Washigton Governor candidates & abortion rights

Would Dave Reichert going to force Washington to abandon abortion?

Reichert says that, as governor, he will enforce the law, even if he personally disagrees with it. "You have the [legal] right to make that decision" Reichert said. (NW News Network).

Bob Ferguson satirized Reichert because of his voting record. Ferguson claimed Reichert voted against abortion (and so cannot be trusted as governor).

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Deocrats have been claiming women die because of abortion laws.  Recently the claim includes the sad story of a woman in Georgia Democrats claim died because of Georgian abortion laws.

But the claim ia apparently false.

PNW is underpowered in electricity.

The Seattle Times reports a "Surge in electricity demand spells trouble for PNW. &  forecasts show  the challenges facing the Northwest all are exacerbated by the region’s new energy hog: data centers." 

Washington state will follow California and prohibit the sale of new gas-powered vehicles by 2035, Jay Inslee, the state governor, said.

This is not the time to enact the new internal combustion engine ban.  Only those wed to climate control think it is.  Besides, they realize their data is faked.  And they don't care.

WA initiatives we get to vote on in November

Washington Initiative 2109, Repeal Capital Gains Tax Initiative - click here to download the text in pdf

We need to limit government overreach. Support good tax reform. And give working people a break.
Initiative 2109 repeals the state’s capital gains income tax to help small business owners and entrepreneurs build more and hire more.

Washington Initiative 2117, Repeal Carbon Cap and Invest Program Measure - click here to download the text in pdf

Stop the Hidden Gas Tax - Carbon Tax = Higher Gas Prices
Policies from Olympia have pushed the cost of living up. Groceries. Utilities. Insurance. Gas and diesel. The cost of living in Washington state has become too expensive. You can do something about this. Initiative 21-17 cuts gas and diesel prices by repealing the state’s hidden gas tax that is adding 60 cents to each gallon of gas you buy. Reducing the cost of gas and diesel will help reduce the costs of groceries and home utilities in our state.

Washington Initiative 2124, Opt-Out of Long-Term Services Insurance Program Initiative - click here to download the text in pdf 

This allows workers to opt out of the state’s long-term care insurance program that is currently taking money out of each working person’s paycheck – forcing people to pay for a program with minimal benefits - that they most likely won’t ever use
 

Then vote to reduce pointless taxes and regularization & the cost of living by voting!

✔ YES to I- 2109
✔ YES on I-2117
✔ YES on I 2124

Washington Legislature Anti-Gun legislation to Inslee

This year, anti-gun Washington Legislators continued their crusade of undermining the Second Amendment and defying the precedent established in the Bruen decision. While this session saw the passage of numerous anti-gun measures, it was not without its victories as well.  Thanks to the calls and emails from NRA Members and Second Amendment supporters, a number of equally bad measures were thankfully defeated. 

Please contact Governor Jay Inslee and respectfully ask him to veto the below anti-gun measures.

Bills Passed and Awaiting Governor Jay Inslee’s Consideration:

House Bill 1903 further victimizes otherwise law-abiding gun owners and places the liability on crime victims for theft of their own property by penalizing failing to report missing or stolen firearms within 24 hours.

House Bill 2021 expands the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms acquired from gun buyback programs held by state and local government entities.

House Bill 2118, the "FFL-Killer" bill, places onerous requirements on Washington-based FFLs and will put many out of business because of the financial burden to comply. Any FFL that does more than $1,000 of sales per year must run annual background checks on their employees, carry $1 million liability insurance, install steel doors or bars at the business, and meet onerous requirements for storage and security systems with 24-hour audio and video surveillance.

Senate Bill 5444 expands “sensitive places” where law-abiding citizens may no longer open carry in these publicly accessible areas - public transportation areas, libraries, zoos and aquariums. Nothing in the bill requires these “sensitive places” have any measures to protect citizens and prevent armed criminals from ignoring this arbitrary boundary and entering, such as metal detectors, security guards, or a police presence. Concealed Pistol License holders may still lawfully conceal carry their firearms in these locations.

