What does America’s declining economic freedom mean for you? It means that America will create fewer jobs. And that means that Americans will be poorer, as well as less free...
...This is a competitive world, and businesses have choices. If the U.S. continues to fall behind in economic freedom, some businesses will make a rational decision to move elsewhere, and others will have less money to pay workers because they will be giving more to the taxman.
In his State of the Union address, the President stated that “And to encourage these and other businesses to stay within our borders, it’s time to finally slash the tax breaks for companies that ship our jobs overseas and give those tax breaks to companies that create jobs in the United States of America.”
But they’re not “our jobs” by eternal right. They are jobs created by private enterprise, within the context of the burdens imposed by the federal government. And as those burdens get heavier, the number of jobs on offer in this country shrinks.
If the President is serious about job creation, he will address the real threat to it: the policies of his administration, and of past ones, that reduced the willingness of companies to invest and their ability to grow by restricting our economic freedom.
From "Less Economic Freedom = Fewer Jobs for Americans" by Theodore Bromund
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Hold On WA Felon Voter
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has put a temporary hold on its order that felons should be able to vote in Washington State...even if they are still in prison.
The Appeals Court granted a request for a stay from state officials while Washington asks the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case. The Supreme Court has not yet decided if it will.
Friday, January 29, 2010
20,000 No's on Taxes
by Amber Gunn
More than 20,000 citizens signed a petition to legislators asking them to balance the budget within existing revenues. Today, 20 concerned taxpayers and representatives of EFF, including CEO Lynn Harsh and myself, presented the signatures in person to Speaker Frank Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown. Or rather, we would have if they had made time to meet us. Unfortunately Speaker Chopp was “in a meeting” and Senator Brown was M.I.A. entirely. We called and emailed her office but received no responses from her staff.
So we did the best we could, and left the signatures with their legislative aides.
We collected the 20,000+ signatures in a 15-day petition drive. The idea came after more than 80 organizations and labor unions turned in 14,000 names of people who support what they call a “progressive” approach to balancing the budget, which includes increased taxes and fees. Leaders of this coalition were eagerly greeted by Governor Gregoire, Speaker Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Brown on the first day of session.
It sends a pretty clear message when the governor, senate majority leader and speaker go out of their way to meet with tax hikers on the first day of session, but won’t give concerned taxpayers the same courtesy. If they really wanted to, they could have made time. Obviously it wasn’t a priority.
The mantra of the left-wing coalition is “Cuts Not Kids,” but the reality is that truly protecting our kids, our jobs, our health and our environment means we must stop borrowing against the next generation and hobbling the productivity of the private sector. Why should our kids be bogged down under inherited debt from spending that lawmakers refused to get under control?
We’re never going to get out of this mess if government, which has none of its own money, continues to take more from the people who need it to create jobs, build solutions and meet pressing human needs.
More than 20,000 citizens signed a petition to legislators asking them to balance the budget within existing revenues. Today, 20 concerned taxpayers and representatives of EFF, including CEO Lynn Harsh and myself, presented the signatures in person to Speaker Frank Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown. Or rather, we would have if they had made time to meet us. Unfortunately Speaker Chopp was “in a meeting” and Senator Brown was M.I.A. entirely. We called and emailed her office but received no responses from her staff.
So we did the best we could, and left the signatures with their legislative aides.
We collected the 20,000+ signatures in a 15-day petition drive. The idea came after more than 80 organizations and labor unions turned in 14,000 names of people who support what they call a “progressive” approach to balancing the budget, which includes increased taxes and fees. Leaders of this coalition were eagerly greeted by Governor Gregoire, Speaker Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Brown on the first day of session.
It sends a pretty clear message when the governor, senate majority leader and speaker go out of their way to meet with tax hikers on the first day of session, but won’t give concerned taxpayers the same courtesy. If they really wanted to, they could have made time. Obviously it wasn’t a priority.
The mantra of the left-wing coalition is “Cuts Not Kids,” but the reality is that truly protecting our kids, our jobs, our health and our environment means we must stop borrowing against the next generation and hobbling the productivity of the private sector. Why should our kids be bogged down under inherited debt from spending that lawmakers refused to get under control?
We’re never going to get out of this mess if government, which has none of its own money, continues to take more from the people who need it to create jobs, build solutions and meet pressing human needs.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Statist Quo
Everything changes except President Obama. His agenda doesn’t change.
He has had no second thoughts about the wisdom of his health-care policies, or any of his policies; resistance is always and only a reason for redoubling.
Also unchanging is the condescension with which he articulates his agenda: He faulted himself for not explaining health care well enough to the easily confused American public.
The same familiar strawmen dot the landscape of his rhetoric. (Republicans want to “maintain the status quo” on health care. This president is willing to listen to Republican ideas, just so long as he can then forget that he has ever done so.)
Narcissism, too, is a constant companion. The opening of the speech, and the end, invited us to regard Obama as the embodiment of the nation.
But it is not the country’s future that has suddenly come under doubt. It is his administration’s. It is not the country’s spirit that is in danger of breaking.
It is contemporary liberalism’s.
- NRO Editors
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Imagine
Imagine that — letting the public see budget details before their representatives cast their all-important votes. Odd as it seems, that’s not the practice today.
The norm in a legislative session finds the House and Senate passing their own versions of the budget. Negotiators then go behind closed doors to work out the differences. Once a deal has been struck, the budget is rushed to the floor of both chambers and legislative leaders call for an immediate vote.
Legislators do not have time to read, let alone digest and react to the spending document. In the days when paper copies of the budget were circulated on the House and Senate floor, the bound pages were still warm to the touch from the copy machine when the vote was recorded.
As he has in the past, Rep. Alexander, R-Olympia, has introduced a bill to bring a halt to the rushed budget vote. House Bill 2872 would require a 72-hour waiting period before final adoption of the budget.
Alexander’s level-headed proposal makes sense. But the sad reality is it likely will be rejected by budget-writing Democrats in the House and Senate.
That’s unfortunate.
Excert from an editorial in The Olympian
The norm in a legislative session finds the House and Senate passing their own versions of the budget. Negotiators then go behind closed doors to work out the differences. Once a deal has been struck, the budget is rushed to the floor of both chambers and legislative leaders call for an immediate vote.
