Democrat Corruption In Olympia!

**Express your outrage! 1.800.562.6000**

By Bob Clark

04/25/09

Dan Kristiansen from Snohomish County’s 39th Legislative District and Republican Leader in the Washington State House was stunned by one of the worst examples of corruption in the history of the State of Washington.

House Chair Seattle’s Frank Chopp was behind this latest example of “bipartisanship” from the corrupt and completely brain-dead Democratic Leadership.

Here is his wife Janis’ first report of a continuing deterioration of democracy in Washington State.

YOU SHOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THIS, VERY WORRIED:

Corrupt Democrat Leadership in WA State

By Janis Kristiansen

Since NO ONE in the press is going to report this, I will. I just got off the phone with my husband, State Rep. Dan Kristiansen.

In summary, this is what he said.

At the beginning of session this year, the Democrats in control in the House changed the rules and eliminated the 24 hour rule from when the budget is introduced to when it can be voted upon. In the past, the budgets were rolled out for review, and no vote on any budget could happen until at LEAST 24 hours had passed, giving time for the minority party (read Republicans) to review the budget, and make an intelligent vote on it.

This morning, April 24, three days before the end of session, the Democrats announced that NO amendments to the capitol budget could be introduced after 3 pm today (most amendments are offered by the opposing party).

Guess when the Democrats released the capitol budget today, for the Republicans to get a first review of it? At 3:25pm, 25 minutes after cut-off for any amendments to be offered.

So, for the Republicans, NO amendments can be offered because the Democrats released the operating budget for the Republicans to see 25 minutes after the deadline for amendments to be accepted. This is CORRUPT.

The story is not over. The operating budget, separate from the capitol budget, was emailed to the Republicans this morning at 1:30 AM, early in the morning. It is several hundred pages.

The Democrats then said NO amendments were going to be allowed to the capitol budget after 12 noon today. So, in the middle of the night the Democrats release the capitol budget, and then announce no amendments are allowed after 12 noon, AND they are voting on this budget this afternoon.

This is the corrupt nature of the Democrats in control. How are Republicans supposed to vote yes or no on these budgets, hundreds of pages long, that spend approximately $34 billion dollars each biennium, when they are given no time to review it, or offer even hurried amendments to it?

The Democrats realize they have almost a super majority; so in essence, it’s OK to ignore the Republicans during the budget process.

According to Rep. Kristiansen this Operating Budget sets our state up for an approximate $10 billion shortfall in the 2011 biennium. This is outrageous!

Where is self-restraint? Where is responsibility? Where is the good stewardship of tax payer dollars?

Obviously not in Democrat hands.

In Washington State Suicide Begins

According to the Seattle Times Washington State health officials have reported two prescriptions have been filled for life-ending drugs under the new suicide law.

Health Department spokesman Tim Church said Thursday he could not provide any details about the people considering suicide, only that the department has received two forms from pharmacists saying they have dispensed the drugs.

The department has not received any forms certifying that a person has committed suicide under the state law that took effect in early March.

People who fill prescriptions for life-ending medication have as long as they want to take the medication or to change their minds and never take it.

How Many Gallons of Fuel Did It Take To Get The President To His Earth Day Speech?

Approximately 9,116.

In flying to and from Iowa on Earth Day for his save-the-planet speech President Obama took two flights on Air Force One and four flights on Marine One.

According to Boeing a 747 burns about 5 gallons of fuel per mile.

Let's see, it's approximately 895 miles from Washington to DesMoines, so a round trip would bring the fuel consumption for the President to 8,950 gallons.

Then add in time on Marine One for round-trips from the White House to airports and the actual speech venue which took about an hour of flight time and consumes another 1,200 pounds of fuel per hour.

That would calculate out to about 166 more gallons of fuel consumed by our planet-friendly President.

None of these calculations includes the many ground vehicles it took to move him to and from the actual event site.

And to think President Obama could have saved 9,116 gallons of fuel by just giving his speech at the White House.

Standing in a Bucket

"For a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle." ~ Winston Churchill

While thousands of Washington State citizens sent a loud message to their elected leaders last week protesting taxes at Tea Parties held across the state Democrats spent Tax Day introducing new bills to increase your taxes.

Here's a list of the Democrats' new proposals from Rep Matt Shea:

• House Bill 2377 -- Would increase the state sales tax from 6.5 percent to 6.8 percent for three years. It's expected this will extract an additional $1 billion from taxpayers. It also redistributes some of the tax money collected to low-income families under a state "working family tax credit" program approved last year.

• House Bill 2354 -- Would create a new tax on "intangible" property, such as stocks and bonds, interests in corporations, gold or other precious metals, mutual funds, money market funds and other personal investments. The tax would be levied as $1 for every $100 dollars of intangible property for every resident in Washington.

• House Bill 2378 -- Would increase the maximum school levy percentages to retroactively collect money above the current levy lids previously approved by voters.

Thus we find Democrats in Olympia standing in a bucket trying to lift themselves up by the handle.

Ah Yes, Earth Day

Meghan Cox Gurdon surveys eco-fear-mongering in children’s literature:

If you have somehow missed the fact that April 22 is Earth Day, it’s probably because you are grown up.

Were you a child, there’s not a chance you’d be allowed to miss the urgent chthonic nature of the day — nor the need to recycle, to use water sparingly, to protect endangered creatures and generally to be agitated about a planet in peril.

Contemporary children are so drenched with eco-propaganda that it’s almost a waste of resources. Like acid rain, but more persistent and corrosive, it dribbles down on them all day long.

They get it at school, where recycling now competes with tolerance as man’s highest virtue.

They get it in peppy “go green” messages online, on television and in magazines.

And increasingly, the eco-message is seeping into the pages of novels that don’t, on their face, necessarily seem to be about environmentalism at all.

