Tax on Rent?

Yep, if Senate Bill 5228 is enacted.  It has cleared the Senate, and there is no reason to think tax greedy Olympia won't go all the way with this one.  Adding tax to rent is the most predatory tax the Democrats have ever come up with. They will spend the millions they collect on what they want, and bleat they are doing work for the people.  I think the people would like better lives, not more taxes.

This tax stinks so badly, I'm just going to use the official digest description.  "[SB 5228] Authorizes a city or town, located in a county with a population of less than four hundred thousand, to impose a special excise tax on the sale of lodging."

SB 5228 can collect tax on nursing homes (court case link).  

Woodenheads ban the plastic bag

SB 5323 Prohibit retailers from using single-use plastic, or a reusable plastic bag made of film plastic that does not meet recycled content requirements.  Retailers will be required to charge for giving out paper bags!  It goes on. See the 5323 digest, and the bill's homepage. 

Notice there is no special exemption of biodegradable plastics, such as for polylactic acid (PLA), a plastic made from corn.  So another point of 5323 is to shut down allowed scientific development in plastic with a closed mind. 

About paper bags:  Under the terms of 5323, you will pay 8 cents per paper bag.  Or you can bring your own reusable bag to the store.  If you got the reusable bag route, please keep your bag clean, or else you pass around your own private collection of dirt.  On second thought, you can hope everyone else keeps their bags clean.

The Senate should have known stores don't give us free plastic bags for their convenience.  Single use bags are widely accepted because they are single use.  If the store stays cleaner, everyone stays healthier.

Gov. Enslee is expected to sign this arrogant stupidity.

~~~~~~~~

The Legislature also is cooking up another plastic ban: SB 5397 will impose new restriction on plastic packaging, like what your peanut butter comes in.  There is no test for consumer safety, such as the safety of plastic jugs for consumer laundry bleach.  The legislature calls this "responsible plastic packaging." 

The Senate's actions make our lives more complicated, expensive, and dangerous to live, thus reduce our living.  That unveils that the Legislature is only trying to establish they rule the "little people" of the state.

Gun control legislation moves ahead in Olympia

A number of gun control bills are moving to the Washington state Senate floor after advancing from committee before the deadline and could be considered at any moment.  Please contact your state Senator and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bills 5062, 5174, 5434, 5143, 5027, 5745, and 5181. 

Click on this link to take action. 

The Substitute to Senate Bill 5062, sponsored by Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48), was filed at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson.  It would ban the possession of ammunition magazines with a capacity greater than 10, encompassing most standard capacity magazines commonly used by law-abiding citizens, such as with handguns popular for self-defense.  Those who own non-compliant magazines prior to the ban would only be allowed to possess them on their own property and in other limited instances such as at licensed shooting ranges and nationally sanctioned sport shooting events.  These magazines would have to be transported unloaded and locked separately from firearms and stored at home locked, making them unavailable for self-defense.

Senate Bill 5174, sponsored by Senator Guy Palumbo (D-1), would increase the government red tape that law-abiding adults must go through in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License by requiring a mandatory training course. 

The Substitute to Senate Bill 5434, sponsored by Senator Claire Wilson (D-30), would increase the areas where law-abiding citizens are prohibited from possessing firearms, including holders of a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) carrying a handgun for self-defense.  It would allow local governments to make public parks and recreational facilities into “gun-free zones” where law-abiding citizens would be unable to defend themselves and their loved ones against criminals who simply ignore such arbitrary boundaries.  In addition, it would mandate that child care facilities be “gun-free zones” and post signs indicating so.

Senate Bill 5143, sponsored by Senator Manka Dhingra (D-45), would require law-enforcement to seize firearms and ammunition when they are called to the scene of an alleged domestic violence incident and hold them for at least five business days.  This would result in property being confiscated without first going through due process and subjecting citizens to bureaucratic red tape to get their property returned. 

Senate Bill 5027, sponsored by Senator David Frockt (D-46), would expand Washington’s existing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO).  It would affirm that the ERPO can be issued against minors while also infringing upon the self-defense rights of law-abiding parents or others in the household without due process.  

Senate Bill 5745, sponsored by Senator Marko Liias (D-21), would expand Washington’s existing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) to allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended for individuals alleged to make certain threats by third party accusers with little, if any, real evidence and limited “due process” for the respondent.  

Hearings for the orders would be ex parte, where the respondent would not be present to challenge the accuser and defend against allegations made against them.  The issuance of an order would immediately prohibit the respondent from exercising their Second Amendment rights.  The Right to Keep and Bear Arms should not be treated as a second-class right and should only be restricted consistent with the constitutional requirements of due process.

Liias is from the Dark Ages. This act alone violates more civil rights than the rest of the malicious acts Olympia is considering. 

Senate Bill 5181, sponsored by Senator Kuderer, would suspend Second Amendment rights without due process for six months from individuals who are admitted for a 72-hour mental health evaluation, but who are not subsequently involuntarily committed.