Legislators do not have time to read, let alone digest and react to the spending document. In the days when paper copies of the budget were circulated on the House and Senate floor, the bound pages were still warm to the touch from the copy machine when the vote was recorded.
As he has in the past, Rep. Alexander, R-Olympia, has introduced a bill to bring a halt to the rushed budget vote. House Bill 2872 would require a 72-hour waiting period before final adoption of the budget.
Alexander’s level-headed proposal makes sense. But the sad reality is it likely will be rejected by budget-writing Democrats in the House and Senate.
That’s unfortunate.
Excert from an editorial in The Olympian
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
These heartbreaking statistics from the The Liberty Counsel are a profound reminder of the devastating effect abortion has had on our country:
Since that time [the 37 years since Roe v. Wade], approximately 50 million innocent and helpless children have been killed by abortion. About 1 in 5, or 20 percent, of our nation’s youth have had their lives ended by abortion.
Minorities have also been hit hard by abortion. African-Americans account for about 12 percent of the population, but 37 percent of the 1.3 million abortions each year. Latinos make up about 15 percent of the population, yet account for about 22 percent of the annual number of abortions.
In all the wars in American history combined, from the Revolution to the War on Terror, we have lost approximately 910,000 people. However, in 37 years we have lost about 50 million children to abortion. We lose more children to abortion each day than we lost in all the tragedies on September 11, 2001.
About 98 percent of abortions are done for convenience unrelated to health. Less than 2 percent of abortions are done for serious health reasons, rape or incest.
The youth of our nation under the age of 35 are more pro-life than any other generation. A majority of all Americans oppose abortion.
Last Monday, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, about 15,000 people, mostly youth, gathered in Houston, Texas to protest Planned Parenthood’s 78,000 square-foot abortion facility scheduled to open in April in the midst of a minority community comprised of Hispanics and African-Americans. One of the youth held a sign saying, "We survived Roe. Roe will not survive us".
Randy Alcorn
Since that time [the 37 years since Roe v. Wade], approximately 50 million innocent and helpless children have been killed by abortion. About 1 in 5, or 20 percent, of our nation’s youth have had their lives ended by abortion.
Minorities have also been hit hard by abortion. African-Americans account for about 12 percent of the population, but 37 percent of the 1.3 million abortions each year. Latinos make up about 15 percent of the population, yet account for about 22 percent of the annual number of abortions.
In all the wars in American history combined, from the Revolution to the War on Terror, we have lost approximately 910,000 people. However, in 37 years we have lost about 50 million children to abortion. We lose more children to abortion each day than we lost in all the tragedies on September 11, 2001.
About 98 percent of abortions are done for convenience unrelated to health. Less than 2 percent of abortions are done for serious health reasons, rape or incest.
The youth of our nation under the age of 35 are more pro-life than any other generation. A majority of all Americans oppose abortion.
Last Monday, on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, about 15,000 people, mostly youth, gathered in Houston, Texas to protest Planned Parenthood’s 78,000 square-foot abortion facility scheduled to open in April in the midst of a minority community comprised of Hispanics and African-Americans. One of the youth held a sign saying, "We survived Roe. Roe will not survive us".
Randy Alcorn
Friday, January 22, 2010
Living Monuments
In Washington DC, a city of memorials, where barely an acre of public space remains that doesn't commemorate a famous person or event, thousands of Americans came today as living monuments to the war on the unborn.
In the 37 years since Roe v. Wade, the March for Life has led millions up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court--where the decision of seven unelected men has led to the largest loss of life in all of human history.
Every year, families travel over miles of wintery highways in the hope that one day this struggle will end. Undeterred by icy wind or rain, this generation of survivors will never let the nation forget the blood spilled in the name of "choice."
In the 37 years since Roe v. Wade, the March for Life has led millions up Constitution Avenue to the Supreme Court--where the decision of seven unelected men has led to the largest loss of life in all of human history.
Every year, families travel over miles of wintery highways in the hope that one day this struggle will end. Undeterred by icy wind or rain, this generation of survivors will never let the nation forget the blood spilled in the name of "choice."
Democrats Target New Taxes, Republicans Target New Jobs
It seems Democrats in our state legislature just can't seem to think outside the box on the budget crisis they’ve made - at least outside the TAX box.
They do, however, hesitate to use the word "raise" next to the word "tax", instead choosing to cloak their ploy in kinder gentler terms like "tax changes" or “revenue enhancements”. Well, that will fool us!
Yesterday in his first meeting with the Capitol press this session House Speaker Frank Chopp had an opportunity to converse a bit about some of the Democrat tax targets.
First, taxing airplanes. They do admit there really aren't many to tax. Chopp thinks this is part of the tax fairness agenda the voters want.
Another option would be to rewriting a previous law (struck down last year by our state Supreme Court) regarding the state’s ability to tax companies that are based in other states with have distribution centers in our state. This is considered a loophole and likely tax target.
The other idea on the table is the frequently regurgitated idea of extending sales tax to bottled water, soda and candy. Chopp quipped that "most people don’t realize they don’t pay sales tax on bottled water". In other words, we can sneak this one in.
The one thing each of these taxes have in common is that they will be passed on, and we will pay.
Focused like a laser on jobs and not your paycheck Republicans put a bold proposal on the table calling for an exemption from the state Business and Occupation tax for all new businesses, and a three-year phase in after that for small businesses..
Now whose agenda is what the voters and taxpayers of Washington State want?
They do, however, hesitate to use the word "raise" next to the word "tax", instead choosing to cloak their ploy in kinder gentler terms like "tax changes" or “revenue enhancements”. Well, that will fool us!
Yesterday in his first meeting with the Capitol press this session House Speaker Frank Chopp had an opportunity to converse a bit about some of the Democrat tax targets.
First, taxing airplanes. They do admit there really aren't many to tax. Chopp thinks this is part of the tax fairness agenda the voters want.
Another option would be to rewriting a previous law (struck down last year by our state Supreme Court) regarding the state’s ability to tax companies that are based in other states with have distribution centers in our state. This is considered a loophole and likely tax target.
The other idea on the table is the frequently regurgitated idea of extending sales tax to bottled water, soda and candy. Chopp quipped that "most people don’t realize they don’t pay sales tax on bottled water". In other words, we can sneak this one in.