Thus children who might like to escape into a good book are now likely to find themselves pursued into that imaginative realm by didactic adults fixated on passing along endless tellurian warnings.

Susceptible children are left in no doubt that we’re all headed for a despoiled, immiserated future unless they start planting pansies in their old shoes, using dryer lint as mulch, and practicing periodic vegetarianism.

Not surprisingly, many young people are anxious. The more impressionable among them are coming to believe that their smallest decisions could have catastrophic effects on the globe.

This, of course, is nonsense, unless their smallest decision involves tipping vats of mercury into forest streams.

But they’re children, for goodness’ sake: They tend to believe what adults tell them — minus the nuance.

Meanwhile in the OTHER Washington...

At a time when our President is telling us that "we all have to make sacrifices" given the economic hardships, Washington continues to carry on with its misplaced priorities.

Instead of pursuing commonsense legislation to right our economic ship, Congress is pursuing its recklessly irresponsible spending habits.

After a two week recess, Congress returns today, and among the pieces of legislation we will be taking up this evening are:

H.Res. 254 - Recognizing the designation of March 2009 as Irish American Heritage Month (Yes, it is April -- it's not a typo, but I guess Democrat leadership couldn't find the time to fit that one in last month. At least it doesn't cost anything.)

H.R. 388 - Crane Conservation Act of 2009

H.R. 411 - Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2009

The Crane Conservation Act would establish a new grant program to provide money to individuals or groups that work to conserve crane species in Africa, Asia, Europe, or North America. A noble goal, but one that will cost tax payers $25 million over 5 years and focuses largely on overseas programs.

Similarly, the Great Cats and Rare Canids Act expands government with your money by creating new grant programs authorizing $25 million over five years to fund rare cat and dog conservation in foreign countries.

With our economy in the condition that it's in, Congress’ time could certainly be better spent than on $50-million legislation like this.

by Representative Michele Bachmann

Tempest in a Teapot

It’s time for Democrats to back off on their idea to raise taxes, and it seems they may have had a jolt of reality strike them right between their tax-thirsty eyes.

The overwhelming number of citizens who joined in the Tax Day Tea parties along with some new polling numbers have them pouting and spouting.

For example, last week at the conclusion of a hearing on his bill that would ask voters to raise the state sales tax Rep Eric Pettigrew spouted "If voters do not pass this legislation, people will die." How pathetic is that?

The Everett Herald called it taxpayer blackmail in a recent editorial and made some excellent points:

If Pettigrew and his colleagues who share this view -- and that includes House Speaker Frank Chopp -- care that much about health-related programs for the poor, they should fund them. Instead, they propose leaving their survival to a vote of citizens who are scraping to make ends meet and are highly skeptical of Olympia's priorities.

Proponents will plaster images of the state's most vulnerable citizens on billboards and television screens, turning the guilt screws hard.Voters are smarter than Pettigrew seems to think. They'll see through this blackmail, and many will resent lawmakers for punting some of the tough decisions they were sent to Olympia to make.

If this one gets to the ballot, we bet the voters will kick it right back.

Families throughout the state are struggling. Draining more money from an already anemic economy could extend the downturn, undercutting the very revenues Pettigrew and Chopp seek to enhance.

Taxpayers are so done with taxes, and to their own peril legislators will ignore the tempest in a teapot.

Bellingham's Tax Day Tea Party

Photos by Vincent Buys

Marketing Death

Before even assisted their first death backers of assisted suicide are busy setting the stage for phase two - forcing every doctor and medical facility to participate.

Political agenda needs a campaign. It must be 'marketed' to the public to raise awareness and invoke sympathy. From there it is carefully crafted to morph into whatever it must look like to result in support.

How does one market death? By using - using the most vulnerable and desperately ill patients, and heartbroken families in grief. Parading very personal, tragic stories before the public to 'market' their death agenda is ultimate cruelty.

This article in the News Tribune marks the beginning of their new Washington State campaign to 'market' their expanded death agenda by forcing physicians and health care facilities to participate.

Isn't it ironic that in marketing I-1000 to the voters of our state they used the mantra of ‘it’s my decision’. Yet on the other side of that vote it is personal choice that is the first casualty.

As with abortion, the intent was to first crack the door and then shove the door open to every potential death imaginable.

Hugh Anderson recently wrote this in the Montreal Gazette:

"Holland legalized euthanasia and assisted suicide three decades ago, first in practice and later by law.

Advocates said it would be limited to competent adults who are terminally ill and ask to be killed.

Then it was extended to competent adults with incurable illnesses or disabilities, although not terminally ill.

Then it was extended to competent adults who were depressed but otherwise not physically ill.

Then it was extended to incompetent adult patients like Alzheimer's sufferers, on the basis that they would have asked for death if they were competent.

And now it is legal for doctors in Holland to kill infants, if parents agree, if they believe their patients' suffering is intolerable or incurable.

This is a long way from the soothing image of an elderly person choosing with full understanding to die with dignity, assisted by compassionate relatives and friends."

And so it will go in Washington State if we allow it.

Giving Up Our Vote

In the midst of a "crisis" it is always interesting to watch what legislators in Olympia find to do with their time and power during the course of a legislative session.

While most of it is spent finding ways to pay for their spending sprees, they are also finding time for other noble endeavors such as granting civil rights to breast feeders and voting right to convicted felons, redefining marriage, and giving away your vote in the next presidential election.

Yes, I said giving away your vote for President. A high impact bill is being ushered right thru the legislative process by Democrats intent on changing the way we elect our President

There is a great article on this today in the Wenatchee World that is well worth a read...and after that a phone call.

This bill has passed the Senate and they intent to pass it in the House as well. Your vote for President is certainly worth a call to your legislators: 1.800.562.6000

I was once told by a State Senator that if we truly had any idea of the power of legislators over every facet of our lives we would be so much more discerning about who we elect, and vigilant over what they do while they are in Olympia.