Senate Bill 5985 codifies the unconstitutional provisions of Washington’s recent ban on commonly owned firearms into the section of state code on background checks. 

Bills Defeated During Session:

House Bill 1902 would have required individuals obtain a permit with live-fire training to be able to exercise the right to purchase firearms.

House Bill 2054 would have rationed Second Amendment rights by limiting firearm dealers from transferring or selling more than one firearm per 30-day period to an individual.

House Bill 2238 would have created an additional 11% excise tax on the sale or transfer of ammunition.

Senate Bill 5963 would have required an individual who owns a firearm to obtain residential insurance as a homeowner or a renter.

Legislature enacts another tax on workers

They call SB 6069 an improvement for retirement security.  It has no opt-out provision, so you must pay a percentage of your paycheck into the state's coffers.  Its a tax.  And it has passed both houses of the legislature and awaits the governor's signature.

Here is lie they told themselves to pass this thing.

"SB 6069 = Improving private Washington workforce retirement security standards by establishing Washington saves, an automatic enrollment individual retirement savings account program, and updating the Washington retirement marketplace statute."

In general, Democrats voted for this bill, and Republicans opposed it.  To look up your own representative or senator's vote, the vote record is posted at https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAGOV/bulletins/38f5ffe 

Initiative sucesses and the comng balllot battle on others

The legislature saw fit to repeal some of their own laws.  The People submitted initiative to the legislature.  The Democrats looked at the polls and realized that to keep their jobs, they better go along with the People's will.  (Who would mind if the Democrats were turned out of state government anyway?)

So the legislature enacted the following initiatives.

Initiative 2111 prohibits the state and local jurisdictions from imposing taxes on any individual person on any form of personal income.  The initiative specifies that "income" has the same meaning as "gross income" as under the federal tax code.

Initiative 2113 expanded authorization for vehicular pursuits by allowing an officer to conduct a vehicular pursuit where there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law.

Initiative 2081 declared 15 rights that parents and guardians of public school children have, including rights to receive or be notified of academic, medical, safety, and law enforcement matters; rights to examine and inspect certain materials and records; and rights to opt their children out of certain activities.

The initiatives will become law, taking effect about three months after the session ends, unless a referendum is filed. The last day of the session is Thursday.

Source - Seattle Times

The legislature has declined to act on certain Initiatives of the People.  These are

I-2109 The Initiative to repeal capital gains tax   The capital gains tax was passed by the Washington State Legislature in 2021.  It took effect on January 1, 2022.  Revenue from the tax was set to be deposited in the education legacy trust account and the common school construction account.  This initiative would repeal the 7% capital gains excise tax imposed on sales and exchanges of long-term capital assets by individuals with capital gains over $250,000.

Capital gains taxes suppress the willingness of investors to make large investments.  The rental housing industry is one example. 

I-2117 - Which will repeal carbon cap-and-invest program  & prohibit carbon tax credit trading.  Under this all state agencies are prohibited from implementing any type of carbon tax credit trading, also known as "cap and trade" or "cap and tax" scheme.  It includes the climate commitment act previously codified as chapter 70A.65 RCW.  This prohibition applies whether the resulting increased costs are imposed on fuel recipients or fuel suppliers. 

This has implications to this year’s supplemental spending.

I-2124, the initiative to opt-out of long-term Services Insurance Program. Instead, the law would change to requires employees and self-employed individuals to opt-in to coverage under the state's long-term services and supports trust health care program.  It would allows anyone to opt out of coverage at any time.  The Employee Security Department (ESD) would be responsible for developing rules to implement the opt-out process.  

The existing Long-Term services and supports trust program was created in 2019.  The Long-Term Services and Supports Trust Act (LTSS) created the first state-operated long-term care insurance program, known as the WA Cares Fund and is funded through a mandatory payroll tax on employees' wages.

Source - Washington Policy Center

Anti-Gun Bills Advance Through the Legislature

On Tuesday, February 27^th, HB 2118, the “Federal Firearm Licensee Killer” passed the Senate, and SB 5444, "Sensitive Places" expansion, passed the House. 

Both bills were amended in the second chamber and now must return to their respective chambers of origin for concurrence and final passage before heading to the Governor's desk. 