~~~~~~~~

Click on this link to take action.  The NRA must collect your name and email in order to operate the link.  They won't bother you unless you sign up. 

 

New gun control moves in the legislature

The phony liberal tyrants move more firmly against the people.

Senate Bill 5745, sponsored by Senator Marko Liias (D-21), would expand Washington’s existing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO) to allow Second Amendment rights to be suspended for individuals alleged to make certain threats by third party accusers with little, if any, real evidence and limited “due process” for the respondent.  

Hearings for the orders would be ex parte, where the respondent would not be present to challenge the accuser and defend against allegations made against them.  The issuance of an order would immediately prohibit the respondent from exercising their Second Amendment rights.  The Right to Keep and Bear Arms should not be treated as a second-class right and should only be restricted consistent with the constitutional requirements of due process.

Senate Bill 5434, sponsored by Senator Claire Wilson (D-30), would increase the areas where law-abiding citizens are prohibited from possessing firearms, including holders of a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) carrying a handgun for self-defense.  It would turn child care facilities, libraries, public parks, and recreational facilities into “gun-free zones” where law-abiding citizens would be unable to defend themselves and their loved ones against criminals who simply ignore such arbitrary boundaries.  In addition, child care facilities would be required to post a “Gun-Free Zone” sign.

Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE Senate Bills 5745 and 5434

The Legislative Week in Preview

New bill looks to clear path for state universal health care

Senate Democrats took an early step in setting our state on a path toward socialized medicine last week. Democrats introduced legislation to commission a workgroup tasked with studying a universal health care system that included a taxpayer funded option. Some Senate Democrats have even said Gov. Inslee’s public option doesn’t go far enough.

The Democrats join the dogpile.  The tax burden for state run health care is expected to be crushing. The irresistible lure of power over our paltry lives proves too much for the "Democratic" gang in the Legislature.  As a bonus to goose-stepping leftists, we the People lose our right to chose with whom we associate when we need health care.

State AG threatens legal action over Trump emergency declaration

Because campaigning never stops for Bob Ferguson, the state Attorney General announced he was planning to sue the President yet again. Ferguson said he would consider legal action should President Trump declare a state of emergency – which happened on Friday. “If Washington is harmed, my office will take appropriate steps to block this unlawful action, just as we’ve blocked more than a dozen illegal and unconstitutional policies of this president,” Ferguson said.

Fergone seems to think guarding the national border is not a suitable role for the President. 

Washington attorney general fires back at sheriffs over I-1639 enforcement

Taking a rare break from campaigning, Ferguson wrote that county sheriffs refusing to enforce Washington new gun laws could be liable. “The taxpayers of your city or county assume the financial risk of your decision to impose your personal views over the law,” he wrote. So far twelve sheriffs have said they would not have said they would not enforce the new gun regulation law passed last year by voters. 

We should note that Ferguson is happy to remain silent when it comes to the illegality of heroin injection sites.

Amazon: Canceled New York jobs likely to go elsewhere; company will ‘continue to evaluate’ growth in Seattle

Far left policies have serious economic consequences and the people of New York experienced that first hand last week when Amazon announced they would no longer move forward with bringing 25,000 jobs to NYC  ---  Thousands of good paying jobs lost because of liberal politics. 

“I believe the head tax debate here in Seattle had a little something to do with laying the foundation for these conversations that happened in New York,” said Seattle Councilmember Lisa Herbold. To top it all off, Amazon announced they have no near term plan for future growth in Seattle.

