2010 Legislative Session is underway

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Permalink Reply by Pat Gordon on October 9, 2009 at 2:49pm

When has she ever cared about the citizens of this state? Gregoire is just another liberal hack who thinks she's entitled to anything she wants.

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Permalink Reply by James D Rutz on October 11, 2009 at 12:02pm

Last year she tried to remove money from programs that affected the most needy, those in nursing homes and disabled peoples. I see this happening again and a target of conversations to come. Oh, I also see this happening at the federal level soon as well.

Targeting these groups is a great way to raise taxes as noone wants to see these people hurt further. Targeting these groups is a great way to stir up emotions and do away with rational thought. But this is what Christine is good at.

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Permalink Reply by James D Rutz on October 11, 2009 at 10:54pm

Senator Zarelli has stated that Governor Gregoire has offered no substantial reform. There was no serious look at what is government doing that it shouldn’t. There has been no serious attempt to implement any of the reforms suggested by the independent auditor who has looked at several things and offered suggestions that would save the state millions.

There was only a 2% reduction in spending last year’s budget and this year there is already emotional pleas coming from the Governor’s Office concerning raising taxes.

There are several different real suggestions that could save the state millions of dollars but state Democrats refuse to look at them. The Governor herself called for some changes last year in her state of the state address. But this seemly was just rhetoric.

The Democratic legislature has in the past turned a blind eye on making real reforms to the way it is doing business. Rather the Democratic leadership seems to feel that it is easier to take money from taxpayers than it is to reform government.

Reforming government is seen as a loss of power for them and not a gain for the state as a whole.

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Permalink Reply by James D Rutz on October 19, 2009 at 6:37pm

The Ways and Means Committee of the WA ST Senate will be meeting on the 27th. Here is a copy of there agenda if anyone is in the area on the 27th and would like to attend and see what is going on.

School Construction Funding, Joint Legislative Task Force* - 10/27/2009 1:00 p.m.


Full Committee
Sen. Conf. Rms ABC
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 10/19/2009 9:45 AM

Work Session:
Performance Audit Report: Opportunities for the State to Help School Districts Minimize the Cost and Interest Paid on State Bond Debt.
JLARC pilot progress report: K-12 Facility Inventory, Condition and Use System.
OSPI update on the School Construction Assistance Program requirement to develop a tracking system to increase accuracy in predicting the timing of school district claims for reimbursement.
Common School Construction Account (fund 113): use, revenue sources, fund balance and history.
Changing the state funding assistance ratio used in the school construction assistance program formula.
Review of the 2008 Berk and Associates K-12 School Enrollment Projections Study.
OSPI Report: Analysis of the School Construction Assistance Program Formula Allocations.
Account for regional cost differences in the school construction assistance program formula.
Correlation between RS Means index and school districts' relative property-values-per-pupil.
Methods to accommodate specialized program space or unique building circumstances.
Review of ESHB 2261, the 2009 Session education bill, and potential capital impacts.
Final report preparation.
Task force schedule.
Outline of findings and recommendations.

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Permalink Reply by James D Rutz on October 19, 2009 at 7:10pm

Governor Gregoire has requested that state natural resource agencies (Ecology, Natural Resources, Agriculture, Fish & Wildlife) to look at ways to streamline how the departments work together. In September the governor's cabinet released a list of possible options for reforming the way natural resources are managed in Washington. If you wish to see a copy of the suggestions or make a comment on the suggestions you may go to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=FaIMxROOZoyrn_2fp8HZgFEw_3d_3d and fillout the comment form or down load a copy of the suggestions.

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Permalink Reply by James D Rutz on October 23, 2009 at 11:12pm

The new legislative session which is still a few months away seems ever and ever closer now. The Farm Bureau reports that L&I is seeking to raise $117 million dollars so let the taxing begin.

L&I is seeking to increase premiums for next year 7.6 percent and they are seeking increases for the next several years. Now at a time when we are in a recession, and extremely high unemployment our state is seeking ways to increase taxes and fees on us the workers and employers anyway the state can.

