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?

~~~~~~~~

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

Kitsap County Anti-Gun Ordinance

Washington’s state firearms preemption statutes help keep firearm and ammunition laws consistent throughout the state by establishing that the State Legislature has full authority to regulate and create laws pertaining to firearms and ammunition.  These statutes help prevent a confusing patchwork of gun control laws which make it difficult for gun owners to ensure they are following the law.  Further, Second Amendment rights are guaranteed to all citizens, regardless of where one resides.  State preemption statutes help protect against the infringement of rights of citizens who live in localities controlled by anti-gun elected officials.

Kitsap County claims their ordinance doesn’t violate state law and that the preemption statutes only apply to criminal laws.  If this were true, the state firearms preemption statutes would be useless, and there would be nothing to prevent other local communities from enacting similar, or more restrictive, gun control ordinances.  The Kitsap County ordinance clearly violates Washington’s preemption statutes, which also preempts regulations for shooting ranges.

Last week, attorneys on behalf of the NRA filed an amicus brief in Kitsap County v. Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club (Kitsap II), the case which challenges Kitsap County’s firearm discharge ban and range licensing scheme. Kitsap Rifle and Revolver Club, a local shooting range that has served the Kitsap community for almost 100 years, is at risk of being shut down by the regulations set forth in the Kitsap County anti-gun ordinance. In the amicus brief, the attorneys establish that Washington state law preempts firearms and shooting range regulations and that the Kitsap County ordinance is in violation of the state’s preemption statutes.

Gun ranges are essential for protecting your Right to Keep and Bear Arms as they provide gun owners with an environment where they can practice using their firearms safely and effectively through target shooting and firearms safety training.

State Income Tax heading to floor vote

The ever-greedy leftists in Olympia propose an income tax on capital gains and other forms of income.  This will open the door to tax all types of income from all sources, something the left has longed to do for some time.  They will call it "fair" because it lets them take and spend the money you earned.  The total increase in proposed taxes over ten years is $23,139,555,000.00.

The text of the official alert:
SHB 2186, titled AN ACT Relating to investing in Washington families by improving the fairness of the state's excise tax system by narrowing or eliminating tax preferences, imposing a business and occupation tax surcharge while eliminating tax liability for small businesses, enacting an excise tax on capital gains, modifying the real estate excise tax, making administrative changes, and implementing marketplace fairness in Washington, has been passed by the House Committee on Finance. The Office of Financial Management has identified this bill as requiring a ten-year projection of increased cost to the taxpayers or affected fee payers.

Authorization is provided for the following agencies to raise taxes or fees: Department of Revenue
For ease of viewing, the 10-year projection is available by clicking on the following link:
http://ofm.wa.gov/tax/2017/2186SHB_fee_table.pdf

The following legislators voted do pass:

Representative Larry Springer
Democrat
Kirkland
(360) 786-7822
Larry.Springer@leg.wa.gov

Representative Kristine Lytton
Democrat
Anacortes
(360) 786-7800
Kristine.Lytton@leg.wa.gov

Representative Sharon Wylie
Democrat
Vancouver
(360) 786-7924
Sharon.Wylie@leg.wa.gov

Representative Gerry Pollet
Democrat
Seattle
(360) 786-7886
Gerry.Pollet@leg.wa.gov

Representative Noel Frame
Democrat
Seattle
(360) 786-7814
Noel.Frame@leg.wa.gov

Representative Laurie Dolan
Democrat
Olympia
(360) 786-7940
Laurie.Dolan@leg.wa.gov

~~~~~~~~
The following legislators voted do not pass:

Representative Ed Orcutt
Republican
Kalama
(360) 786-7990
Ed.Orcutt@leg.wa.gov

Representative Cary Condotta
Republican
Chelan
(360) 786-7954
Cary.Condotta@leg.wa.gov

Representative Terry Nealey
Republican
Dayton
(360) 786-7828
Terry.Nealey@leg.wa.gov

Representative J.T. Wilcox
Republican
Roy
(360) 786-7912
JT.Wilcox@leg.wa.gov

Representative Drew Stokesbary
Republican
Auburn
(360) 786-7846
Drew.Stokesbary@leg.wa.gov


Find out more:  http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=2186&Year=2017

Olympia House Democrats’ proposed operating budget – large increase in spending and taxes

Cary Condotta

There is less than three weeks left in the legislative session and the proposed operating budgets have been unveiled by Senate Republicans and House Democrats. The Senate Republican operating budget prioritizes and invests heavily in K-12 education. The plan would continue an upward trend of investments in K-12 education since Republicans have been in the majority in the Senate. Under this budget proposal 50 percent of the operating budget would be dedicated to education — the highest percentage since 1983.

