Legislative Tracker

10th District lawmaker’s communities would be directly affected

“The governor’s ferry proposal comes as a surprise to state lawmakers in districts that would be affected. It appears short on details, but long on bureaucracy. The proposal does not seem very well thought out and this worries me.
“There’s no question our ferry system needs reformed. I’m open to new and bold ideas, including a new governance structure, if the end result is a more sustainable and reliable system. However, I’m opposed to new bureaucracy, with the authority to place larger tax and fee burdens on my communities, if there is no guarantee of these critical goals.
“Ferries are an important part of our state highway system and their costs should not fall disproportionately on only certain communities. People in these communities are already paying increased costs for service. When a section of I-5 needs maintained, we don’t expect just the people in the nearby communities to pay for it. The same principle should apply to ferries.
“I would like to explore other governance models, including private-sector options, which recognize our ferry system as part of the state’s overall transportation grid and promote accountability. We must also find solutions that ensure better management of our capital investments.”
For more information on the governor’s proposal click here.

Rep. Barbara Bailey represents the 10th District.

The Marysville Globe and The Arlington Times will once again be featuring their Legislative Tracker Blog to provide a forum for state Senators and Representatives from the 10th, 38th, 39th and 44th legislative districts to dialogue with their constituents. The 2011 Legislative Session begins Jan. 10, 2010

The blog was started for the 2010 Legislative Session and featured more than 80 post from our local legislators for that session.

The Council of Metropolitan Police and Sheriffs (COMPAS) recently honored Rep. Mike Hope, R-Lake Stevens, as “Legislator of the Year” for his outspoken advocacy on behalf of public safety in his first two years in the Legislature.  COMPAS represents more than 2,000 commissioned law enforcement officers, including officers from the Seattle Police Guild and the King County Police Officers Guild, the two largest law enforcement agencies in the state.
Hope championed or supported public safety laws to:

• prevent convicted child abusers from working with children;
• review sentencing guidelines for child abuse;
• give judges more authority to deny bail to the most dangerous suspects;
• expand benefits for personnel and their families when an officer or firefighter is catastrophically injured or killed in the line of duty;
• hold responsible repeat domestic violence offenders; and
• increase penalties for those who aid criminals in the act, including family members.

“As a Seattle street cop, I know what law enforcement faces each day. I see the roadblocks that get in our way of keeping the public safe,  especially from repeat offenders,” Hope said. “I feel privileged to accept this distinction, as I know I am standing on the shoulders of giants who came before me. There is no greater role for government than to protect its people from harm so they can live free.”
Renee Maher, Executive Director of COMPAS, said Hope was chosen for this year’s honor because of his tireless efforts to ensure the safety of our officers and the communities they serve.
“Mike has accomplished so much in two short years,” Maher said. “He has refused to take ‘no’ for an answer. He sought common ground by working across party lines to bridge the differences between legislators in both the House and Senate. The law enforcement community is grateful to have people like Mike in the Legislature who understand the importance of putting dangerous people behind bars and protecting victims from further abuse. He also realizes that in order to make sure our communities are served by the best of the best, we have to take care of our officers and their families when they make the ultimate sacrifice.”
Hope shared the honor with retiring Rep. Mark Ericks, D-Bothell.
“It’s been a pleasure working across the aisle with people like Mark,” Hope said. “We all want to keep our communities safe, and I think our law enforcement experience has brought some needed expertise to the Legislature.”
During the interim, Hope is serving on a legislative work group on bail procedures. Hope said he looks forward to working on more public safety reforms in the next session, namely addressing sex offenders in schools.
“I’m committed to ensuring that kids are safe in their classrooms, and that their parents have peace of mind when their children are at school. Together with Representative Kirk Pearson [ranking Republican on the House public safety committee], I know we can get to the bottom of what’s happening and set up some safeguards,” Hope said. “Children must feel secure and protected in their schools, amongst classmates they trust, or their ability to learn is seriously jeopardized.”