House Bill 2118, the "FFL-Killer" bill, was passed by the Senate with a vote of 28-21. The bill will now return to the House for concurrence due to an amendment adopted in the Senate. The onerous requirements of House Bill 2118 will likely put most Washington-based FFLs out of business because of the financial burden to comply. 

Under HB 2118, any FFL that does more than $1,000 of sales per year must run annual background checks on their employees, carry $1 million liability insurance, install steel doors or bars at the business, and meet onerous requirements for storage and security systems with 24-hour audio and video surveillance. Even the Seattle Times agrees “… HB 2118 pushes gun control to a level of punishment for legitimate businesses… [and] unnecessarily tightens the rein on gun dealers while using the public’s safety as a smoke screen.” `

Here is a list of all House members.  HB 2118 will affect us all if it is enacted, so we have a right to let all legislators now how we think about it.

peter.abbarno@leg.wa.gov; emily.alvarado@leg.wa.gov; andrew.barkis@leg.wa.gov; stephanie.barnard@leg.wa.gov; jessica.bateman@leg.wa.gov; april.berg@leg.wa.gov; steve.bergquist@leg.wa.gov; liz.berry@leg.wa.gov; dan.bronoske@leg.wa.gov; michelle.caldier@leg.wa.gov; lisa.callan@leg.wa.gov; kelly.chambers@leg.wa.gov; bruce.chandler@leg.wa.gov; mike.chapman@leg.wa.gov; greg.chaney@leg.wa.gov; frank.chopp@leg.wa.gov; leonard.christian@leg.wa.gov; april.connors@leg.wa.gov; chris.corry@leg.wa.gov; julio.cortes@leg.wa.gov; travis.couture@leg.wa.gov; lauren.davis@leg.wa.gov; tom.dent@leg.wa.gov; beth.doglio@leg.wa.gov; brandy.donaghy@leg.wa.gov; davina.duerr@leg.wa.gov; mary.dye@leg.wa.gov; debra.entenman@leg.wa.gov; carolyn.eslick@leg.wa.gov; darya.farivar@leg.wa.gov; jake.fey@leg.wa.gov; joe.fitzgibbon@leg.wa.gov; mary.fosse@leg.wa.gov; keith.goehner@leg.wa.gov; roger.goodman@leg.wa.gov; jenny.graham@leg.wa.gov; mia.gregerson@leg.wa.gov; dan.griffey@leg.wa.gov; david.hackney@leg.wa.gov; paul.harris@leg.wa.gov; spencer.hutchins@leg.wa.gov; cyndy.jacobsen@leg.wa.gov; laurie.jinkins@leg.wa.gov; mark.klicker@leg.wa.gov; shelley.kloba@leg.wa.gov; joel.kretz@leg.wa.gov; mari.leavitt@leg.wa.gov; debra.lekanoff@leg.wa.gov; sam.low@leg.wa.gov; nicole.macri@leg.wa.gov; jacquelin.maycumber@leg.wa.gov; stephanie.mcclintock@leg.wa.gov; joel.mcentire@leg.wa.gov; sharlett.mena@leg.wa.gov; melanie.morgan@leg.wa.gov; gina.mosbrucker@leg.wa.gov; greg.nance@leg.wa.gov; ed.orcutt@leg.wa.gov; timm.ormsby@leg.wa.gov; lillian.ortiz-self@leg.wa.gov; tina.orwall@leg.wa.gov; dave.paul@leg.wa.gov; strom.peterson@leg.wa.gov; gerry.pollet@leg.wa.gov; alex.ramel@leg.wa.gov; bill.ramos@leg.wa.gov; julia.reed@leg.wa.gov; kristine.reeves@leg.wa.gov; marcus.riccelli@leg.wa.gov; eric.robertson@leg.wa.gov; skyler.rude@leg.wa.gov; alicia.rule@leg.wa.gov; cindy.ryu@leg.wa.gov; bryan.sandlin@leg.wa.gov; sharontomiko.santos@leg.wa.gov; joe.schmick@leg.wa.gov; suzanne.schmidt@leg.wa.gov; tana.senn@leg.wa.gov; clyde.shavers@leg.wa.gov; tarra.simmons@leg.wa.gov; vandana.slatter@leg.wa.gov; larry.springer@leg.wa.gov; chris.stearns@leg.wa.gov; mike.steele@leg.wa.gov; drew.stokesbary@leg.wa.gov; monica.stonier@leg.wa.gov; chipalo.street@leg.wa.gov; jamila.taylor@leg.wa.gov; my-linh.thai@leg.wa.gov; steve.tharinger@leg.wa.gov;  joe.timmons@leg.wa.gov; mike.volz@leg.wa.gov; amy.walen@leg.wa.gov; jim.walsh@leg.wa.gov; kevin.waters@leg.wa.gov; jt.wilcox@leg.wa.gov; sharon.wylie@leg.wa.gov; alex.ybarra@leg.wa.gov