The House Democrats’ operating budget proposal is spend and tax, and spend and tax some more. Click here to watch my video as I breakdown the numbers. Numbers you should know:

• 17 percent increase in spending for the next budget cycle;
• 15 percent increase in spending for the following cycle, 2019-21;
• $3 billion in proposed tax increases for the next biennium, $8 billion over four years; and
• $12 million left over in the ending fund balance for the four-year outlook.

State revenues are at historic levels, yet they want to raise taxes in a number of areas — including a capital gains income tax, modifying our state’s already onerous B&O tax (you can find a list of winners and losers here), a change to the real estate excise tax, and closing some tax exemptions. Businesses in Washington already pay more than their fair share under our B&O tax system.

In an effort to satisfy the courts’ McCleary order, both proposed budgets increase education spending substantially. The two budgets are only about $83 million apart. Only $83 million – yet Democrats propose raising taxes $3 billion and increase spending by more than $6.5 billion in the next biennium. Senate Republicans use existing revenues.

I would add the House Democrats’ proposal does not offer fundamental reforms to the way funds are spent in the schools, as required by McCleary. The Senate Republican proposal offers reforms including the replacement of inequitable and discriminatory local levies by creating a new state “local effort levy.” I don’t know that the House proposal would pass constitutional muster because it leaves in place the very levy system the courts have criticized. 

Friday, House Democrats passed their operating budget proposal on a party-line vote 50-48.

Today, a public hearing was held on their tax bill – House Bill 2186. It is scheduled for a committee vote on Tuesday.

We will have to see if they have the votes to pass it out of committee AND bring it to the floor for a vote by the full House of Representatives. Stay tuned…

Fuel tax transparency

In an effort to let taxpayers know how much gas tax money they are truly paying at the pump I have introduced legislation that would require the Washington State Department of Agriculture to place a sticker on all fuel pumps letting people know how much they are currently paying in federal and state gas tax rates.

I am expecting some sticker shock with House Bill 2180. Think about it this way, if you pump 20 gallons of gas into your car, you are paying $13.56 in gas tax. Of course diesel fuel is more.

With taxation must come transparency. With transparency also comes accountability. Our government is held more accountable if the citizens of our state are more knowledgeable about the taxes they are paying.

Washington state’s current gas tax is 49.4 cents per gallon. It is the second highest gas tax in the country behind Pennsylvania. The federal gas tax rate is 18.4 cents per gallon, 22.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel.

Rep. Cary Condotta sent this update 04/03/2017

Ballot 2016

Rob McKenna makes his recommendations:

Governor: Bill Bryant
The Seattle PI just posted a piece on Jay Inslee’s failed governorship. Bill is highly capable and focused on the right issues, like transportation, the state budget and education reform. He would serve all of us very well.

Lieutenant Governor: Marty McClendon
He’s facing Sen. Cyrus Habib, who once supported charter public schools but flip-flopped on the issue to win the WEA’s endorsement. No principles, no endorsement here.

Secretary of State: Kim Wyman
Every newspaper has endorsed her re-election, and most Democratic county auditors have joined their GOP counterparts in supporting her; none of them wants to politicize the state’s election office, but her opponent does.

State Treasurer: Michael Waite
Michael is a finance professional who will actively oppose a state income tax, work to reduce the state’s very high debt, and be a leader statewide for the GOP. He is one of the brightest stars to emerge in the GOP firmament, which may be why his opponent has drawn most of the big labor union endorsements. Michael will be much harder for them to beat when he runs for re-election in 2020.

Comissioner of Public Lands: Steve McLaughlin
A retired U.S. Navy Captain and expert on emergency management, Steve is just what the Department of Natural Resources needs. His opponent specializes in filing lawsuits to stop logging and other active management of state natural resources, which our public schools depend on for school construction.

State Auditor: Mark Miloscia
Mark is a bulldog and ardent defender of taxpayer interests. He knows how important it is to have a fearless, aggressive taxpayer advocate in the Auditor’s office. The Democrats would rather have us forget that their previous nominee – our current Auditor – was charged with federal felonies.

Superintendent of Public Instruction: Erin Jones
Erin is more likely to bring an independent approach to this non-partisan office, which our school kids need and deserve.

Supreme Court: Dave Larsen, David DeWolf, Greg Zempel
We need change on the Supreme Court. Now.