The one thing each of these taxes have in common is that they will be passed on, and we will pay.
Focused like a laser on jobs and not your paycheck Republicans put a bold proposal on the table calling for an exemption from the state Business and Occupation tax for all new businesses, and a three-year phase in after that for small businesses..
Now whose agenda is what the voters and taxpayers of Washington State want?
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Legisature Warned on Raising Taxes
Legislators wrestling with our state's budget shortfall have been warned that raising taxes will hurt business and cost jobs.
Carl Gipson, Small Business Director for the Washington Policy Center predicts thousands of jobs would be at stake.
"Burdening small businesses with higher taxes today will lead to fewer jobs and lower economic output tomorrow," stated Gipson.
The economic impact of a sales tax increase would also cost jobs.
Washington Research Council’s new study, “The Economic Impact of Hiking Taxes to Close the Budget Gap” predicts a $1 billion sales tax increase would eliminate 14,759 jobs, and a $2.6 billion sales tax increase would eliminate 38,024 jobs.
“Washingtonians are already struggling in the worst economy since the 1930s. Lawmakers should not try to make balancing the budget easier by making people’s lives harder,” said Paul Guppy, the WPC’s Vice President for Research.
“To put the state on firm fiscal footing, any budget adopted must not raise taxes during a recession," said Jason Mercier, Government Reform Director for WPC. "Taking more money from businesses and cutting people’s take-home pay through higher taxes is not the solution.”
Carl Gipson, Small Business Director for the Washington Policy Center predicts thousands of jobs would be at stake.
"Burdening small businesses with higher taxes today will lead to fewer jobs and lower economic output tomorrow," stated Gipson.
The economic impact of a sales tax increase would also cost jobs.
Washington Research Council’s new study, “The Economic Impact of Hiking Taxes to Close the Budget Gap” predicts a $1 billion sales tax increase would eliminate 14,759 jobs, and a $2.6 billion sales tax increase would eliminate 38,024 jobs.
“Washingtonians are already struggling in the worst economy since the 1930s. Lawmakers should not try to make balancing the budget easier by making people’s lives harder,” said Paul Guppy, the WPC’s Vice President for Research.
“To put the state on firm fiscal footing, any budget adopted must not raise taxes during a recession," said Jason Mercier, Government Reform Director for WPC. "Taking more money from businesses and cutting people’s take-home pay through higher taxes is not the solution.”
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
The People Want to Know
by Brett Davis
In a prelude to higher taxes, the word out of Olympia is that legislators are poised to suspend or modify Initiative 960, which requires a two-thirds legislative majority or voter approval for tax increases. I-960, which was approved by voters in November 2007, also requires the state Office of Financial Management to flag bills that would increase taxes or fees and to quantify how much those bills would cost taxpayers annually for 10 years.
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation recently asked legislators to go on record as answering the following two questions about I-960:
1) Do you support informing taxpayers about the cost of proposed legislation, and if so, will you vote to uphold I-960’s transparency provisions?
2) Do you agree with I-960 that two-thirds of the Legislature should agree before
passing tax increases?
The responses so far have ran the gamut—an enthusiastic “yes,” or two, to a definitive “no” that cited the Washington State Constitution, to canned responses that make us suspect the legislators in question didn’t even read the questions, to long-winded non-committal rejoinders (they are politicians, after all).
To see what your representatives and senators said on this issue, please check out the results so far here. We plan on updating the site once or twice a day, depending upon the volume of responses we receive.
If you find that your legislator or legislators haven’t responded, feel free to get in touch with lawmakers to ask ’em yourself. Let us know what they say.
In a prelude to higher taxes, the word out of Olympia is that legislators are poised to suspend or modify Initiative 960, which requires a two-thirds legislative majority or voter approval for tax increases. I-960, which was approved by voters in November 2007, also requires the state Office of Financial Management to flag bills that would increase taxes or fees and to quantify how much those bills would cost taxpayers annually for 10 years.
The Evergreen Freedom Foundation recently asked legislators to go on record as answering the following two questions about I-960:
1) Do you support informing taxpayers about the cost of proposed legislation, and if so, will you vote to uphold I-960’s transparency provisions?
2) Do you agree with I-960 that two-thirds of the Legislature should agree before
passing tax increases?
The responses so far have ran the gamut—an enthusiastic “yes,” or two, to a definitive “no” that cited the Washington State Constitution, to canned responses that make us suspect the legislators in question didn’t even read the questions, to long-winded non-committal rejoinders (they are politicians, after all).
To see what your representatives and senators said on this issue, please check out the results so far here. We plan on updating the site once or twice a day, depending upon the volume of responses we receive.
If you find that your legislator or legislators haven’t responded, feel free to get in touch with lawmakers to ask ’em yourself. Let us know what they say.
Has It Only Been A Year?
Seriously, has it only been a year?
I just took CBS up on their offer to "grade Obama's first year in office". There are ten catagories for you to grade using the traditional A - F system.
But the best part was clicking "submit" and observing the results. So far he has 9-F's, and 1-C on Afganistan.
Economy - F
Foreign Policy - F
Health Care - F
Threat of Terrorism - F
Energy and the Environment - F
Social Issues - F
Bipartisanship - F
Overall job as President - F
It seems all his "hope and change" chickens are coming home to roost.
March for Life in Olympia
by Jerry Cornfield
At least 5,000 people squeezed onto the steps of the state Capitol for the annual March for Life.
Men, women, students and infants traveled from all parts of the state to participate in what is typically one of the largest ralllies - if not the largest - held during a legislative session.
Those attending cheered loudest for calls to end legal abortion and applauded warmly for state lawmakers, most of whom began their remarks by describing themselves as unashamedly pro-life.
Several lawmakers urged the crowd into action against Senate Bill 6452 and a companion bill in the House dealing with information provided by workers of crisis pregnancy centers to women considering abortion.
The legislation restricts what information can be collected from and shared with women who come to the centers and lays out penalties for violations. Sponsors have said their intent is to stop the flow of medically inaccurate information to those who come to the centers.
State Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, was one of several lawmakers decrying the bill as an attempt to put the centers out of existence.
"We must stop this legislation," she said.
At least 5,000 people squeezed onto the steps of the state Capitol for the annual March for Life.
