WA 2011 Primary Election Underway!

Washington’s 2011 primary is underway, with county election officials mailing ballots to more than three-fourths of the state’s registered voters.

It’s the first election since lawmakers officially switched the state to full use of vote-by-mail. Pierce County, the last holdout for poll-site voting for a dwindling number of their residents, had made the switch to mail balloting.

Not every registered voter should expect to receive a ballot. Two counties have no primary at all this year — Franklin and Wahkiakum — and portions of many counties also have no races that are contested in the primary.

There are no statewide primaries this year. The primaries for statewide office, including open races for governor, attorney general and secretary of state, will be next year, and that’s when the U.S. Senate, 10 U.S. House races, and many legislative, judicial and other contests will be on the ballot.

Two special legislative races to fill unexpired terms in Spokane and Clark counties, will be on the November ballot this year.

All told, the state Elections Division calculates that about 78 percent of the state’s registered voters, or about 2.86 million, will get primary ballots. Postmark deadline is Aug. 16, and turn-in deadline for drop boxes or voting centers, is at 8 p.m., Aug. 16.

Registered? The last possible date for an in-person registration for a new voter who wants to vote in the Aug. 16 primary is Aug. 8.

Secretary of State Sam Reed, the state’s chief elections official, said odd-year elections in Washington are largely devoted to local elections, mostly nonpartisan, and various ballot propositions. Turnout is typically not as strong as in even-numbered years, when many hotly contested races generate heavy voter and media attention and ad blitzes.

But Reed asked voters to “dig deep” and do their civic duty, and privilege, this year.

“As a former local elected official for many years, I can tell you that the local elections are often pivotal to the life of a community. Local government truly is the government closest to the people and those whom we elect will be making exceptionally important decisions in the days to come.

“We ask that every eligible citizen, particularly our young people 18 and older, get registered, get involved, get informed, and vote this year. Your vote truly is your voice, and you deserve to be heard.”

By David Ammons

CALL NOW - We Oppose the Boehner-Reid Debt Plan!

FOX News is reporting that the Capitol Hill switchboards are overloaded with calls. Bring it on - Call Now!

Senator Maria Cantwell (202) 224-3441
Senator Patty Murray (202) 224-2621
1st  District - Jay Inslee (202) 225–6311
2nd District - Rick Larsen (202) 225-2605
3rd District - Jaime Herrera Beutler (202) 225-3536
4th District - Doc Hastings (202) 225-5816
5th District - Cathy McMorris Rodgers (202) 225-2006
6th District - Norm Dicks (202) 225-5916
7th District - Jim McDermott (202) 225-3106
8th District - Dave Reichert (202) 225-7761
9th District - Adam Smith (202) 225-8901

Let DC Hear From You NOW!

It is URGENT that those in Washington DC hear from you TODAY!

Heritage Action has provided this very easy way to communicate with your elected leaders in Washington DC on the issue of spending and the debt ceiling. Please use the link below right now and let your voice be heard.

Click here: Heritage Action

Go With the American Plan — Cut Gov Spending, Deeply and Right Now

By David S. Addington, Heritage

It’s hard to understand why President Obama took to the airwaves tonight at prime time. He still has no plan for dealing with government overspending and overborrowing, and he gave the nation very little except a repetition of his never-ending call for tax hikes.

In noting the risk of ever-increasing debt, President Obama said every family knows that “a little credit card debt is manageable.” The government has racked up $14.294 trillion in debt — thought of by no-one as a little credit card debt. The spend-tax-and-borrow crowd, currently headed by President Obama, has been in charge in Washington too long. They have mortgaged the futures of our children and grandchildren. Our government is so deep in debt that the share of debt of a baby born today is $45,000.

It is time for the spend-tax-and-borrow crowd to stop. As the President indicated, conservatives want deep spending cuts. In contrast, President Obama wants more taxes, a terrible idea. First, the government already takes too much money from the pockets of Americans in taxes. Second, if Americans give the government more money in taxes, the government will just find ways to spend it, rather than using it to pay off the public debt. Third, raising taxes reduces investment, which cuts economic growth and kills jobs.

Americans sent a message in the election of 2010 — cut the size and cost of government. Conservatives must act now to drive down spending on the way to a balanced budget, while protecting America, and without raising taxes. Forget the McConnell, McConnell-Reid, Coburn, Gang-of-Six, Boehner, and Reid plans. Go with the American plan — cut government spending, deeply and right now, for the good of the country.

Cut, Cap, and Balance

Conservative groups, including Eagle Forum,  rolled out a pledge aimed at reining in the budget deficit, and will be rating lawmakers on how they measure up on that task.

The pledge, written by a coalition of more than 40 conservative groups, calls on lawmakers and candidates to oppose any debt limit increase unless all three of the following conditions have been met:

1. Cut - Substantial cuts in spending that will reduce the deficit next year and thereafter.

2. Cap - Enforceable spending caps that will put federal spending on a path to a balanced budget.

3. Balance - Congressional passage of a Balanced Budget Amendment to the U.S. Constitution -- but only if it includes both a spending limitation and a super-majority for raising taxes, in addition to balancing revenues and expenses.

Register to Vote in WA Primary - Deadline Monday

by Brian Zylstra

This year’s Primary Election is just a few weeks away, and if you haven’t registered to vote and want to take part in the Primary, you need to act soon.

For qualified Washington residents, Monday (July 18) is the standard deadline to get signed up using the quick and easy online registration or by regular mail, or to update your address or change your name.

This year’s Primary is August 16. Since we’re a vote-by-mail state, you’ll be interested to know that the ballots will be mailed by July 29.

There is a late registration deadline on August 8 to sign up in person at your county elections department if you’re not already registered to vote in Washington.

The deadlines to register to vote in the November 8 General Election are October 10 for online or mail registrations, and October 31 for in-person registrations.