Stupid plastic bag ban

Talk about overreach.  Now Washington State is going to be just like California, no matter how stupidly.  In the Legislature's bill digest we find the following:

SB 5323 Would prohibit- a retail establishment from:

(1) Providing to a customer or a person at an event:
    (a) A single-use plastic carryout  bag;  or
    (b)  a  paper  carryout  bag  or  reusable carryout bag made of film plastic that does not meet recycled content requirements; and

(2)  Using  or  providing  certain  polyethylene  or  other noncompostable plastic bags.Authorizes a retail establishment to provide a reusable carryout bag or a recycled content paper carryout bag of any size to a customer at the point of sale.

SB 5323 Would require  a  retail  establishment  to  collect  a  pass-through charge of not less than ten cents for every recycled content paper carryout bag or reusable carryout bag made of film plastic it provides.

SB 5323 Would prohibit a city, town, county, or municipal corporation from implementing a local carryout bag ordinance.

SB 5323 Would provide that this act is null and void if appropriations are not approved.  Feh.

The unrepresentative legislature

Do you think the Washington State Legislature should represent you?  They are trying to take that responsibility out of the bill passing system.

SB 5224 - in the words of the official digest of the bill "removes the advisory vote from the election statutes."  That would mean we have no voice in determining our taxes or tax rates.

A link to the original bill's text is here.

A link to the bill's "homepage" is here.  You can get an idea of the bill's current status on this page.