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Senate Bill 5444, regarding open carry bans passed with a vote of 58-36.  This bill expands so-called “sensitive places” in many publicly accessible areas including public transit stations or facilities, public libraries, zoos, and aquariums. The bill permits firearms in those places with a Concealed Pistol License. 

SB 5444 passed both houses.  Next it heads to the governor's desk for his signature. Send Gov. Inslee an email explaining why he should not sign this bill.  

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House Bill 1903 further victimizes otherwise law-abiding gun owners and places the liability on crime victims for theft of their own property by penalizing failing to report missing or stolen firearms within 24 hours.  Send Gov. Inslee an email explaining why he should not sign this bill.  

House Bill 2021 expands the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms acquired from gun buyback programs held by state and local government entities.  It is presently scheduled for a floor vote in the Senate.  

Since the whole state will be affected, we all have the right to contact the whole senate.  So here are their emails:

andy.billig@leg.wa.gov; matt.boehnke@leg.wa.gov; john.braun@leg.wa.gov; annette.cleveland@leg.wa.gov; steve.conway@leg.wa.gov; manka.dhingra@leg.wa.gov; perry.dozier@leg.wa.gov; phil.fortunato@leg.wa.gov; noel.frame@leg.wa.gov; chris.gildon@leg.wa.gov; drew.hansen@leg.wa.gov; bob.hasegawa@leg.wa.gov; brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov; jeff.holy@leg.wa.gov; sam.hunt@leg.wa.gov; claudia.kauffman@leg.wa.gov; karen.keiser@leg.wa.gov; curtis.king@leg.wa.gov; patty.kuderer@leg.wa.gov; marko.liias@leg.wa.gov; liz.lovelett@leg.wa.gov; john.lovick@leg.wa.gov; drew.macewen@leg.wa.gov; jim.mccune@leg.wa.gov; mark.mullet@leg.wa.gov; ron.muzzall@leg.wa.gov; joe.nguyen@leg.wa.gov; twina.nobles@leg.wa.gov; mike.padden@leg.wa.gov; jamie.pedersen@leg.wa.gov; emily.randall@leg.wa.gov; ann.rivers@leg.wa.gov; june.robinson@leg.wa.gov; rebecca.saldana@leg.wa.gov; jesse.salomon@leg.wa.gov; mark.schoesler@leg.wa.gov; sharon.shewmake@leg.wa.gov; shelly.short@leg.wa.gov; derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov; nikki.torres@leg.wa.gov; yasmin.trudeau@leg.wa.gov; javier.valdez@leg.wa.gov; kevin.vandewege@leg.wa.gov; keith.wagoner@leg.wa.gov; judy.warnick@leg.wa.gov; lisa.wellman@leg.wa.gov; claire.wilson@leg.wa.gov; jeff.wilson@leg.wa.gov; lynda.wilson@leg.wa.gov; ltgov@ltgov.wa.gov; steve.hobbs@sos.wa.gov

Repeal the income tax initiative, & more

It is worthwhile to have an initiative process like we do in this state.  That way we can introduce People's law to the state government, or review and maybe reverse legislative errors.  The state legislature has been getting out of hand recently.  These initiatives covered here are proposals to reverse or reverse some of the state legislature's more egregious laws.  The legislature may decide to act on these initiative petitions, and avoid public embarrassment of having the People reverse their laws i open election.  Impolite hopes we can encourage them to do what is right.