Men, women, students and infants traveled from all parts of the state to participate in what is typically one of the largest ralllies - if not the largest - held during a legislative session.
Those attending cheered loudest for calls to end legal abortion and applauded warmly for state lawmakers, most of whom began their remarks by describing themselves as unashamedly pro-life.
Several lawmakers urged the crowd into action against Senate Bill 6452 and a companion bill in the House dealing with information provided by workers of crisis pregnancy centers to women considering abortion.
The legislation restricts what information can be collected from and shared with women who come to the centers and lays out penalties for violations. Sponsors have said their intent is to stop the flow of medically inaccurate information to those who come to the centers.
State Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, was one of several lawmakers decrying the bill as an attempt to put the centers out of existence.
"We must stop this legislation," she said.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
The Headlines
Obama Suffers Devestating Loss in Mass. Senate Upset - Newsmax
Do You Believe in Miracles? Yes! - NRO
The Scott Heard Around the World - WND
Epic Upset, GOP's Brown Wins Mass. Senate Race - Townhall
Pigs Fly, Hell Freezes Over... and GOP Wins Mass. Senate Seat - Orbusmax
Dems brace for more 2010 fallout - Politico
------------------
In terms of political symbolism, it’s hard to top Republican Scott Brown’s winning Ted Kennedy’s Senate seat in the midst of a raging national health-care debate. In truth, Brown’s win is so fantastically improbable that, as with many earlier moments in American history, it’s hard not to see something of Providence in it.
- Jeffrey H. Anderson
The People's Seat
I just wanted to let you know a little about that sign. I am 41 years old and have never in my life helped out in a political campaign. I was so repulsed by the behind the scenes dealing with the terrifying health care bill that I simply had to act.
When I heard about the Nebraska Medicaid deal, I immediately contacted Scott Brown’s campaign and volunteered to make phone calls. Scott Brown seems to be a smart, rational, even keeled person who will represent our state well in Washington. I am enthusiastically waiting for the polls to close!
Since his campaign ran out of printed signs (due to high demand), we made our own! If those in Washington are concerned about what happened in Massachusetts, they can thank Sen. Nelson.
Nancy, Massachusetts citizen and sign maker extraordinaire
WA Legislature Prepares to Gut Initiative 960
Rumblings out of Olympia indicate that the Legislature will soon move to gut Initiative 960, paving the way for tax increases and removing our ability to track the cost of proposed tax hikes.
Passed by a majority of voters in November 2007, I-960 sets a two-thirds threshold for the Legislature to raise taxes and requires the Office of Financial Management to calculate the 10-year cost of every revenue-raising bill introduced.
If legislators straight-up suspend I-960, then taxpayers will no longer have a means of determining the cost of proposed tax and fee increase bills.
Amber Gunn
Passed by a majority of voters in November 2007, I-960 sets a two-thirds threshold for the Legislature to raise taxes and requires the Office of Financial Management to calculate the 10-year cost of every revenue-raising bill introduced.
If legislators straight-up suspend I-960, then taxpayers will no longer have a means of determining the cost of proposed tax and fee increase bills.
Amber Gunn
Monday, January 18, 2010
Business of Abortion
Houston, Texas is the site of the largest abortion center in the Western Hemisphere and it opens today, January 18, 2010.
A 78,000 square foot facility, the abortion center, a Planned Parenthood facility, will be the largest abortion center in the United States, and the second largest in the world.
The center will serve as a regional headquarters for Planned Parenthood and an abortion clinic for second trimester abortions.
The six-story, 78,000 square foot building will include a surgical floor equipped to commit late-term abortions.
Continuing to target low income, minority families Planned Parenthood has strategically located the new clinic in the middle of Hispanic and African-American neighborhoods and directly across the street from the University of Houston.
Friday, January 15, 2010
Brown Leads in the Race the Whole Nation is Watching
How quickly has this race turned around?
In November, Coakley was beating Brown by 31 percentage points. Now, Brown is up by 4% -- a change of 35% in two months.
If -- repeat if -- Scott Brown wins next Tuesday, it is no exaggeration to say he will change the world of politics as we know it.
Andy Hiller
Release the People's Money
"Every dollar released from taxation that is spent or invested will help create a new job and a new salary. ..."
- John F. Kennedy
- John F. Kennedy
Thursday, January 14, 2010
The "Simple Majority" Plot to Raise Your Taxes
She has values! In fact,our Governor believes it is her moral duty to raise your taxes to fill the gap left by unrestrained Democrat spending.
The only problem is the people, took the government in their own hands by the initiative process and tied the Democrats to the weight of a 2/3 majority vote to raise taxes with I-960.
What's a Governor and her Democrat majority in Olympia to do? Well, they have a plan. Of course they do:
Governor Gregoire released her initial balanced budget that closed the $2.6 billion budget gap facing the state last month as she was legally obligated. However, she said she would have problems following through with cuts that would impact health and social services and student financial aid, among other things.
She aims to buy back $750 million worth of programs with new revenues.
“The revenue will come from new federal dollars, new taxes or both,” Gregoire said during her state-of-the-state address Tuesday. “Like you, I do not want taxes to harm the economic recovery of our families or our businesses. But I also cannot abandon my values, eliminate the safety net for our most needy and cripple our economic future.”
The governor is expected to detail how she plans to bring back programs in a tax package that will be released later this week.
Republicans have said they won’t support any budget that calls on tax increases.
A two-thirds vote would be required to pass a tax increase, but Democrats have discussed suspending the initiative requiring a two-thirds vote so a simple majority would pass any new taxes.
By Marqise Allen
The only problem is the people, took the government in their own hands by the initiative process and tied the Democrats to the weight of a 2/3 majority vote to raise taxes with I-960.
What's a Governor and her Democrat majority in Olympia to do? Well, they have a plan. Of course they do:
Governor Gregoire released her initial balanced budget that closed the $2.6 billion budget gap facing the state last month as she was legally obligated. However, she said she would have problems following through with cuts that would impact health and social services and student financial aid, among other things.
She aims to buy back $750 million worth of programs with new revenues.
“The revenue will come from new federal dollars, new taxes or both,” Gregoire said during her state-of-the-state address Tuesday. “Like you, I do not want taxes to harm the economic recovery of our families or our businesses. But I also cannot abandon my values, eliminate the safety net for our most needy and cripple our economic future.”