State Income Tax For All?

Last week Sen. Kohl-Welles introduced SB 6147 which would impose an income tax on individuals making $500,000, or couples making $1 million. Or would it?

Mike Reitz from EFF noted an interesting fact about this bill on their blog:

But there's a flaw in the bill that could result in the 1% percent tax inadvertently applying to every taxpayer in the state! (I wish I could claim credit, but someone else pointed this out to me.)

Section 301 of the bill imposes a 1% tax on "all taxable income of resident individuals." Section 407 then lists the "standard deductions" -- $1 million for joint returns and $500,000 for individuals.

As most bills do, SB 6147 contains a severability clause, meaning if one section of the bill is struck down in court, the rest of the bill will survive.

Based on the ruling party's fondness for taking money other people earn to spend as they choose I think this should be duly noted.

Your Voice Makes A difference

These are brutal days as we watch serious, high impact decisions being made in both Washington. I want to share some good news from National Eagle Forum:

April 6, 2009

We want you to know that your calls and e-mails are making a difference in our nation's Capitol.

We know that it is discouraging to see one piece of liberal legislation after another pass through this liberal Congress, but the good news is that your voices are being heard by the conservative Minority!

During last week's debate over President Obama's $3.6 trillion budget, Conservatives presented a united front and excellent leadership in the House and Senate, strongly opposing irresponsible spending and standing for solutions that truly work for American families.

Not a single Republican in the House or Senate voted for the President's budget! Plus, 20 House Democrats and 2 Senate Democrats voted against the bill. The GOP's solidarity on this vote ensured that the only claim to "bipartisanship" President Obama can make is the list of NO votes. We encourage you to take a moment to thank your Senators and Representatives for standing up for the American taxpayer by voting against Obama's severely bloated budget.

This is a challenging time for conservatives, but it is also a time of great opportunity for the grassroots to demand strong, conservative leaders. We hope you will continue to engage in this fight. Here are two opportunities:


1. Tea Parties -- We urge you to get involved with a "Tea Party" in your area on tax day, Wednesday, April 15, 2009. Click here for more information. See a video message from Phyllis Schlafly.

Town Hall Meetings -- Senators and House Members are returning to their Districts for Easter Recess. Many of them hold Town Meetings during recess. Visit your Senators' and Representatives' websites or call their offices to find out if they are holding Town Hall Meetings in your neighborhoods. This is a wonderful opportunity to encourage your legislators where possible and to hold them accountable where necessary.

Whatever you do, stay in the game. There is ground to gain, and the principles of family, faith and freedom are well worth your time and effort. Let's make it happen.

Let The Debate Begin

Americans everywhere are reeling from one blow after the other being leveled at them by Democrats in control of our government. As they shove their policy through the force of law down our throats at what could only be described as “ludicrous speed” all we are left with are the devastating consequences.

Well, I have a few questions:

Where is the transparency they promised? Even they aren't reading what they're passing.

Where is the discussion and open exchange of ideas? No time for that now – we can’t waste a crisis

What about "We the People"? Uhhhhh….what people?

We are quickly learning that with lopsided power comes lopsided rule, and the tragic loss of free and open debate.

Well, if their ideas are that great then let them stand up to the light of public scrutiny and debate.

There are solutions that would elevate all citizens and empower everyone with freedom and the ability to prosper. And there are principled leaders in both Washington’s working relentlessly to bring these solutions to the people.

They know that true economic recovery is built on policy that gets out of our way, that controls government, curbs spending, creates private sector jobs, lowers taxes for everyone, controls debt and is built on tried and true principles of freedom and free enterprise.

One blueprint for such a plan is now outlined in "Republican Road to Recovery", a substantive, comprehensive budget alternative that will soon be introduced on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Instead of massive government and spending, this plan ensures that the federal budget cannot grow faster than family budgets. What a concept!

Instead of raising taxes on every citizen in the midst of a recession this plan would reduce the crippling tax burden on working families and small businesses unleashing the potential of the private sector in creating jobs and unlock private capital.

This plan would keep energy and fuel costs low, end the era of bailouts and reform the financial system.

A substantive debate about how to get the economy growing again must be allowed to unfold.

Principled leaders continue to work for the freedom to offer better solutions that are built on the time-honored principles of fiscal responsibility and growth, and every American deserves to hear and have the opportunity to engage in the process.

So read the alternative to what the Democrats are shoving and let the debate begin.

Obama and Democrats Must Own Their Deficit

According to the Wall Street Journal:

Mr. Obama keeps saying he has "inherited a trillion dollar deficit," which is true. But he's hardly an innocent bystander. CBO shows that the President is seeing that $1 trillion and raising it again and again, as far as the eye can see.

In only two months, since the last CBO budget review in January, Democrats have passed laws that increase spending by $134 billion in the last six months of this fiscal year alone, and $1.2 trillion over the next 10 years. And that's all before his 2010 budget proposals.

Where does this take the Obama budget deficit? Up into the great beyond.

A Giant Economic Dagger

Senator Inhofe has an excellent article exposing the very real danger of Cap and Trade legislation. In his article he quotes several publications:

Wall Street Journal: “Cap and trade, in other words, is a scheme to redistribute income and wealth -- but in a very curious way. It takes from the working class and gives to the affluent, takes from Miami, Ohio, and gives to Miami, Fla., and takes from an industrial America that is already struggling and gives to rich Silicon Valley and Wall Street ‘green tech’ investors who know how to leverage the political class.”

Warren Buffet: “That tax is probably going to be pretty regressive. If you put a cost on issuing -- putting carbon into the atmosphere -- on the utility business it’s going to be born by customers. And it’s a tax like anything else.”

CNBC’s Jim Cramer: Obama’s budget is “pushing an aggressive cap-and-trade program that could raise the price of energy for millions of people.”