10th District lawmaker encourages constituents to join the conversation, offer solutions to put people back to work

After a longer-than-expected legislative session, Rep. Norma Smith will host a post-session telephone town hall meeting on Tuesday, May 18 for 10th Legislative District residents. The call will be an opportunity to have a two-way discussion on the critical issues surrounding job creation and retention and our state’s economy.
“The goal of this conversation is to share the proposals I worked on this year to create and retain private-sector jobs, as well as listen to additional solutions from the residents I work for in the Legislature,” said Smith, R-Clinton. “I am looking forward to feedback, ideas and creative solutions to the economic challenges we face as a state and in our local communities.”
Constituents who would like to participate in the telephone town hall meeting May 18, can call in toll-free at 1-877-229-8493, then enter PIN 14881. The hour-long call begins at 6:50 p.m. The program works much like a call-in radio show, where participants ask questions of Smith during the hour.
“While the $30.5 billion budget and tax package passed this year will serve as a Band-Aid to get us through 2010, in no way did they restructure spending or solve the economic problems facing our state. That is why I did not vote for the budget and tax increases,” Smith said. “I continue to believe the best way to turn our economy around is to grow it by providing employers certainty and regulatory relief along with removing obstacles to encourage private-sector job retention and creation. I am hoping the dialog with constituents will give me additional ideas to improve job growth in our state.”
Constituents unable to participate in the call are encouraged to contact Smith at her district office in Coupeville at 360-678-3604 or <a href=”mailt0:Smith.Norma@leg.wa.gov”>Smith.Norma@leg.wa.gov</a>.

Residents of the 39th District may participate from the comfort of their own homes

Rep. Dan Kristiansen is inviting residents of the 39th District to join him Thursday, May 13, from 6:50 p.m. to 7:50 p.m., for a telephone town hall meeting. The call-in radio show format is an opportunity for citizen to learn more about the 2010 legislative sessions, ask questions and take part in polls. Residents may participate from the comfort of their own homes by dialing toll-free 1-877-229-8493, and entering PIN code 15786 when prompted.
“I have heard from a lot of people who are concerned about what happened during the legislative sessions. This is an opportunity for folks to learn more about the issues affecting their communities and pocketbooks, and ask questions of their state representative,” said Kristiansen, R-Snohomish. “I look forward to hearing from those I represent and encourage everyone to call in.”

As the Legislature entered its final day of the special session, Rep. Dan Kristiansen reflected over the past 90 days lawmakers have been in Olympia and characterized this year’s legislative session as “a massive train wreck engineered by majority Democrats with a lot of citizens unwillingly aboard.”
“It’s been very disappointing,” said Kristiansen, R-Snohomish. “My Republican colleagues and I met with the governor a month before the session began in January and brought her a jobs package, which ultimately would have put many people back to work in the private sector by now. Our “Made in Washington” jobs legislation would have significantly reduced unemployment and the need for public assistance. Unfortunately, those ideas were completely ignored as the governor and majority party went directly for tax increases.
“With some of the highest unemployment rates in the state in nearly two decades, this legislative session should have been about jobs and what we could do to get people working again. Instead, Washington has higher unemployment now than it did when the Legislature convened in January and, unfortunately, we can expect a lot more people out of work when the new tax hikes take effect,” he said.
To cover a $2.8 billion budget shortfall, majority Democrats in the House approved legislation Saturday, 52-44, that will increase taxes by nearly $2.5 billion over the next three years. Kristiansen voted no. The Senate followed suit today, approving Senate Bill 6143 by a vote of 25-21. All Republicans in both the House and Senate voted against the tax hikes and some Democrats also voted no.
“All of these tax increases will be detrimental to individuals and our state’s economy. Even the governor said she could solve this budget problem by making changes internally without a tax increase. So why couldn’t House and Senate Democrat leaders restructure the budget and prioritize spending for only the most essential services of education, public safety and the most vulnerable? Instead, they’re sticking it to taxpayers at a time when our state is experiencing the worst recession in years,” noted Kristiansen.
Kristiansen said employers, blue-collar workers and the middle class will be hit the hardest with tax increases, which include raising business and occupation taxes on services, adding sales tax to candy and gum, and increasing taxes on soda, bottled water, cigarettes and beer.
“The 39th District has more people collecting unemployment benefits than any other legislative district. Now the state is going to take more from families who are already living with less and have had to cut their own budgets,” said Kristiansen. “The tax package picks winners and losers. Those who can afford to drink the high-end microbrewery beers won’t have to pay, but those who drink regular beer will be paying much more. That’s just one of many examples of how this tax legislation will affect the middle class.”
Monday, the House of Representatives approved a $30.5 billion supplemental operating budget which decreases spending by less than 1 percent from last year’s budget. Senate Bill 6444 passed the House by a vote of 54-43. It later was approved in the Senate, 25-21. Again, Kristiansen voted no.
“It’s unbelievable that while families are cutting back, there’s actually new spending in this budget. The Legislature didn’t tighten its belt. Instead, it continues the same old tax-and-spend policies that got us into this mess in the first place,” added Kristiansen. “This budget does nothing to help employers create jobs. Instead, it adds more mandates and finds more ways to tax employers. So that means we may see more businesses close and move out of the state, and fewer jobs in Washington. We’re not going to be able to crawl our way, tax our way or spend our way out of this recession. The state needs to take a lesson from its citizens who are having to live within their means. Until we do that, we’re going to continue to see huge budget deficits long into the future.
“It’s very unfortunate, but I believe our state would have been better off if the Legislature didn’t convene this year. As a result, every citizen is going to be feeling the pain and this difficult recession has now been prolonged,” concluded Kristiansen.
The following is an overview of the tax package which is heading to the governor:

Conference Tax Package2

Rep. Dan Kristiansen represents the 39th District.