The governor is expected to detail how she plans to bring back programs in a tax package that will be released later this week.
Republicans have said they won’t support any budget that calls on tax increases.
A two-thirds vote would be required to pass a tax increase, but Democrats have discussed suspending the initiative requiring a two-thirds vote so a simple majority would pass any new taxes.
By Marqise Allen
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
How D's Are Negotiating Health Care
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) issued a blunt, angry statement on Wednesday, accusing the Senate of conducting negotiations with the House while holding "a gun to our head."
"The House has shown deference to the Senate in this process. But I am tired of hearing how hard it was to get 60 votes in the Senate — getting 218 votes to pass our healthcare bill in the House wasn’t easy," said Weiner, who has taken an increasingly prominent role during the healthcare debate.
"We don’t like negotiating with a gun to our head," he added.
Democratic leaders are working to reconcile the House and Senate bills, particularly a handful of issues — including a tax on "Cadillac plans" and restrictions on abortion funding — that have the two chambers at loggerheads.
"The House healthcare bill is better for the American people," Weiner said. "It includes a public option that provides choice and competition and lower costs, Medicaid relief to all states — not just one — and doesn’t tax healthcare plans that many middle-class Americans have."
Andrew Zimmermann
"The House has shown deference to the Senate in this process. But I am tired of hearing how hard it was to get 60 votes in the Senate — getting 218 votes to pass our healthcare bill in the House wasn’t easy," said Weiner, who has taken an increasingly prominent role during the healthcare debate.
"We don’t like negotiating with a gun to our head," he added.
Democratic leaders are working to reconcile the House and Senate bills, particularly a handful of issues — including a tax on "Cadillac plans" and restrictions on abortion funding — that have the two chambers at loggerheads.
"The House healthcare bill is better for the American people," Weiner said. "It includes a public option that provides choice and competition and lower costs, Medicaid relief to all states — not just one — and doesn’t tax healthcare plans that many middle-class Americans have."
Andrew Zimmermann
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Washington State Democrats M.O. for this Legislative Session
First day of our state's legislative session and Democrats are sticking by what appears to be their modus operandi for this session: call a new tax anything but a tax - a bond, a fee - then wrap in neatly in some pleasant words about "creating thousands of jobs" and the people will not even catch that it's really a tax.
Yesterday Democrat House Speaker Frank Chopp called our state's business climate one of the best in the country, and then promoted an $850 million bond proposal for energy upgrades at schools claiming that would create thousands of jobs in Washington State.
Perhaps that would fly when citizens were not aware, but everything is different now at the grassroots level. Citizens are watching.
Not only are they watching but they are alert to the fact that the money in their paycheck is being eyed by Democrats who, having already overspent with their money, are now posturing for even more.
Cleverly disguising taxes will not work this session. We're on to you.
Yesterday Democrat House Speaker Frank Chopp called our state's business climate one of the best in the country, and then promoted an $850 million bond proposal for energy upgrades at schools claiming that would create thousands of jobs in Washington State.
Perhaps that would fly when citizens were not aware, but everything is different now at the grassroots level. Citizens are watching.
Not only are they watching but they are alert to the fact that the money in their paycheck is being eyed by Democrats who, having already overspent with their money, are now posturing for even more.
Cleverly disguising taxes will not work this session. We're on to you.
Lots of Stimulus....But No Jobs
If the 2.7 millions jobs that have been lost since the so-called stimulus was signed into the law did not convince you that government spending does not correlate into economic growth, take a look at this story from the Associated Press: Stimulus Cash Doesn't Create Local Jobs:
“A federal spending surge of more than $20 billion for roads and bridges in President Obama's first stimulus has had NO EFFECT on local unemployment rates, raising questions about his argument for billions more to address an ‘urgent need to accelerate job growth.’ An Associated Press analysis of stimulus spending found that it didn't matter if a lot of money was spent on highways or none at all: Local unemployment rates rose and fell regardless. And the stimulus spending only barely helped the beleaguered construction industry, the analysis showed.”
Yet, President Obama wants to pass a second stimulus calling for billions of dollars of more spending. When will the President and Democrat leadership learn that spending money we don’t have isn’t always the remedy to fix whatever problem confronts us? When will they get the hint? Republicans have put forth a better way to give our families the relief they need that will turn our economy around.
- Michele Bachmann
“A federal spending surge of more than $20 billion for roads and bridges in President Obama's first stimulus has had NO EFFECT on local unemployment rates, raising questions about his argument for billions more to address an ‘urgent need to accelerate job growth.’ An Associated Press analysis of stimulus spending found that it didn't matter if a lot of money was spent on highways or none at all: Local unemployment rates rose and fell regardless. And the stimulus spending only barely helped the beleaguered construction industry, the analysis showed.”
Yet, President Obama wants to pass a second stimulus calling for billions of dollars of more spending. When will the President and Democrat leadership learn that spending money we don’t have isn’t always the remedy to fix whatever problem confronts us? When will they get the hint? Republicans have put forth a better way to give our families the relief they need that will turn our economy around.
- Michele Bachmann
Monday, January 11, 2010
Go to www.pushbacknotax.com to sign the petition!
More than 80 state and national groups have signed onto a coalition that was formed explicitly for the purpose of raising taxes this legislative session in Washington state. From the website:
Rebuilding our Economic Future Coalition is an emerging broad-based, statewide coalition of organizations and individuals committed to securing the state's economic future by advocating for passage of a humane and sensible budget for 2010...The coalition supports a full dialogue toward a fair and humane budget that includes not just targeted cuts and reforms to make government more efficient, but a full discussion of potential revenue options as well.