Initiative 2111 - Concerns taxes on personal income.
Sponsors: People of the State of Washington (not the legislature).

Prohibits the state and local jurisdictions from imposing taxes on any individual person on any form of personal income.  The initiative specifies that "income" has the same meaning as "gross income" as under the federal tax code.
 
If you are "Pro" the initiative, you favor the right of the people to review the legislature's income tax scheme in the general election this fall.

If you would like your position noted for the legislative record on Initiative 2111, click on this link:https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=32072&aId=160093&caId=24423&tId=3

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Initiative 2113 - Concerns vehicular pursuits by peace officers.
Sponsors: People of the State of Washington

Expands authorization for vehicular pursuits by allowing an officer to conduct a vehicular pursuit where there is reasonable suspicion a person has violated the law.

(Current law, as modified by the legislature in 2022, requires "probable cause" for a pursuit.  This has kept police from pursuing an obvious suspect until a court can rule on the pursuit.)

Modifies the risk assessment for vehicular pursuits by providing that an officer may not engage in a vehicular pursuit unless the person poses a threat to the safety of others and the safety risks of failing to apprehend or identify the person are considered to be greater than the safety risks of the vehicular pursuit under the circumstances.

If you are "Pro" the initiative, you favor the right of the people to review the legislature's current, excessive, requirements to enable police pursuit in the general election this fall..

If you would like your position noted for the legislative record on Initiative 2113, click on this link: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=32069&aId=160089&caId=24422&tId=3

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Initiative 2081 - Concerns parental rights relating to their children's public school education.
Sponsors: People of the State of Washington.

Declares 15 rights that parents and guardians of public school children have, including rights to receive or be notified of academic, medical, safety, and law enforcement matters, rights to examine and inspect certain materials and records, and rights to opt their children out of certain activities.

If you are "Pro" the initiative, you favor the right of the people to review the legislature's current restrictions on informing parents of the welfare of their child in the general election this autumn.

If you would like your position noted for the legislative record on Initiative 2081, click on this link: https://app.leg.wa.gov/csi/Testifier/Add?chamber=Senate&mId=32071&aId=160099&caId=24424&tId=3

Anti-Gun Bills Advance Out of Committee

On Monday, February 19th, the Senate Law & Justice Committee held a public hearing on several anti-gun bills. NRA was in Olympia and testified against all three bills. An executive session was held yesterday and the Committee voted along party lines to advance the bill.

The bill will be directed to the Rules Committee where it will be eligible to head to the Senate Floor for final passage. Please contact your Senator now and urge them to OPPOSE these bills by using the Take Action button below.

House Bill 1903 further victimizes otherwise law-abiding gun owners and places the liability on crime victims for theft of their own property by penalizing failing to report missing or stolen firearms within 24 hours.

House Bill 2021 expands the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms acquired from gun buyback programs held by state and local government entities.

House Bill 2118 also referred to as the “FFL Killer” bill, places costly onerous requirements on law-abiding FFLs that could put them at serious risk of going out of business because of the financial burden to comply.

Please click the Take Action button above to ask Senators to OPPOSE these bills.

More anti-gun action in the legislature

On Monday, February 19^th, the Senate Law & Justice Committee will hold a public hearing on several anti-gun bills. The hearings will take place at 10:30am, and you can register to testify in the hearing in-person or remotely by using this testimony page.

If you are unable to attend this hearing, please use the Take Action button to contact the committee members directly and urge them to OPPOSE these bills.

House Bill 1903 further victimizes otherwise law-abiding gun owners and places the liability on crime victims for theft of their own property by penalizing failing to report missing or stolen firearms within 24 hours.

House Bill 2021 expands the authorized and/or required destruction of firearms acquired from gun buyback programs held by state and local government entities.

House Bill 2118 also referred to as the “FFL Killer” bill, places costly onerous requirements on law-abiding FFLs that could put them at serious risk of going out of business because of the financial burden to comply.