10th District lawmaker is assistant ranking member on the House Ways and Means Committee

The following is a statement from Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, on the April 12 passage of the final supplemental state operating budget. The 10th District lawmaker voted “no” on Senate Bill 6444.
“The operating budget is demanding more financially from those who are struggling in these tough times, while not making any significant reforms to state government or the budget process. This budget is raising taxes on people who do not have jobs to give pay increases to state employees who do have jobs. This is unsustainable and unfair, and it will lead to even worse problems in the next budget cycle.
“Our state must live within its means – much like responsible families and small businesses do every day. This can be done by creating jobs, prioritizing state government and reforming our budget process. I have put forth solutions to accomplish these goals, but majority-party leaders have chosen to go an irresponsible direction and preserve the status quo in Olympia.”

Quick facts:

The operating budget is the largest of the state’s three budgets, including the capital and transportation budgets, and funds K-12 schools, higher education, corrections and public safety programs, government and judicial operations, and health and human services. It is on a two-year cycle, with midcourse adjustments made through a supplemental version in even-numbered years.
The state operating budget has a $2.8 billion shortfall. The Democrats and governor plan to close this spending gap through:

• $757 million in new tax increases (to view all of the Democrats’ new tax increases, click here);
• $661 million in spending reductions;
• $633 million in federal funds;
• $328 million in transfers from other accounts;
• $256 million in reserves ($229 million from rainy-day fund); and
• $178 million in cost shifts to other accounts.

With the suspension of the Taxpayer Protection Act (Initiative 960) through Senate Bill 6130 in the regular legislative session, Democrats only needed a simple majority (50 state representatives and 25 state senators) to pass new tax increases. No Republican in the House or Senate voted for Senate Bill 6130.

The 2010 regular legislative session ended March 11. Gov. Chris Gregoire called a special legislative session so majority Democrats could finalize their state operating budget and tax increase proposals. The 30-day special legislative session is scheduled to end April 13 at an additional cost of nearly $250,000 to taxpayers.

Rep. Barbara Bailey represents the 10th District.

After 89 days of debate among Democrats on which taxes to increase, tax and budget legislation pass House

Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, today expressed disappointment with the passage of the $757 million tax increase contained in Senate Bill 6143 and the $30.5 billion supplemental operating budget. Pearson issued the following brief remarks on both:
“I heard a lot of people in the Legislature say we need new and higher taxes to prop up government programs, but taxes do not equal compassion. The multi-million tax increase will hurt the poorest among us the most. Families buying canned meats and vegetables are going to see their food bills go up. Those are folks who cannot afford higher taxes and who are already stretched financially. The budget passed today asks citizens to sacrifice, but doesn’t ask anything of government. That just isn’t fair and I could not support a budget that puts the burden on those who can least afford it.
“In the debate on taxes, I brought up the point that when government takes more from citizens, they have less to give to their local charities, like local food banks. That is going to have a devastating effect on the many families who rely on non-profit, non-governmental charities to make ends meet. Also, the additional millions in taxes the budget requires from employers means more people will remain out of work since money businesses would use to hire people will now be used to backfill a budget that was too large to begin with.

“In the end, the budget relied on emptying the last few dollars the poorest among us have in their wallets and taking what little investment employers may have had to retain and create jobs. This is no way to treat people who are struggling to make ends meet and find a job. I voted ‘no’ on the budget and tax package because I had to stand-up for the working folks in my district and statewide.”

The Democrats and governor will close the $2.8 billion state operating budget shortfall through:

• $757 million per-year in new and increased taxes ($1.6 billion increase in the 2011-13 budget);
• $661 million in spending reductions;
• $633 million in federal funds;
• $328 million in transfers from other accounts;
• $256 million in reserves ($229 million from rainy-day fund); and
• $178 million in cost shifts to other accounts.

Rep. Kirk Pearson represents the 39th District.