Coalition partners:
•AARP Washington
•American Association of University Women - WA Chapter
•Addus Healthcare
•Alzheimer's Association - Western and Central Washington State Chapter
•Benton Franklin Parent Coalition
•Building Changes
•Cascade Chapter, Sierra Club
•Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
•Children's Alliance
•Chinese Information and Service Center
•Climate Solutions
•Community Health Center La Clinica
•Community Health Network of Washington
•Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
•Dynamic Organizations
•Earth Ministry
•Economic Opportunity Institute
•Elder and Adult Day Services
•ElderHealth Northwest
•Environment Washington
•Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims
•Family Alliance for Mental Health
•Family Resource, Education & Empowerment for Developmental Disabilities
•Food Lifeline
•Fuse
•Futurewise
•Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Association
•HealthPoint
•Housing Development Consortium Seattle-King County
•Inland Empire Residential Resources
•Juan de Fuca Festival of Arts
•King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence
•Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing (KITH)
•Lutheran Community Services Northwest
•Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State
•Minority Executive Directors Coalition
•NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
•National Association of Social Workers – WA Chapter
•New Futures
•Northwest Health Law Advocates
•Northwest Progressive Institute
•O.P.E.I.U. Local # 8
•Olympic Area Agency on Aging
•Olympic Community Action Programs
•OneAmerica
•Organizing for America
•Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT)
•Pioneer Human Services
•Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington
•Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans
•Resolution Washington
•SEIU Healthcare 775NW
•Skagit Parent Coalition for Developmental Disabilities
•Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP)
•Sound Thinking
•Statewide Poverty Action Network
•The Lands Council
•The Washington Bus
•Transportation Choices Coalition
•WA Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
•WA State Coalition Against DV
•WA State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
•Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging
•Washington Association of Churches
•Washington Community Action Network
•Washington Education Association
•Washington Eldercare Alliance
•Washington Environmental Council
•Washington Federation of State Employees
•Washington Home Care Coalition
•Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
•Washington State Coalition for the Homeless
•Washington State Hospital Association
•Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
•Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
•Washington State PTA
•Washington Student Association
•Washinton State Coalition for the Homeless
•Win/Win Network
•Yakima Neighborhood Health Services
•Washington State Labor Council
Each of these groups employs full-time individuals who are now dedicated to convincing legislators to reach into your pocket to pay for their priorities. They also have an army of paid lobbyists and employees (some of them receiving tax dollars) that can show up at legislative hearings to push for higher taxes.
The Freedom Foundation is one of a handful of groups standing in their way. Will you stand with us? Sign our petition, which asks legislators to budget OUR money the way we budget our money--by spending less! Go to www.pushbacknotax.com to sign the petition.
- Amber Gunn, Freedon Foundation
Rebuilding our Economic Future Coalition is an emerging broad-based, statewide coalition of organizations and individuals committed to securing the state's economic future by advocating for passage of a humane and sensible budget for 2010...The coalition supports a full dialogue toward a fair and humane budget that includes not just targeted cuts and reforms to make government more efficient, but a full discussion of potential revenue options as well.
Coalition partners:
•AARP Washington
•American Association of University Women - WA Chapter
•Addus Healthcare
•Alzheimer's Association - Western and Central Washington State Chapter
•Benton Franklin Parent Coalition
•Building Changes
•Cascade Chapter, Sierra Club
•Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
•Children's Alliance
•Chinese Information and Service Center
•Climate Solutions
•Community Health Center La Clinica
•Community Health Network of Washington
•Comprehensive Health Education Foundation
•Dynamic Organizations
•Earth Ministry
•Economic Opportunity Institute
•Elder and Adult Day Services
•ElderHealth Northwest
•Environment Washington
•Families and Friends of Violent Crime Victims
•Family Alliance for Mental Health
•Family Resource, Education & Empowerment for Developmental Disabilities
•Food Lifeline
•Fuse
•Futurewise
•Head Start and Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP) Association
•HealthPoint
•Housing Development Consortium Seattle-King County
•Inland Empire Residential Resources
•Juan de Fuca Festival of Arts
•King County Coalition Against Domestic Violence
•Kirkland Interfaith Transitions in Housing (KITH)
•Lutheran Community Services Northwest
•Lutheran Public Policy Office of Washington State
•Minority Executive Directors Coalition
•NARAL Pro-Choice Washington
•National Association of Social Workers – WA Chapter
•New Futures
•Northwest Health Law Advocates
•Northwest Progressive Institute
•O.P.E.I.U. Local # 8
•Olympic Area Agency on Aging
•Olympic Community Action Programs
•OneAmerica
•Organizing for America
•Program for Assertive Community Treatment (PACT)
•Pioneer Human Services
•Planned Parenthood Votes! Washington
•Puget Sound Alliance for Retired Americans
•Resolution Washington
•SEIU Healthcare 775NW
•Skagit Parent Coalition for Developmental Disabilities
•Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP)
•Sound Thinking
•Statewide Poverty Action Network
•The Lands Council
•The Washington Bus
•Transportation Choices Coalition
•WA Chapter American Academy of Pediatrics
•WA State Coalition Against DV
•WA State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
•Washington Association of Area Agencies on Aging
•Washington Association of Churches
•Washington Community Action Network
•Washington Education Association
•Washington Eldercare Alliance
•Washington Environmental Council
•Washington Federation of State Employees
•Washington Home Care Coalition
•Washington Low Income Housing Alliance
•Washington State Coalition for the Homeless
•Washington State Hospital Association
•Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
•Washington State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program
•Washington State PTA
•Washington Student Association
•Washinton State Coalition for the Homeless
•Win/Win Network
•Yakima Neighborhood Health Services
•Washington State Labor Council
Each of these groups employs full-time individuals who are now dedicated to convincing legislators to reach into your pocket to pay for their priorities. They also have an army of paid lobbyists and employees (some of them receiving tax dollars) that can show up at legislative hearings to push for higher taxes.
The Freedom Foundation is one of a handful of groups standing in their way. Will you stand with us? Sign our petition, which asks legislators to budget OUR money the way we budget our money--by spending less! Go to www.pushbacknotax.com to sign the petition.
- Amber Gunn, Freedon Foundation
Democrats Ignore the People, Republicans and the Constitution
The House of Representatives returned to Washington this week to kick off the second session of the 111th Congress--after a first half that hardly left Americans begging for more.
Although the Senate isn't slated to return until next week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will use these first few days to get a head start on the messy negotiations that await both chambers on the health care bill.
Before the leadership can put this controversial issue in its rearview mirror, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have to navigate through the touchy process of merging the two bills. And right now, that "process" isn't scheduled to include Republicans.
Instead of taking the legislation to conference, where members could iron out their differences in the open, a handful of Democrats have decided to hole up in the leader's office and hash out the $2.5 trillion plan on their own.
While the Democrats try to piece together the final health care overhaul legislation, they're ignoring people, procedures, and now the U.S. Constitution.
