership teachers,” said “I know tomorrow is 9/11 and understand the sacrifice and values our flag represents, but I think they just did not want to unintentionally cause offense to some who see it differently.”

(Source - My Northwest)

Washington State Income Tax Developments

The Freedom Foundation has filed lawsuit against the Washington State Capital Gains Tax the legislature enacted last May.  We all know that a capital gains tax is only prelude to a general income tax on all citizens.  All we citizens need is another tax... .

The state rulers attempted to dismiss the lawsuit based on the argument that our defendants would not know for a fact if they would have to pay the tax, since the new law doesn't go into effect till 2023 (the " citizens are too dumb" argument). 

The Judge didn't agree with the state and supported the Freedom Foundation's argument that we the people have standing (a technical term meaning "a right to make legal claims").

The case will proceed!

In addition to this the judge decided not to move case to Thurston County and it will be heard in Douglas County, a county that will give us citizens a better chance of winning.

Save our state from income tax!

Donate to the Freedom Foundation to stop the capital gains tax

https://www.freedomfoundation.com/donate/

Participate in Redistricting

Every 10 years the state's Redistricting Commission is charged with redrawing the shapes of Congressional and Legislative districts based on changes in population. All the districts are supposed to be similar in population. One of the changes being considered is cutting off parts of our district that are South of Hwy-410 and eliminating Sumner.  This would split most of the cities along 410 in half.

If you feel it is as important as I do to maintain the Hwy-410 corridor in one district, consider participating in the process. There is still time to let your voice be heard.

Here are some things to consider:

• It is important to maintain the continuity of all the cities in the 31st District along the Hwy-410 corridor and the Chinook Scenic Byway as the gateway to Mount Rainier.
• Many businesses rely on the important tourist trade, and splitting the corridor in multiple districts will make coordination of WSDOT and Capital Budget projects more difficult.

Phil Fortunato

Leave your comments here: https://www.redistricting.wa.gov/participate/describe