L&I actually admits that it is seeking to raise rates because we are in the midst of a recession. The department cited factors for the increase that were largely due to the recession: reduced investment returns, fewer premiums paid because fewer hours were worked, and fewer jobs for injured workers to return to. So, they want to raise premiums on those lucky enough to still have jobs and those who business owners who are still in business.

Those are just some of the reason there is still the reason that most reflects on what our extremely wise federal government is trying to do. That reason is our failing government cannot manage the insurance claims and our legislature refuses to make the changes needed to fix the problem.

Our state is a great example of government programs gone wild. A little more than $50 million of state workman’s comp goes to unrelated to work place injuries.

Our state legislature would much rather see businesses go under and workers go bankrupt than fix the problems.

After what Governor Gregoire has already said about raising taxes I have to say our state government seems to be saying let the taxing frenzy begin.

I can see the sharks circling now.

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Permalink Reply by James D Rutz on November 11, 2009 at 3:48pm

Taxes are going up so you better start thinking about mortgaging your future. Some time ago I wrote about Governor Gregoire asking for people to come and talk to her about how to raise taxes, her door is always open. Well, State Democratic lawmakers seem to have a revolt on their hands. Major labor groups that provide support for our state Democrats during elections are beginning to flex their political muscles. The Washington State Labor Council, the Service Employees International Union and unions representing teachers and state workers have either stopped or sharply reduced donations to Democratic caucus political-action committees that back candidates for the state House and Senate and this has caused Democratic leaders to openly talk about the reduction in donations. "I think the labor movement is more serious about withholding support from Democratic candidates this year than I have seen in my 30 years in politics," according to state Democratic Party chair, Dwight Pelz.

This is happening during a growing recession and with a huge unemployment rate here in Washington State. There is even talk of openly campaigning against Democrats who do not support raising taxes. Instead of looking at ways to curb spending Democrats are being forced into looking at increasing local and state taxes. This goes along with the federal governments increases is sure to mean less take home pay and more job losses in the next year.

One has to wonder if the unions really represent the working person or is there another agenda in this? I am not a conspiracy minded person but this does not make any sense. But if you don’t believe me then think about this comment from David Rolf the president of SEUI local 775. “There are people who will have to get off a fence this year and grow some courage."

One has to wonder if under eminent domain our state will start taking over businesses, Boeing look out. When Peter has no more money Paul still has to be paid and raining in why we spend so much is not on the Democrat’s table.

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Permalink Reply by James D Rutz on November 13, 2009 at 12:43pm

There is some new news coming out of Olympia that again signals that taxes are going up. The State now has a $2 billion deficit that is growing. Accoriding to federal laws 70% of our state budget is mandated. 30% of our budget or roughly $9 billion is what can be adjusted. If you take out of that $9 Billion the deficit we only have $7 billion to work with and according to Governor Gregoire that simply is not enough.

Governor Gregoire is out making her case to whoever will listen that taxes, fees, and other things are going to go up. She is also trying to lay out reasons for a new round of federal stimulous packages. Ous State is $2 billion in the whole the federal government is trillions in the whole and all we hear is we must increase spending. There is no way the citizens are paying the government enough money. There is no way that businesses are paying enough money.

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Permalink Reply by F. Wachob on November 15, 2009 at 1:23am

Any recall / impeachment options? Even if to file to get it into the radar? TREASON cannot be tolerated.

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Permalink Reply by James D Rutz on November 15, 2009 at 11:50am

F.Wachob, our state does allow for recall and impeachment. Recall is something that we the citizens can do while impeachment is a legislative action. As the Democrats are in control of our state currently I doubt that impeachment of any sitting Democrat unless they have committed a really serious crime would happen.

Recall on the other hand is something that does not require a really serious crime but rather the perception of a crime or imoral act.

Whom did you have in mind?

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