A number of scholars are claiming that both bills violate America 's guiding document. Three such experts--Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Family Research Council Senior Fellow Ken Blackwell, and Ken Klukowski of the American Civil Rights Union--outlined the problem in the Wall Street Journal.
As they point out in their op-ed, the Constitution doesn't give Congress the power to mandate that Americans purchase health insurance.
Secondly, the Senate version includes several deals to secure the votes of some undecided senators. This kind of selective spending, which targets certain states, runs afoul of the general welfare clause.
Lastly, the legislation cannot order that the states establish things like benefit exchanges. Otherwise, Congress is rendering states as nothing more than subdivisions of the federal government.
- Tony Perkins
Although the Senate isn't slated to return until next week, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will use these first few days to get a head start on the messy negotiations that await both chambers on the health care bill.
Before the leadership can put this controversial issue in its rearview mirror, Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have to navigate through the touchy process of merging the two bills. And right now, that "process" isn't scheduled to include Republicans.
Instead of taking the legislation to conference, where members could iron out their differences in the open, a handful of Democrats have decided to hole up in the leader's office and hash out the $2.5 trillion plan on their own.
While the Democrats try to piece together the final health care overhaul legislation, they're ignoring people, procedures, and now the U.S. Constitution.
A number of scholars are claiming that both bills violate America 's guiding document. Three such experts--Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), Family Research Council Senior Fellow Ken Blackwell, and Ken Klukowski of the American Civil Rights Union--outlined the problem in the Wall Street Journal.
As they point out in their op-ed, the Constitution doesn't give Congress the power to mandate that Americans purchase health insurance.
Secondly, the Senate version includes several deals to secure the votes of some undecided senators. This kind of selective spending, which targets certain states, runs afoul of the general welfare clause.
Lastly, the legislation cannot order that the states establish things like benefit exchanges. Otherwise, Congress is rendering states as nothing more than subdivisions of the federal government.
- Tony Perkins
Friday, January 8, 2010
Phantom Zip Codes Getting Stimulus Money
The news gets worse for Recovery.org.
In November, we learned that the government’s Web site that is supposed to track stimulus spending showed stimulus being spent in non-existent congressional districts, such as North Dakota’s 99th congressional district. North Dakota actually has only one congressional district.
A number of watchdog organizations now report that Recovery.org shows stimulus funds being spent in non-existent Zip codes.
NewMexico.Watchdog.org found that Zip codes reported for some of the projects in New Mexico don’t match any Zip code known to the U.S. Postal Service. The group also found a number of Zip codes for New Mexico projects that really belong to other states. NewMexico.Watchdog.org found hundreds of thousands of dollars of stimulus spending associated with incorrect Zip codes.
In West Virginia, meanwhile, $28 million in stimulus funds were spent in four unknown Zip codes, according to WestVirginia.Watchdog.org’s review of Recovery.org. The watchdog also reports that Recovery.org shows three Virginia Zip codes as receiving funds in West Virginia.
In Nebraska, $2.2 million in stimulus was spent in four zip codes that do not exist, according to Nebraska.Watchdog.org’s review of Recovery.org’s data. The Nebraska watchdog also found a Florida Zip code indicated as receiving stimulus funds in Nebraska.
And in Washington State, according to the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, “Nearly $3.5 million in federal stimulus spending has been attributed to Zip Codes in Washington state that either belong somewhere else or don’t exist at all.”
If the government doesn’t know where stimulus funds are being spent, then how can it know whether the funds are being spent wisely? How can taxpayers know?
by Alex Adrianson
In November, we learned that the government’s Web site that is supposed to track stimulus spending showed stimulus being spent in non-existent congressional districts, such as North Dakota’s 99th congressional district. North Dakota actually has only one congressional district.
A number of watchdog organizations now report that Recovery.org shows stimulus funds being spent in non-existent Zip codes.
NewMexico.Watchdog.org found that Zip codes reported for some of the projects in New Mexico don’t match any Zip code known to the U.S. Postal Service. The group also found a number of Zip codes for New Mexico projects that really belong to other states. NewMexico.Watchdog.org found hundreds of thousands of dollars of stimulus spending associated with incorrect Zip codes.
In West Virginia, meanwhile, $28 million in stimulus funds were spent in four unknown Zip codes, according to WestVirginia.Watchdog.org’s review of Recovery.org. The watchdog also reports that Recovery.org shows three Virginia Zip codes as receiving funds in West Virginia.
In Nebraska, $2.2 million in stimulus was spent in four zip codes that do not exist, according to Nebraska.Watchdog.org’s review of Recovery.org’s data. The Nebraska watchdog also found a Florida Zip code indicated as receiving stimulus funds in Nebraska.
And in Washington State, according to the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, “Nearly $3.5 million in federal stimulus spending has been attributed to Zip Codes in Washington state that either belong somewhere else or don’t exist at all.”
If the government doesn’t know where stimulus funds are being spent, then how can it know whether the funds are being spent wisely? How can taxpayers know?
by Alex Adrianson
Democrats Stimulating Higher Unemployment
According to numbers released by the Labor Department this morning, our economy has lost another 85,000 jobs in December and the unemployment rate remains a staggering 10%. A long way from where Democrat leadership said we would be after their $787 billion economic "stimulus" bill was signed into law last February.
Even still, Democrats in Congress continue to advance a financially reckless liberal agenda that includes higher taxes, more spending, more government bailouts and takeovers, and rising deficits and debt. For instance, Democrats are now meeting behind closed doors to negotiate a final health care bill, contemplating raising taxes on the middle-class.
This is not the formula for economic recovery and job creation. The Democrats’ plans have failed and we need a new direction and it starts with tax relief for working families and small businesses and fiscal discipline in Washington. Americans can no longer afford the status quo.
- Rep. Michelle Bachmann
Even still, Democrats in Congress continue to advance a financially reckless liberal agenda that includes higher taxes, more spending, more government bailouts and takeovers, and rising deficits and debt. For instance, Democrats are now meeting behind closed doors to negotiate a final health care bill, contemplating raising taxes on the middle-class.
This is not the formula for economic recovery and job creation. The Democrats’ plans have failed and we need a new direction and it starts with tax relief for working families and small businesses and fiscal discipline in Washington. Americans can no longer afford the status quo.