Contact your legislator and tell them what you think about being excluded from democracy.  Find your legislative district here.

~~~~~~~~

Despite that fact that Washington State has a current surplus, the income tax that we voters turned down a couple years ago, is back in different forms:

HB 1343 - which would add $26 billion capital gains and Business & Occupancy taxes to the tax burden.  This little gem is a guaranteed job killer, and it will shut down investment in Washington State

HB 1172 - which would add a capital gains tax to the tax structure.  This is also guaranteed to shut down investment in Washington State.

SB 5314 is cagily titled "an act Relating to assisting Washington families by improving the fairness of the state's tax system by enacting a capital gains tax and providing property tax relief... ."  Imp[rove fairness by reducing existing taxes, then this claim would be a less obvious lie.  Since when has any politician reduced taxes?

HB 1681 Is a stupid promotion of class warfare, by "funding the working families tax exemption by imposing a surcharge on publicly traded companies providing excessive executive compensation... ."  This act would impose extra tax on companies that have owner-executives.  That is, if someone invests in a company he operates, that company is sure to be whacked by this one.  They use plenty of mealy mouthed words to try to confuse the issue, but that is what this bill amounts to.  Imagine profitable companies, Microsoft, for example, not being founded in Washington State.

We the People turned down the carbon tax. 

So governor Inslee had his elitist lackeys in the legislature introduce it as SB 5412.  (Also see SHB 1110.   SHB 1110 is a dwarf version of carbon taxation.  With snow and sub-freezing cold, it's pretty clearly an attempt to get some sort of carbon tax enacted).  

Governor Inslee should be removed from office for attempting to bypass the expressed will of the People.

A few years ago, a friend explained to me the reason the elitists want to disable our  carbon based transportation has nothing to do with the environment.  Rather, it is the elitist preference that the commoners not move around so much. 

The historical record shows the elites of the nineteenth century didn't like trains because it enabled the commoners ability to move.  Elites want the common folk to be bound to the land, just like the 'nobility' of the dark ages.

The end

This is what the Left has degraded into: A dogpile of reactionary elitists.

Olympia nibbles away on private firearms ownership

On February 1^st at 10:00AM, the Washington state House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary will be holding an executive session on anti-gun bills, where they are expected to be brought up for a vote. 

The bills before the committee include legislation for a firearm magazine ban, ending home manufacturing of firearms, and firearm seizures without due process. 

In addition, on the same day, the committee will hold public hearings on bills banning young adults from receiving conventional ammunition and allowing local governments to restrict open carry.

Please contact members of the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary and urge them to OPPOSE House Bills 1068, 1225, 1739, 1319, and 1346.  Click the “Take Action” button below to contact committee members.

House Bill 1068, sponsored by Representative Javier Valdez (D-46), was filed at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson.  It would ban the possession of ammunition magazines with a capacity greater than 10, encompassing most standard capacity magazines commonly used by law-abiding citizens, such as with handguns popular for self-defense. 

House Bill 1739, sponsored by Rep. Valdez, was also filed at the request of Attorney General Ferguson.  It would end the centuries old practice of manufacturing firearms for personal use and also contains provisions that go above and beyond the federal law that already bans undetectable firearms.  

When is the last time you heard of someone with a homemade gun using it in a crime?  HB 1739 is so stupid it is hard to take it seriously.

House Bill 1225, sponsored by Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-27), would require law-enforcement to seize firearms and ammunition when they are called to the scene of an alleged domestic violence incident and hold them for at least five business days.  This would result in property being confiscated without first going through due process and subjecting citizens to bureaucratic red tape to get their property returned.

House Bill 1346, sponsored by Representative Gerry Pollet (D-46), would make it illegal to sell, transfer, give, or otherwise make available ammunition that is not certified as “nonlead” to anyone under the age of 21, with the exception of ammunition given by a parent or guardian.  This would encompass the vast majority of ammunition available on the market commonly used for target shooting, self-defense, and many types of hunting.  It would essentially limit young adults under the age of 21 to very expensive, specialty ammunition that may not even be manufactured in certain common calibers and may even provide sub-standard performance compared to traditional ammunition.  In addition, businesses selling ammunition would be required to provide a handout to customers on the health effects of lead and they would even be subject to random, unannounced inspections by the Department of Health along with local law-enforcement to ensure compliance.  The committee will hold a public hearing for HB 1346 on February 1^st. 

House Bill 1319, sponsored by Representative Sharon Wylie (D-49), would create an exemption in a decades old statute which would allow local governments to ban the open carrying of firearms at public meetings.  The committee will hold a public hearing for HB 1319 on February 1^st.

The leftists say the NRA doesn't take action.  The NRA can act only through you.  Also, the NRA cannot vote, but you can. 

Yet more gun control

The "Democratic" Party controlled Olympia offers more corrupt gun control.  Restraining the tide of oppression is daunting, but the alternative is awful.  Please continue the struggle -- we will not be alone.
 

During the January 24^th executive session, the Washington state Senate Committee on Law & Justice voted to pass all of the gun control bills before them by a vote of 4-3.  They will now go to the Senate floor for further consideration.  Please contact your state Senator and urge them to OPPOSE these anti-gun bills.  Call 1-800-562-6000 to contact your state Senator.

The Proposed Substitute to Senate Bill 5062, sponsored by Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48), was filed at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson.  It would ban the possession of ammunition magazines with a capacity greater than 10, encompassing most standard capacity magazines commonly used by law-abiding citizens, such as with handguns popular for self-defense.  Those who own non-compliant magazines prior to the ban would only be allowed to possess them on their own property and in other limited instances such as at licensed shooting ranges and nationally sanctioned sport shooting events.  These magazines would have to be transported unloaded and locked separately from firearms and stored at home locked, making them unavailable for self-defense.