Superior Court:
David Keenan, Eric Newman (King County)
Two strong candidates who are smart, have a law enforcement background, and for many other reasons as well are extremely well prepared to serve as trial court judges.
Joe Burrowes (Benton-Franklin)
Judge Burrows is a District Court judge who is supported by law enforcement throughout the Tri-Cities area. He is superb. His opponent is not, although he is fond of claiming that being a District Court judge is not good preparation for the Superior Court, while his own lack of judicial experience makes him better qualified. Huh? Just saying something so nonsensical is all the evidence voters need to vote for Burrowes, even if he weren’t so well qualified.

Court of Appeals, Div. 3: Patrick McBurney
Patrick will bring conservative common sense and deep experience as a trial attorney to a court that needs both.

State Legislature:
I’ve largely focused my endorsements on close races, races for open seats, and on some incumbents who have been particularly fearless in bucking their own party from time to time, or just plain earn re-election with their hard work and common sense. In the interest of relative brevity, this is not an exhaustive list of incumbent legislators whom I admire.

1st LD Senate: Mindie Wirth
5th LD Senate: Chad Magendanz
5th LD House (P2): Paul Graves
12th LD Senate: Jon Wyss
17th LD Senate: Lynda Wilson
25th LD House (P2): Joyce McDonald
26th LD House (P1): Jesse Young
26th LD House (P2): Michelle Caldier
28th LD Senate: Steve O’Ban
30th LD House (P1): Linda Kochmar
30th LD House (P2): Teri Hickel
31st LD House (P2): Phil Fortunato
37th LD House (P2): Eric Pettigrew
39th LD House (P2): John Koster
41st LD Senate: Steve Litzow
44th LD House (P1): Janice Huxford
44th LD House (P2): Mark Harmsworth
45th LD House (P1): Ramiro Valderrama
45th LD House (P2): Larry Springer

Pierce County Executive: Bruce Dammeier
One of the most talented, effective elected officials in our state. Full stop.

President:
You don’t need my advice on this one. [Its not a state level election, but Impolite believes Mrs Clinton is far too secretive to be fit to serve as president.]

U.S. Senate: Chris Vance
Hats off to Chris for running to bring attention to our spiraling national debt, and to the incumbent’s failure to do anything about it.

U.S. House:
Vote GOP unless you live in CD 10, where it should be Rep. Denny Heck. In CD 4, Rep. Dan Newhouse has proven himself to be a conservative leader in his freshman term and has earned re-election.

Ballot Measures:
I-1501 “Consumer Fraud” – NO.
This is a ballot scam brought to you by SEIU to exempt its home care membership roster from public records requests, so their members cannot be contacted and informed that they don’t have to belong to the union to hold their jobs as home care workers. It’s this initiative that’s the fraud.

I-1491 “Extreme Risk Protection” – YES.
I’m with a large majority of law enforcement officials who support this measure to help keep firearms out of the hands of the violent and unstable. If the law is ever misused by opponents to lawful gun ownership, it can be amended like any statute. [Impolite disagrees with Mr McKenna's reasoning.  No law should be enacted which could be used to abridge someone's right]

I-1433 “Statewide Minimum Wage Hike” – NO.
I agree with Bill Bryant. This one-size-fits-all approach is bad for areas of our state with a lower cost of living where small businesses will react to a $13 minimum wage with layoffs or by not creating new jobs at all; they simply cannot absorb such a large increase, on top of what is already one of the highest statewide minimum wages in America.

I-735 “Campaign Spending” – NO.
This measure is merely symbolic, calling on Congress to take action. It is motivated by the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, which the Left hates.

I-732 “Carbon Tax” – YES.
Any ballot measure that the Sierra Club despises is worth considering. Conservatives who want to reduce carbon emissions know that a revenue-neutral approach that raises the cost of carbon use but lowers other taxes is the only sensible way to go. The Left opposes it because raising gobs of new state tax revenue is their Holy Grail, and this measure doesn’t do that.  [Impolite disagrees:  Hoping a new tax will be used to offset an existing tax is fantasy.  Old taxes might go away if they are repealed.]           

I-1464 “Campaign Finance” – NO.
Over $270 million in tax increases and taxpayer financing for politicians’ campaigns. The rest of the initiative is just a distraction; notice that the proponents’ TV ads don’t mention the taxpayer campaign financing provisions. What they don’t say, says it all.

Governor debates about minmum wage

Gov. Jay Inslee and challenger Bill Bryant were on stage together Wednesday [August 17] for their first debate. Too often the “debates” we see between public officials are the accusations they trade back and forth in TV ads. That’s why real debates are so important. There’s no substitute for putting candidates in the same room, pinning their positions down with sharp questions, and letting them directly challenge each other.