- Rep. Michelle Bachmann
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dying Is Tax Free in 2010
This year and this year only, dying is tax free. For the first time since 1916, there is no estate tax—assuming Congress doesn’t renew the tax retroactively.
However, in 2011 current law will reset the death tax to its 2001 level of 55 percent, with a $1 million exemption. In 2009, the estate tax was 45 percent with a 3.5 million exemption.
There is one certain way to avoid the estate tax: If you spend most of your money before you die, you won’t have to pay an estate tax.
But if you use your wealth to start a business and add to the economy, the estate tax penalizes you for that. It’s one perverse result of taxing some income twice.
According to a study by Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Cameron Smith, eliminating the estate tax permanently would raise employment by 1.5million.
In this video, an estate planner explains how the death tax hits small businesses particularly hard:
by Alex Adrianson
However, in 2011 current law will reset the death tax to its 2001 level of 55 percent, with a $1 million exemption. In 2009, the estate tax was 45 percent with a 3.5 million exemption.
There is one certain way to avoid the estate tax: If you spend most of your money before you die, you won’t have to pay an estate tax.
But if you use your wealth to start a business and add to the economy, the estate tax penalizes you for that. It’s one perverse result of taxing some income twice.
According to a study by Douglas Holtz-Eakin and Cameron Smith, eliminating the estate tax permanently would raise employment by 1.5million.
In this video, an estate planner explains how the death tax hits small businesses particularly hard:
by Alex Adrianson
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Promoting a Tax as a Job
How special is that?
Powerful environmentalist lobby groups have prepared their annual Olympia wish list of legislation. And while most of their effort will reportedly go towards defending money they've already swiped legislatively, they have come up with rather clever packaging for their bigger ticket item: just call the tax a job.
And so their bill would impose a "fee" (liberal code word for tax) on petroleum products - $1.50 per barrel!
In other words if you use gasoline, motor oil, or asphalt you're going to pay.
But no worries - they will spend your money to create a few jobs described as capitol projects and retrofits dealing with stormwater.
The bill is part of the legislative agenda being pushed in Olympia by Environmental Priorities Coalition, a group of 25 environmental organizations
Coalition member Washington Conservation Voters program director Brendon Cechovic calls it "part of the solution at a time when the legislature is clearly looking for solutions.”
He further describes it as kind of a statewide stimulus package of "shovel-ready projects all over the state, at a time when we desperately need more good-paying jobs.”
A tax that comes with it's own jobs program. Now isn't that worth more to you than you taking home what you earn?
Last year a similar bill passed in the House but not the Senate.
Listen up - a state desperate for revenue will impose as many "you earn, we take" taxes on their silent prey as they possibly can.
This is another opportunity for irate tax payers to take names on who actually supports this tax.
Take names, and then take them out at the ballot box in November.
It's Twenty - Ten people...let the revolution begin!
Powerful environmentalist lobby groups have prepared their annual Olympia wish list of legislation. And while most of their effort will reportedly go towards defending money they've already swiped legislatively, they have come up with rather clever packaging for their bigger ticket item: just call the tax a job.
And so their bill would impose a "fee" (liberal code word for tax) on petroleum products - $1.50 per barrel!
In other words if you use gasoline, motor oil, or asphalt you're going to pay.
But no worries - they will spend your money to create a few jobs described as capitol projects and retrofits dealing with stormwater.
The bill is part of the legislative agenda being pushed in Olympia by Environmental Priorities Coalition, a group of 25 environmental organizations
Coalition member Washington Conservation Voters program director Brendon Cechovic calls it "part of the solution at a time when the legislature is clearly looking for solutions.”
He further describes it as kind of a statewide stimulus package of "shovel-ready projects all over the state, at a time when we desperately need more good-paying jobs.”
A tax that comes with it's own jobs program. Now isn't that worth more to you than you taking home what you earn?
Last year a similar bill passed in the House but not the Senate.
Listen up - a state desperate for revenue will impose as many "you earn, we take" taxes on their silent prey as they possibly can.
This is another opportunity for irate tax payers to take names on who actually supports this tax.
Take names, and then take them out at the ballot box in November.
It's Twenty - Ten people...let the revolution begin!
Oh No One Knows What Goes On Behind Closed Doors...
Another country song with words too real for comfort as Democrats seal the deal of their health care bill behind doors tightly closed to the American people:
The head of C-SPAN has implored Congress to open up the last leg of health care reform negotiations to the public, as top Democrats lay plans to hash out the final product among themselves.
C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb wrote to leaders in the House and Senate Dec. 30 urging them to open "all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings," to televised coverage on his network.
"The C-SPAN networks will commit the necessary resources to covering all of the sessions LIVE and in their entirety," he wrote.
- Fox News
The head of C-SPAN has implored Congress to open up the last leg of health care reform negotiations to the public, as top Democrats lay plans to hash out the final product among themselves.
C-SPAN CEO Brian Lamb wrote to leaders in the House and Senate Dec. 30 urging them to open "all important negotiations, including any conference committee meetings," to televised coverage on his network.
"The C-SPAN networks will commit the necessary resources to covering all of the sessions LIVE and in their entirety," he wrote.
- Fox News
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
18,000 WA Felons to Vote
Incarcerated felons should be allowed to vote in Washington to ensure that racial minorities are protected under the Voting Rights Act, a federal appeals court ruled Tuesday.
The 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means the more than 18,000 felons behind bars in the state could get back their right to vote - without having to wait until they are released from prison and are no longer on probation or parole.
- Seattle Times
The 2-1 ruling by a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals means the more than 18,000 felons behind bars in the state could get back their right to vote - without having to wait until they are released from prison and are no longer on probation or parole.
- Seattle Times
Income Tax Bills Introduced In Washington State
Monday, January 4, 2010
Living on Food Stamps
The New York Times had a story up yesterday about the number of Americans living on nothing but food stamps.
In their state-by-state analysis, they show that Washington saw a 56 percent increase between June 2007 and June 2009 on those who subsist on food stamps without other income. See the chart here.
- Capitol Record
In their state-by-state analysis, they show that Washington saw a 56 percent increase between June 2007 and June 2009 on those who subsist on food stamps without other income. See the chart here.
- Capitol Record
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