New tax increases demonstrate a failure of leadership to find sustainable budget solutions

The following is a statement from Rep. Barbara Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, on the April 10 passage of the Democrats’ new tax increases. The 10th District lawmaker voted “no” on Senate Bill 6143.
“At a time when the Legislature should be focused on job creation and strengthening the economy, Democrats are raising taxes by nearly $1.7 billion which will eliminate jobs, burden families and hurt small businesses. Raising taxes signals a failure to reform state government in meaningful and cost-saving ways. When taxes are being raised at the same time state employees are getting pay increases, it shows just how out of touch the majority party has become with the realties facing people today.
“From day one of the legislative session, I joined my Republican colleagues in proposing solutions that would prioritize government, reform the budget process and create jobs. All of these ideas were rooted in the principle that the state must live with its means. Unfortunately, nearly all of these solutions were rejected in favor of tax increases.”
With the recent suspension of the Taxpayer Protection Act (Initiative 960) through Senate Bill 6130, Democrats only need a simple majority — 50 state representatives and 25 state senators — to increase taxes. No Republican in the House or Senate voted for Senate Bill 6130.
To view all of the Democrats’ new tax increases, click here.
The 2010 regular legislative session ended March 11. Gov. Gregoire called the Legislature into a special legislative session so majority Democrats could finalize their state operating budget and tax increase proposals. The 30-day special legislative session is scheduled to end Tuesday, April 13, at an estimated cost of $250,000.

Rep. Barbara Bailey represents the 10th District.

Smith is concerned tax package passed by House April 10 will further erode state’s economic recovery

Despite bipartisan objection to the nearly $800 million tax increase on employers and families, a majority of the Democrats in the House moved to pass it on their own. Rep. Norma Smith, R-Clinton, issued the following statement:
“I, along with my House Republican colleagues, offered reasonable alternatives to raising taxes that should have been considered before Democrats’ rushed to unprecedented tax hikes. We simply cannot sustain a government that continues to grow at the peril of private-sector job-makers and hard working folks. More than 189,000 private sector jobs have been lost in Washington, while government jobs have grown by more than 1,300.
“The tax package passed by the House today would extract even more money from struggling private-sector employers, making it exceedingly difficult to retain and hire workers. It will also hurt the more than 10 percent of unemployed Washingtonians in our state because jobs will be even more scarce, and the goods they purchase more expensive. We simply cannot turn our economy around when the burden to taxpayers becomes too excessive and is unsustainable.
“I continue to believe the best way to generate tax revenue is to make sure our employers have tax relief and certainty so they feel confident enough to begin hiring again. Putting people back to work in our private-sector industries will not only create individual hope and prosperity, but also generate much-needed revenue for essential state and local services, such as education.
“Instead of constraining the growth of government, the tax package will have a chilling impact on our fragile economic recovery. Even an independent economist, who serves on the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, has concluded that tax increases will cost Washington more jobs than would an all-cuts budget.
“I am disappointed our ideas to prioritize spending, reform government and find critical efficiencies were not considered before increasing taxes. When we return for the 2011 budget, it may be too late to correct the massive budgeting mistakes made by overspending since 2005, along with using one-time federal bailout dollars and dedicated account transfers. These actions have propped up unsustainable spending practices and costly and inefficient entitlement programs. We can, and the public expects us to, govern more effectively.”

Tax package facts:

New and increased taxes approved by House Democrats amount to $794 million in just the first year alone – the largest one-year tax increase in state history.  They include:

• A  0.30 percent increase in the B&O tax on all services except hospitals and scientific R&D = $242 million;
• DOT foods = $155 million;
• Cigarette($1 per pack)  and other tobacco products =  $101 million;
• B&O tax on economic income (Nexus) = $84.7 million;
• 50-cent per gallon (28-cents per six pack) beer tax = $59 million;
• Sales tax on bottled water = $32.6 million;
• Sales tax on candy/gum = $30.5 million;
• 2-cent per 12-ounce soda tax = $33.5 million;
• Taxes on business structure transactions = $8.5 million;
• B&O tax increase on property management salaries = $6.9 million;
• B&O increase on certain canned meat products = $4.1 million;
• B&O tax increase on mortgages = $3.6 million;
• B&O tax increase on corporate officer salaries = $2.1 million;
• Tax increase on bad debts = $1.7 million;
• Tax increase on livestock nutrient management = $1.3 million;
• Tax increase on PUD electric bills = $1.2 million; and
• Personal liability for tax debts = $1.1 million.

The 2010 regular legislative session ended March 11. Gov. Gregoire called the Legislature into a special legislative session so majority Democrats could finalize their operating budget and tax increase proposals. The 30-day special legislative session is scheduled to end on Tuesday, April 13.
Senate Bill 6143, the third iteration of the tax package legislation, will now be forwarded to the Senate for consideration, possibly as soon as April 11.

Rep. Norma Smith represents the 10th District.