The Detroit News: “President Barack Obama’s proposed cap-and-trade system on greenhouse gas emissions is a giant economic dagger aimed at the nation’s heartland -- particularly Michigan. It is a multibillion-dollar tax hike on everything that Michigan does, including making things, driving cars and burning coal.”

This "giant economic dagger" is right now being pointed directly at the citizens of Washington State in SB 5735. (see prior post)

Apparently our Governor and the Democrats who control Olympia want the chance to use the Cap and Trade dagger on the citizens and businesses of Washington State before the President and the Democrats who control Washington DC do.

Call - Write - Defend!

Last week the State Senate passed SB 5599 - a bill that circumvents the U.S. Constitution and radically alters our current election system.

This stealth bill will change the way we elect our president by entering our state into the NPV (National Popular Vote) interstate compact—essentially doing away with the Electoral College and replacing it with a national popular vote.

The House will now be deliberating on this bill in committee and then on the floor.

For background information please read Trent England's excellent article here.

There will be a committee hearing at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 26 (House Hearing Rm D, John L. O'Brien Building) on SB 5599.

Your presence there is crucial. The more people that are able to show up, the greater chance we have of convincing our legislators to vote "NO" on this destructive bill.

If you are unable to make it to the Capitol you can submit written testimony by e-mail to the committee. Their email addresses can be found here.

You can also email the committee members - their email addresses can be found here.

A complete legislator email list can be found here.

And please call the Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000 and tell your representative to VOTE "NO" on SB 5599.

Please help us defend our Electoral College!

Senate Bill 5688

Here's an update on Senate Bill 5688 - Homosexual Marriage:

There was a public hearing on SB 5688 Monday afternoon in the House Committee on Judiciary in Olympia.

The hearing was standing room only with about 3 to 1 opposed.

Representative Matt Shea pressed the question whether in this bill, "The term marriage was defined to include domestic partnerships through out the bill." The sponsors finally admitted that it did.

The financial reality of this bill was also finally exposed - it will cost about $2 million this fiscal year and $8.5 million over the next 5-6 years.

The committee was given 1700 letters from citizens expressing opposition to this bill.

They are scheduled to vote the bill out of committee Friday.

Info from Faith & Freedom

Stand Up For Marriage Rally Speech

It is for a most important reason that we have left our homes, our families, our work today to be here in Olympia. It is because we value traditional marriage – marriage between one man and one woman for life.

We are here because we understand that marriage and family is the foundation and fundamental institution of our society, and it must be defended and protected at any cost.

I want to be very clear about one thing – last week when the Washington State Senate voted for homosexual marriage – that wasn’t the end. Oh no my friends, this issue isn’t over…none of this is over.

It is just the beginning! The battle to defend marriage is just beginning.

And I’m going to really rock your world here today and tell you the battle to defend marriage begins with you.

Now when I say that, I don’t want any of you turning around looking for who it is I’m pointing at. I’m pointing at you!

It is just the beginning, and it begins with you.

I only have a few minutes so I need you to listen carefully and I’m going to tell you how protecting marriage begins with you.

If I could hand each one of you something right now it would be a small mirror….as a reminder….

So anytime you are tempted to ask “why doesn’t someone do something about this?” you would remember this mirror…and you would remember that “doing something about this” begins with you.

And here’s how…

First - Protecting marriage begins with repentance – YOU repenting. I’m talking about personal repentance - a genuine sorrow over sin. Not sin in general…but for MY sin. If we want to be a nation that is blessed by God we need a firestorm of revival to sweep our nation, and for that to happen we must first be a people of repentance - personal repentance.

Look in the mirror….and remember….repentance begins with you!

Second - Protecting marriage begins with prayer – YOU praying.

Prayer injects the very presence of the living God into my life, into my home, into my marriage, and my family. When I pray for “His will to be done” that must begin in my life. From there as prayer moves outward it become intersession for my community, for my state, for my nation, for my world.

Look in the mirror…and remember…prayer begins with you!

Third - Protecting marriage begins with vigilance – YOUR vigilance!

Oh people, you are here today because you care about marriage….and you should. It is so very important.

But if you truly had any idea of the decisions that are made every day of every legislative session in this very building…and how those decisions affect every facet of your lives – of your faith, your freedom, your homes, your children, your work, your property – you would be so much more attentive…and informed…and engaged…and involved in who is elected to represent you. You would be vigilant. It is your responsibility.

Marriage brought you hear today. By Gods grace may it be just the spark…that begins the flame…that builds a fire of you truly grasping what is at stake and what is your responsibility in government. It is your duty.

Look in the mirror….and remember…vigilance begins with you!

Fourth - Protecting marriage begins with doing something – YOU doing something!

Nothing will ever happen if we don’t do something.

I know you are busy. I know you have other obligations and responsibilities in your life, but by God’s grace and in His strength we must… each one of us…stand and speak Truth to the issues of our day. And work…work very hard to build a voice for Truth in our culture!

I have been working in Olympia on issues for a long time now – for over 25 year I have been engaged as a citizen in political action, and I’m going to be honest, it’s not easy. And sometimes I just get weary…and sometimes it all just feel too big, and too hard.

But I can’t let my mind go there, not for even one moment I can’t…because there is truth – God’s truth – that is at stake. And I know with everything in me that when God’s truth is not upheld in the laws of a nation it hurts everyone. But when God’s truth is affirmed, and respected, and upheld in law it blessed every person…it blesses every culture….every time.

And because I know that, I have no choice but to speak, and stand, and act, and press on! This is God’s call on my life as a believer. It is your call.

So when Truth is challenged don’t look around for someone to do something.

Look in the mirror….and remember…doing something begins with you.

I want to leave you with a promise from Scripture – a great a precious promise. A sure Word…because God said it: “I am with you!”

If there is nothing else you leave here with today I hope it is that promise that settles on your heart and in your mind. God is with us.

And may He bless every effort to defend marriage in Washington State…for His Glory.