Not surprisingly, the issue of a higher minimum wage came up. With an initiative on this fall’s ballot, you’ll be hearing a lot more on this topic. Inslee said something striking on that stage. Asked about those who might lose their jobs if the initiative passes, he said to look at Seattle’s new minimum wage law: “The evidence has shown no loss of employment, no loss of profitability, no loss of net businesses.”

Only trouble is, that’s not true. The true “evidence” shows much more of a mixed bag. Of course there are some job losses for some low-wage workers, even as others have benefited.

Just ask Felix Ngoussou. The Seattle restaurant owner attended a “media availability” Tuesday of business owners backing the statewide minimum wage initiative. He said he supports the initiative but also said, going off the organizers’ script, “he had to cut staff in the wake of the [Seattle city's] minimum wage hike. ‘I used to have four. I now have two.’ He was asked again for clarification. You reduced employee numbers? ‘Yes.’ Because of the minimum wage? ‘Yes.’ Campaign sponsors scattered in a panic.”

That’s another kind of unvarnished truth that you won’t see in a campaign TV commercial.
-Rob McKenna

~~~~~~~~

The minimum wage debate is based on the idea that if people are forced to pay more for a thing, they will still buy the same amount.  This is absurd on its face.  Obviously if the wage goes up, employers will look for ways to use less labor.

People have gotten confused by the apparent success of unions.  But they overlook the fact that unions represent skilled workers, and further, that unions often certify the skill level of the union members they send out to a job. 

Minimum wage is usually thought to apply only to the beginning worker.  The beginner is usually unskilled and not accustomed to working.  If you remember your first job, you remember it takes a lot of self-discipline to get going to work.

Minimum wage only creates more dependency on government handouts for the unemployed.

Washington State Supreme Court

We are in the midst of a unique political season. There may not be a consensus regarding candidates at the national level, but we all can join together to make a HUGE difference in our state. Greg Zempel, the popular six-term prosecutor from Kittitas County, is running for Washington State Supreme Court Justice (Position 5). We all need him on our state’s highest court.

As you know, I am a close observer of the state Supreme Court and I can tell you, this court has lost the respect of many, as long established precedents in criminal law are replaced with result-oriented, unworkable decisions. This means that our police, prosecutors and trial judges are uncertain about how to proceed in many cases. There is a public safety cost to this uncertainty, as some criminals go free who should remain incarcerated.

The Court’s overreach is unmistakable. As you likely have heard, the justices are holding the legislature in contempt because of funding choices they don’t agree with. They are fining “the state” (i.e., all of us) $100,000 a day, raising serious questions about the separation of powers between the legislative and judicial branches of our state government.

Voter-approved charter schools were also nearly closed by the Supreme Court, threatening some of the most at-risk and deserving children in our state with the loss of schools they love just a day before the new school year was to begin.

Another voter-approved initiative, I-1053, was also overturned by the Court even though the voters have made it clear again and again that they want to require a 2/3 legislative majority for raising taxes.

Greg Zempel was elected in 1994 as the Kittitas County Prosecutor and has been re-elected five times. He has practiced at every court level in our system, from district court to the Washington State Supreme Court, and tried well over 100 jury trials as a defense attorney (his former career) and prosecutor.

Zempel was instrumental in creating the Sexual Assault Interagency Coalition, and Protecting Our Children, a community organization that educates parents on protecting their children from predators. Zempel also assisted in creating the Kittitas County Drug Court which functions to change the lives of drug addicts whose criminal conduct impacts our communities.

Prosecutor Zempel is committed to strengthening public safety according to the rule of law and the rights and freedoms protected in our state constitution.

-- Rob McKenna

~~~~~~~~

Washington State Impolite endorses Greg Zempel, Judge Dave Larson, and David DeWolf for Supreme Cour.

Corruption in the auditor's office

Embattled State Auditor Troy Kelley was back in the news yesterday. Last week a jury found him not guilty of lying to the IRS and deadlocked on the other charges.

The prosecution’s contention, however, is still true: Kelley’s actions to move and conceal millions of dollars were not the actions of someone who was convinced he was innocent.

With the trial over, Kelley apparently thinks that it’s now time to settle scores. He forced two Auditor employees to resign this week and is requiring another to do no work until his retirement later this month.

Kelley's motive seems to be punishing those he deems insufficiently loyal to him during the awkward time during his indictment and trial, when Auditor’s Office employees had to muddle through as best they could.

Deputy Auditor Jan Jutte, who ran the office admirably during Kelley’s absence, told the News Tribune, “I don't know what's going on. I have a lot of staff who are living in fear, asking what they should do, and I don't have any advice for them.” It’s just one more example of how Washington will be better off without Troy Kelley in office.

-Rob McKenna