The Proposed Substitute to Senate Bill 5061, sponsored by Senator Manka Dhingra (D-45), was filed at the request of Attorney General Ferguson.  It would end the centuries old practice of manufacturing firearms for personal use, among other things. 

Senate Bill 5174, sponsored by Senator Guy Palumbo (D-1), would increase the government red tape that law-abiding adults must go through in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License by requiring a mandatory training course. 

Senate Bill 5143, sponsored by Senator Dhingra, would require law-enforcement to seize firearms and ammunition when they are called to the scene of an alleged domestic violence incident and hold them for at least five business days.  This would result in property being confiscated without first going through due process and subjecting citizens to bureaucratic red tape to get their property returned. 

Senate Bill 5027, sponsored by Senator David Frockt (D-46), would expand Washington’s existing Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPO).  It would affirm that the ERPO can be issued against minors while also infringing upon the self-defense rights of law-abiding parents or others in the household without due process. 

The following bills have just been introduced:

House Bill 1346, sponsored by Representative Gerry Pollet (D-46), would make it illegal to sell, transfer, give, or otherwise make available ammunition that is not certified as “nonlead” to anyone under the age of 21, with the exception of ammunition given by a parent or guardian.  This would encompass the vast majority of ammunition available on the market commonly used for target shooting, self-defense, and many types of hunting.  It would essentially limit young adults under the age of 21 to very expensive, specialty ammunition that may not even be manufactured in certain common calibers and may even provide sub-standard performance compared to traditional ammunition.  In addition, businesses selling ammunition would be required to provide a handout to customers on the health effects of lead and they would even be subject to random, unannounced inspections by the Department of Health along with local law-enforcement to ensure compliance.

House Bill 1319, sponsored by Representative Sharon Wylie (D-49), would create an exemption in a decades old statute which would allow local governments to ban the open carrying of firearms at public meetings.

House Bill 1315, sponsored by Representative John Lovick (D-44), would increase the government red tape that law-abiding adults must go through in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License by requiring a mandatory training course developed by the Washington State Patrol.

Anti-Gun Bills Committee Hearings Upcoming

Senate bills will be heard on January 21^st and House bills will be heard on January 22^nd.  Those wishing to attend the hearings should plan to arrive early to find parking and to sign in with opposition to the bills.  Testimony on bills at the January 21^st hearings will be limited to two minutes each, with Senate Bills 5061 and 5062 being heard together.  Click on the bill link to get current location information about where the hearing will be held.

(After the January 21^st hearings, NRA will be holding a meeting in the Irv Newhouse Building conference room by the Capitol at 12:00PM.  NRA members and Second Amendment supporters are invited to stop by in order to hear updates on the session.)

Anti-gun bills will be heard on January 21^st at 10:00AM by the Washington state Senate Committee on Law & Justice and by the House Committee on Civil Rights & Judiciary on January 22^nd at 10:00AM.  Please contact committee members and urge them to OPPOSE these gun control bills.

• The Proposed Substitute to Senate Bill 5062, sponsored by Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48), was filed at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson.  It would ban the possession of ammunition magazines with a capacity greater than 10, encompassing most standard capacity magazines commonly used by law-abiding citizens, such as with handguns popular for self-defense.  Those who own non-compliant magazines prior to the ban would only be allowed to possess them on their own property and in other limited instances such as at licensed shooting ranges and nationally sanctioned sport shooting events.  These magazines would have to be transported unloaded and locked separately from firearms and stored at home locked, making them unavailable for self-defense.

• Senate Bill 5174, sponsored by Senator Guy Palumbo (D-1), would increase the government red tape that law-abiding adults must go through in order to obtain a Concealed Pistol License by requiring a mandatory training course developed by the Washington State Patrol.

• The Proposed Substitute to Senate Bill 5061, sponsored by Senator Manka Dhingra (D-45) and House Bill 1073, sponsored by Representative Javier Valdez (D-46), were filed at the request of Attorney General Ferguson.  They would end the centuries old practice of manufacturing firearms for personal use, among other things. 

• Senate Bill 5143, sponsored by Senator Dhingra, and House Bill 1225, sponsored by Representative Laurie Jinkins (D-27), would require law-enforcement to seize firearms and ammunition when they are called to the scene of an alleged domestic violence incident and hold them for at least five business days.  This would result in property being confiscated without first going through due process and subjecting citizens to bureaucratic red tape to get their property returned.

• House Bill 1068, sponsored by Representative Javier Valdez (D-46), was filed at the request of Attorney General Bob Ferguson.  It would ban the possession of ammunition magazines with a capacity greater than 10, encompassing most standard capacity magazines commonly used by law-abiding citizens, such as with handguns popular for self-defense.

• House Bill 1203, sponsored by Representative Beth Doglio (D-22), would create a one-size-fits all requirement of how and when lost or stolen firearms must be reported, further victimizing gun owners who suffer a loss or theft of their property.

•  Senate Bill 5340, sponsored by Senator Patty Kuderer (D-48), and companion House Bill 1286 would ban sales of military style weapons (so called "assault weapons").  This bill may pass but it is already contravened by the United States Supreme Court decision in United States v. Miller, in that the decision implicitly stated military style weapons are protected by the Second Amendment guarantee. 

• In addition, one pro-gun bill will be heard on January 22^nd.  House Bill 1024, sponsored by Representative Jim Walsh (R-19), would prohibit the government database of law-abiding gun owners from pistol purchase applications.  A gun owner database is a waste of taxpayer funded resources and does not improve public safety.  Criminals, by definition, do not obey the law.  They do not submit pistol purchase applications when acquiring their firearms illegally such as by theft, on the black market, or by straw purchase.  The only purpose that a gun owner database serves is to facilitate future confiscations of firearms from those who currently own them legally.