Leading in Self-Inflicted Wounds

Governor Chris Gregoire made a rare appearance testifying before a state legislative committee in Olympia yesterday urging them to pass a state Cap and Trade bill.

She asserted that Washington needs to lead in shaping a cap-and-trade program.

The bill that was passed last week by Democrats in the State Senate was not strong enough, according to Gregoire, so she urged the House committee "to strengthen the bill by limiting the amount of pollution industries can emit, and by continuing to work with a regional initiative to curb global-warming pollution." - Seattle Times

The reality of a Cap and Trade bill would be very different from what Governor and Democrats will describe to you.

The reality is it's an enormous energy tax that will hit everyone at every economic level.

It will further cripple businesses. And, since China and India have no interest in participating, it will amount to a huge self-inflicted wound on our ability to be competitive.

The Chronicle made that point in their op-ed State Economy Doesn't Need Cap-and-Trade stating:

"Cap & Trade legislation will increase the cost of energy and put our state's businesses at a competitive disadvantage when attempting to retain or attract jobs with states that do not have cap-and-trade regulations.

In light of today's economic environment and the need for jobs in this state, this legislative session is clearly not the time to be the leader on cap-and-trade."

The only thing Cap and Trade is leading in is insanity.

The Obama Budget Disaster

According to Congressman Joe Jordan (R-OH) the Obama budget does five things:

1) It raises taxes
2) It greatly increases spending
3) It greatly furthers forced unionization (”card-check”)
4) It nationalizes health care
5) It imposes an expensive and disastrous “cap-and-trade” scheme

Any of these alone would be bad, all five together are disastrous...and trying to push them through in the middle of a recession only makes it all that much worse.

Tax At Your Own Peril

Democrats are hearing that you will "accept" their plan to tax you more.

Chris Grygiel's blog in the P.I. reports the following:

An $8 billion state budget deficit has left lawmakers with two unattractive options - cut programs or raise taxes.

A new Elway Poll suggests at least 50 percent of voters would favor - or "accept with reservations" - five of seven tax increases being discussed in Olympia.

According to the survey:
Seventy-eight percent would accept an increase in the cigarette tax.
Sixty-one percent would be OK with a temporary increase on the state sales tax by one cent for two years.
Fifty-four percent would accept a tax on Internet downloads.
Fifty-one percent would accept an increase in the sales tax to pay for reducing public school class sizes.
Fifty-one percent would accept a hike in the car tab tax to pay for transportation improvements.

Only two proposals didn't see majority "acceptance" : a plan to extend the sales tax to professional services like doctors and architects and a proposed increase in the state's controversial business and occupation tax.

The survey of 405 registered voters was conducted March 7-9 and has a margin of error of 5 percent.

There had better be another plan because citizens are furious that the Democrat controlled legislature's only plan for the huge budget deficit they created is to take more money from you through taxes.

Be warned: a revolt is brewing among the people and you will tax us at your own peril.

Dodd's Dirty Little Secret

After personally adding an amendment to the $787 billion stimulus bill allowing AIG executives to receive millions of stimulus dollars in retention bonuses.

Democrat Senator Chris Dodd has been caught and is now frantically trying to play the typical one-note game Democrats always play - tax 'em!

Oh, did I mention that Senator Dodd just happens to be AIG’s largest single recipient of campaign donations during the 2008 election - $103,100 -directly to Senator Dodd according to opensecrets.org.

State Senate Fast Tracks Cap & Trade

The WA State Senate version of Cap and Trade Bill E2SSB 5735 - reducing greenhouse gas emissions - will be heard in committee, tomorrow, Tuesday March 17th at 10:00 am.

Democrats are determined to pass this legislation to protect us from the myth of global warming, despite a gross lack of any credible scientific evidence.

What this legislation will do is further damage our struggling State economy.

We cannot afford this disastrous bill.

Democrats have it on a fast track and apparently plan to HEAR AND VOTE on it in the same committee session!

What's their rush? It seems the longer this bill is out there the more citizens hear about it and realize the damage it will do to businesses, jobs, homes and families.

They don't want to hear from you.

Please use your voice and the contact information below to raise a strong voice of opposition TODAY to committee members who will hear the bill tomorrow.

Ecology and Parks Committee: http://www.leg.wa.gov/House/Committees/EPAR/membersstaff.htm

E2SSB 5735 – Bill Text: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Senate%20Bills/5735-S2.E.pdf

What's the Difference?

Bernie Madoff is to billionaires as Barack Obama is to the rest of us

What's the difference between what Madoff did and what Obama is doing, really?

We have a guy who ran a ponzi scheme that stole billions of dollars from people to fund who knows what.

Granted the American people elected him President, but compare what Barack Obama is doing to what Bernie Madoff did and I fail to see a substantial difference beyond Obama having a "mandate" from voters and Madoff not having one.

Both Madoff and Obama have put people out of work.

Both Madoff and Obama have destroyed the financial health of lots of people.

Both Madoff's and Obama's schemes have convoluted accounting schemes designed to obfuscate the criminal mismanagement of other people's money.

The difference is that Madoff did it to powerful billionaires who are now millionaires. Obama did it to the rest of us.

by Erick Erickson

Creating And Funding Your Crisis

Taxpayer dependants – those who are paid with money other people work to earn – are trolling WA citizens to figure out just who to raise taxes on to fund their massive budget deficit.

The state hospital association, community clinics, Group Health, the Washington Education Association and SEIU each put up $20,000 in their search for approximately $2 billion in new taxes.

“All of us felt that the (state budget) cuts, without revenue, are so devastating, especially to health care and education, that it would be irresponsible, immoral and unconscionable not to consider whether to raise revenues,” revealed a spokesperson from the hospital association.

While they won’t share the polling data, they will say the results gathered over the past month suggest that the public has no idea how deep state budget cuts could go, and when told, voters seem willing to pay for some taxes to offset those cuts.

“People are aware that there’s a huge budget shortfall, but they don’t know what’s at risk. When they hear what’s at risk, they’re stunned.”

The coalition is also preparing a campaign to convince voters just how much they really want to support the planned tax hike.

We The People - The 9/12 Project

Over 140 energized patriots came out on a Friday afternoon to watch Glenn Beck's announcement on FOX of a new grassroots citizen effort called The 9/12 Project.

In fact all across the United States citizens gathered in various venues. The web response to Becks announcement was so massive that their server collapsed.

I met people from all over my community who are concerned for our country and recognize that good never actually comes out of Washington DC but from God's Truth, and through a citizenry united by the core values and principles that made our country great.

I urge you to lend your voice to the cause of Truth and our great nation. May God Bless America!

Having It Both Ways

Our Senator Maria Cantwell voted in favor of an amendment offered up by Senator John McCain, R-Arizona, to strip the $410 billion omnibus appropriations bill of earmarks....and then voted in favor of the bill touting her own earmarks. Go figure.

Illusions of Hope

"It is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth -- and listen to the song of that syren, till she transforms us into beasts." -Patrick Henry

A Sad Day For Washington State

Just in from F&F……

Senate Bill 5688 Passes at 9:51 PM Tonight

This is a sad day for Washington State.

Standing against economic concerns, religious concerns, tradition and marriage itself, the Washington State Senate passed SB5688 at 9:51PM tonight, thus setting the stage for homosexual marriage in Washington State.

I cannot tell you how profoundly saddened I was, personally, as I watched the proceedings tonight.

Sen. Dan Swecker attempted to pass an amendment to send the matter to the people for a vote. The amendment was defeated. Sen. McDermott said, "No. We're elected to vote on behalf of the people."

Senators Swecker, Stevens, Roach, and Holmquist spoke in opposition to the bill pointing out this bill creates an equivalency to marriage.

I have included the roll call vote below. Please note how each senator voted tonight.

Also note that Senators King, Pflug, and Brandland abandoned their own party and voted against traditional marriage.

E2SSB 5688 Registered domestic partners Senate vote on 3rd Reading & Final Passage

Yeas: 30 Nays: 18 Absent: 0 Excused: 1

Voting Yea: Senators Berkey, Brandland, Brown, Eide, Fairley, Franklin, Fraser, Haugen, Hobbs, Jacobsen, Jarrett, Kastama, Kauffman, Keiser, Kilmer, King, Kline, Kohl-Welles, Marr, McAuliffe, McDermott, Murray, Oemig, Pflug, Prentice, Pridemore, Ranker, Regala, Rockefeller, and Tom

Voting Nay: Senators Becker, Benton, Carrell, Delvin, Hargrove, Hatfield, Hewitt, Holmquist, Honeyford, McCaslin, Morton, Roach, Schoesler, Sheldon, Shin, Stevens, Swecker, and Zarelli

Liberty: All The Stimulus We Need!

Across the nation today citizens gathered by the thousands to protest the massive Obama stimulus mess.

The Democrat Addiction to Spending

We're at the end of the sixth week of session and we've yet to send one meaningful state spending-reduction bill to the governor's desk. We've been relegated to taking small steps by passing "budgetary-reduction" bills that have more language than substance and reaffirm state-hiring and travel freezes that amount to a gentle lean in the right direction rather than a good solid step.

The strategy employed by budget writers appears to be to wait until Obama Claus comes through with federal tax dollars to fill part of the budget hole. Then, scream bloody murder and capitulate to special interests at taxpayer expense.

Republican legislators have been told the solution to our state's budget dilemma will be a bipartisan one, although the house of cards which formed the structure of our budget deficit was not.

Fueled by an apparent addiction to spending, the Democrat majority in the Legislature increased the size of the state's operating budget by 33 percent in just four years. Republican legislators, who, for the most part, have been locked out of the budget-writing process during this time, warned of excessive spending on new entitlement programs.

"We can't continue to spend more than we're taking in!" we'd say, at every opportunity. And yet, each quarterly revenue forecast would show a strong economy bolstered by historic gains in the construction and housing industries.

In essence, the Legislature spent more money than was coming in, but rolled the dice anyway and was continually bailed out by a strong housing market. Now that we've rolled "snake eyes," it's time to pay the house.
The Legislature's inability to say "no" over a four-year period turned a $1.6 billion surplus into one of the largest deficits in state history. It will be the Legislature's inability to say "no" again that will lead to the biggest gamble yet: a significant tax increase sent to the voters in November.

My hope is that the people of this state show more backbone than the Legislature and reject any tax increase put before them. We don't need another bailout at taxpayer expense.

Rep. Gary Alexander

You Will Pay More

Today, the White House unveiled its $3.55 trillion budget for the next year. In it, they propose, in the middle of a housing crisis, to limit the mortgage deductions of any family making $250,000 or more a year. They also want to decrease what those families can deduct for charitable donations. Of course the president says only the “wealthy” will pay more, but don’t believe it. You will pay more!

As we reported Tuesday, the administration’s $300 billion carbon cap-and-trade tax scheme will massively increase your utility bills and raise the prices of just about everything else. That’s not just a tax on the wealthy. It will hit every sector of the economy and all goods and services that utilize electricity. And President Obama’s $634 billion socialized health care scheme will require more of your money – there are no “free lunches.”

Anyone tempted to fall for the class warfare rhetoric of making the rich or the top 2% “pay their fair share,” consider this: According to the IRS’s 2006 data, the top 7% of income earners, those making $200,000 or more, paid $522 billion in income taxes – that is 62% of all the federal individual income tax receipts! The Wall Street Journal goes further with this analysis: “A tax policy that confiscated 100% of the taxable income of everyone in America earning over $500,000 in 2006 would only have given Congress an extra $1.3 trillion in revenue. That’s less than half the 2006 federal budget of $2.7 trillion and looks tiny compared to the more than $4 trillion Congress will spend in fiscal 2010.” And, of course, this year with a recession and falling financial markets, there will be many fewer taxpayers making $500,000.

What do you think will happen when the bureaucrats and the liberals in Congress realize that taxing the top 2% still won’t cover the tab? The Journal continues: “Even taking every taxable ‘dime’ of everyone earning more than $75,000 in 2006 would have barely yielded enough to cover that $4 trillion.” The truth is that there just isn’t enough money out there to satisfy the growing appetite of Big Government. And just like Bill Clinton’s promise to “make the rich pay their fair share” ended up hitting the middle class, YOU will pay more!

Gary Bauer

D.C. is NOT a State

Congress is back in session ready to wreak more havoc. First up on this week's Senate agenda is a piece of legislation which may be more accurately described as an unconstitutional power-grab.

Sponsored by Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-CT), the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2009 (S. 160), would establish full House of Representatives voting rights for the District of Columbia. However, there is one small problem: D.C. is NOT a congressional district or a state!

Article I, Section 8, clause 17 of the U.S. Constitution makes it clear that D.C. is a federal city, not a state, with final governing authority resting with Congress. The U.S. Constitution states that the House shall be composed of "Members chosen...by the People of the several States," not delegates representing non-state territories.

This is simply the first step for achieving their ultimate goal which is to establish two permanent Democrat Senate seats for the District. If the initial inclination is for D.C. to be "considered a Congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives," then the idea for D.C. to be "considered a state for the purposes of representation in the U.S. Senate," will not be far down the road.

The Senate is scheduled to vote to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to debate of S. 160 today! Please call and email your Senators and tell them to vote NO on this openly unconstitutional bill!

Senator Maria Cantwell - (202) 224-3441

Senator Patty Murray - (202) 224-2621

Dirty Little Secret

House Democratic leaders now say they'll likely propose sending voters a tax package this year to help deal with a staggering shortfall in the state budget.

Republican leaders have warned since the legislative session began that there would be a Democrat proposal to create a new tax, increase an existing tax or eliminate certain tax breaks were all possible considering their current control of the entire legislative process in Olympia.

Despite the Governor's election promise not to raise taxes and the Democrat plan to use federal stimulus tax monies to cover their debts this is the first indication they are opting to develop a tax increase measure for the ballot.

"We're starting to get the impression that even with the federal stimulus, the budget shortfall will be much greater than what the governor was facing when she wrote her budget," Democrat Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown stated Wednesday adding she expects to bring ballot-measure ideas to her caucus for consideration.

Republicans contends the state would not be in such deep trouble if Democrats had not increased state spending by more than 30 percent in the past four years and citing their current mess as obviously self-inflicted.

But dirty little secrets can only be hidden so long, and right now they are coming out everywhere in Olympia. Stay tuned.

Keep The Change!

The President was greeted by nearly 600 pork protestors as he arrived in Denver yesterday.

You Cannot Multiply Wealth By Dividing It.

You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else.

When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that, my dear friend, is about the end of any nation.

You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.

~ Dr. Adrian Rogers

Protesting Pork

A big crowd of taxpayers gathered in Seattle this afternoon to raise their voices in opposition to the trillion-dollar, pork-filled Generational Theft Act of 2009 — which will be signed into law by the blind President “There are no no earmarks” Obama. ~ Michelle Malkin

“Make no mistake, the President will be signing that bill tomorrow, I have no illusions that he will actually listen to us.

BUT, maybe, just maybe we can start a movement that will snowball across the nation and get people out of their homes, meeting each other and working together to redirect this country towards its truly radical founding principles of individual liberty and freedom.

Maybe people will wake up slowly at first, and then quickly when they realize the urgency needed.” ~ Liberty Bell, protest organizer

Let Them Eat Pork!

Democrats Break Their Word to Pass Stimulus Bill

Let's shine a little light on exactly how liberals' break their word to conduct their dirty business.

On the evening of February 10th, 2009, the House unanimously passed legislation which would require a 48-hour period wherein the legislation would be posted on the Internet before any votes.

However, Democrat leaders Pelosi and Reid then kept the text of the bill concealed, even from lawmakers, until less than 24 hours before the scheduled vote today. Lobbyist, however were given access.

The final conference bill doubled the size of the Senate-passed bill and amounted to a whopping 1,071 pages...and it was deliberately kept from the people so the Democrats could conduct their treachery with as little public scrutiny as possible.

I guess it's all in how you define "hope" and "change" Apparently Democrats "hope" you weren't watching while they "changed" the rules to pass their bill.

Not One

They passsed this bill...and not one of them even read it!

The House on passed the final version of a $787 billion economic stimulus plan aimed at jolting the slumping U.S. economy, setting up a vote in the Senate expected later in the day.

The measure was passed 246-183, with no Republican "yes" votes and one member voting present.

House Republicans remained united in their opposition to the package.

Demand Sanity And Appropriate Action!

Despite empty words of transparency, and in a blatant attempt to hide the content of their dirty work the House will vote today on the national disaster which is their stimulus bill.

But it's not over till it's over!

Watch this video clip and you decide if voting on this insane stimulus bill makes any sense...and then CALL.

And Don't Stop - call again, and again and again...

1st District: Jay Inslee - (202) 225–6311
2nd District: Rick Larsen - (202) 225-2605
3rd District: Brian Baird - (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

Happy Birthday Abraham Lincoln

"Intelligence, patriotism, Christianity, and a firm reliance on Him who has never forsaken this favored land, are still competent to adjust…all our present difficulties" - Abraham Lincoln

Today It's All About Marriage

Today is an important day to call Olympia. HB 1727, Expanded Domestic Partner Rights, is going to be moved out of committee. An Executive Session of the committee is now scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 12 at 10:00 a.m. which means it will not open to the public.

Please understand this bill will elevate "domestic partners" to the legal level of marriage.

Here's what we need to do:

Make two phone calls.

First call:
Jamie Pederson (D), Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. 360-786-7826
Representative Pederson is openly gay and very committed to getting this bill passed.

Please be very respectful.

In your own words convey this message:

"I am calling to tell Rep. Pederson that I strongly oppose House Bill 1727"

Second call:

Richard DeBolt (R), Majority Leader House of Representatives.

360-786-7896

In your own words convey this message:

"I am calling Rep. DeBolt to say that I strongly oppose House Bill 1727."

These calls are time sensitive and must be made today by multiple citizens.

Specters Liberal Masquerade - Done With It!

While Arlen Specter claims to be a Republican, he has only voted with the Republican Party about 44% of the time since the early 1990s.

Just imagine if a college basketball player or even a high school quarterback did that: if they passed the ball to members of their team 44% of the time, and 56% to the other team. How long would it be before they were booted out of the arena?

Spector's a liberal masquerading as a Republican who should be invited to cross the aisle and become formally what he’s been informally for decades: a Democrat.

by A.W.R.Hawkins

Deal Made...With Who??

Specter, Snowe and Collins have obviously made deals with someone and at what price? How many folks who voted for these people really think that they are looking out for their best interest?

Today I heard Specter say that he "gave his word" to vote for the stimulus bill and "he always keeps his word". To whom?

What about the Republican voters who put him in office?

I'd have more respect for them if they actually changed parties (to Democrat, Independent, Socialist), at least then they would be true to their their liberal agendas.

I hope the fine people of Maine and Pennsylvania will organize a serious effort to unseat these bogus senators in the next election.

As for the other Republicans who voted against the stimulus bill, I commend you, but you really need to put the pressure on these three people who need a lesson on the basics of Republican philosophy!

By Joan Kussmaul

Hundreds Rally In Olympia To Support Marraige

Legislation aimed at redefining marriage to include same-sex partners was heard in committees in both the House and Senate yesterday in Olympia, Washington.

Not expecting the general public to be concerned, committee chairs scheduled only 30 minutes for discussion and debate regarding HB 1727 and SB 5688 designed at redefining marriage to include same-sex domestic partners.

Packing out two committee rooms and spilling over into the hallways, over 250 individuals gathered to voice concern and opposition to this legislation.

Citing religious freedom concerns, right of conscience issues and public education concerns, many people testified to the negative "unintended consequences" of such legislation.

Joining concerned citizens from other family organizations, including Washington Values Alliance, Christian Coalition, Alliance Defense Fund, Faith and Freedom Network and Washington Eagle Forum, the FPIW helped mobilize the masses to voice opposition to the redefinition of marriage.

FPIW's Executive Director, Joseph Backholm, testifying at the senate hearing, addressed the issue of marital "discrimination" saying; "We believe the current distinction is the most reasonable and most applicable because of the unique relationship, unique value that heterosexual marriages provides. They're the only institution in which children are created. They're also the optimal environment in which children can be raised."

In addition HJR 4204 introduced by Rep. Matt Shea of Spokane, WA, calls for the WA State legislature to send a constitutional amendment to the people asking them to ratify or reject added language that would solidify one-man, one-woman marriage as the only lawful and recognized marital relationship in WA State.

And Now For The Collin's Compromise

by Michelle Malkin

Details of GOP Sen. Susan Collins’ “compromise” “stimulus” proposal are coming out.

This is a Mt. Kilimanjaro-sized crock.

Total cost of this “pared down” bill is $1.175 trillion. Let me repeat that: $1.175 trillion.

And this does not include the nearly $50 billion added in Senate amendments during the last two days.

So in the name of fiscal responsibility, Collins and the compromizing Republican contingent are selling out America with a plan that costs $7 billion more than the House stimulus bill.

Anyone ready to say the Filibuster word yet?

Double Every Effort Now!

Capitol Switchboard: (202) 224-3121

Do not be swayed by reports that say this stimulus bill will easily pass the Senate this week.

Double your efforts and make this their nightmare.

Remember that there are fellow fiscal conservatives on the front lines in DC that are greatly outnumbered.

It's your job to keep the pressure intense on your Senators!

Please call, write, email, fax...communicate to your Senators in any and EVERY way you can.

Call their Capitol Hill offices, then call their various state office locations!

Call others to call.

Give Senators a Jolt of Citizen Reality Now!

Exposed!

In the light of public scrutiny the Democrat stimulus bill is being exposed for what it is – a government grab of money and power at the expense of taxpayers and freedom.

Senate Democratic leaders conceded yesterday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill as currently written and said that to gain bipartisan support, they will seek to cut provisions that would not provide an immediate boost to the economy.

The stimulus package has now tripled from its post-election estimate of about $300 billion, and in recent days lawmakers in both parties have grown wary of the swelling costs.

This represents the first major test for President Obama and his newly expanded and ultra aggressive Democratic Congress.

Unfortunately our two Senators still need a jolt of citizen reality. Call them and let them know what you think of the Democrat Stimulus bill.

Maria Cantwell - (202) 224-3441
Patty Murray - (202) 224-2621

For All The Right Reason$

Drivers better buckle up or pay the price: More cash-strapped states want to give law enforcement officers the authority to pull over motorists just for not wearing their seat belts.

More than a dozen states that are considering making the switch to primary seat-belt enforcement laws need to do so before July to be eligible for millions in federal money.

One of those states is Ohio, which would get $26.8 million if it changes its law. Currently, officers in the state must first have some other reason to stop drivers over before issuing seat-belt citations.

States without primary seat-belt enforcement that want the federal money must pass a bill and have it signed by the governor by June 30 - and begin issuing citations by Sept. 30 - to qualify for federal funds, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.