Washington 2020: The Calm Before the Drizzle

[CultureKing]

Time to change the thread title.

Done.

Only if it's an income tax...

Agreed, though likelihood of that happening: 0%

[RI]

Any chance of this passing?

[bgwah]

Time to change the thread title.

Done.

Only if it's an income tax...

Agreed, though likelihood of that happening: 0%

A "fair tax" would probably be our best hope in Washington--a flat income tax that would replace the sales tax. I don't think a progressive income tax would ever pass, but a flat income tax that got rid of the sales tax may be an acceptable compromise that would certainly be preferable to our current system.

[CultureKing]

Time to change the thread title.

Done.

Only if it's an income tax...

Agreed, though likelihood of that happening: 0%

A "fair tax" would probably be our best hope in Washington--a flat income tax that would replace the sales tax. I don't think a progressive income tax would ever pass, but a flat income tax that got rid of the sales tax may be an acceptable compromise that would certainly be preferable to our current system.

Really I personally think that a progressive tax would have a better chance should we ever actually replace the sales tax. A flat tax would be a horrible idea (though still better than the regressive sales tax).

[Alcon]

Say what you will about The Stranger, but this is a helpful summary of the fates of recent bills.

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/02/05/bills-on-olympia-what-died-what-lived#more

***

Also, the expansion of medical marijuana law to allow other medical specialists (like physician assistants) to prescribe it passed with 37 Ayes and 11 Nays in the State Senate.  The votes:

Republicans
Yes (9): Becker [Eatonville], Brandland [Bellingham], Carrell [Lakewood], Delvin [Richland], Hewitt [Walla Walla], King [Yakima], McCaslin [Spokane Valley], Parlette [Wenatchee], Pflug [Maple Valley].

No (8): Benton [Vancouver], Honeyford [Sunnyside], Morton [Kettle Falls], Roach [Auburn], Schoesler [Ritzville], Stevens [Arlington], Swecker [Rochester], Zarelli [Ridgefield].

Excused (1): Holmquist [Moses Lake].

Democrats
Yes (28): All except below.

No (3): Hargrove [Hoquiam], Haugen [Camano Island], Sheldon [Shelton].

***

Haugen's vote is a little perplexing.  She supports some decriminalization and even got penalized for donating to a Rick Steves event that was mostly about legalization.  Maybe she's playing to her district's swing voters.  She's probably in trouble, and maybe at 70 she wants a last term.

On the other hand, did anyone ever expect Curtis King (R-Yakima) -- the business dude who defeated the quite-conservative Jim Clements in an insurgent primary campaign -- to be this liberal on social issues?  It's not just his votes.  The strongest thing against the R-71 bill he would say was to reject arguments against it with "this doesn't need to be about gay marriage," and he also made a comment implying (sort of) that he supports outright marijuana legalization.  Weird.  Anyone know much about him?

[Stranger Than Fiction]

Say what you will about The Stranger, but this is a helpful summary of the fates of recent bills.

http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/02/05/bills-on-olympia-what-died-what-lived#more

***

Also, the expansion of medical marijuana law to allow other medical specialists (like physician assistants) to prescribe it passed with 37 Ayes and 11 Nays in the State Senate.  The votes:

Republicans
Yes (9): Becker [Eatonville], Brandland [Bellingham], Carrell [Lakewood], Delvin [Richland], Hewitt [Walla Walla], King [Yakima], McCaslin [Spokane Valley], Parlette [Wenatchee], Pflug [Maple Valley].

No (: Benton [Vancouver], Honeyford [Sunnyside], Morton [Kettle Falls], Roach [Auburn], Schoesler [Ritzville], Stevens [Arlington], Swecker [Rochester], Zarelli [Ridgefield].

Excused (1): Holmquist [Moses Lake].

I'm really surprised by the Yes vote from Becker (R-Eatonville).   I'm of the impression she is a hard right conservative.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

Why does Washington have such a right wing tax system?

[Meeker]

Why does Washington have such a right wing tax system?

In 1932 the Supreme Court decided that the State Constitution forbade a progressive income tax and as such passing one would require massive support in the Legislature and the population as a whole. As time went on even a flat income tax became a political third rail that no one would touch. There's consistently been a liberal segment of the population and political class that has favored massively reforming the whole system, but they've never been able to get anywhere thanks to the moderate Democrats consistently allying with the Republicans on the issue.

In other words, historical factors and the unwillingness of Democrats in the Legislature to grow a pair.

[bgwah]

And Murray finally gets a somewhat* serious opponent, State Sen. Benton (R-Vancouver): http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011011450_benton08m.html

*and by that I mean the only one who is actually an office holder. I don't think Murray will have any trouble taking down this tea bagger nut.

[Meeker]

Benton's certainly more respectable than any of the others, but as bgwah said she shouldn't have any issues taking him down. FWIW in my interactions with him Benton's always struck me as a little dim. A little odd he didn't got for the WA-03 race, especially considering he tried back in 1998.

On an unrelated note, Murtha's death means Norm Dicks is now the second ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee and in line to head the Defense subcommittee. Obviously Murtha's death is a sad event, but the reality is it's rather oportune for us.

[bgwah]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2011018519_dionne09.html?prmid=op_ed

lol I hope he isn't the Democratic candidate for Governor in 2012.

I actually like one of the silly right-wing comments for once: The funny thing about this story....which house was this Jay? The one in your old E. Washington district you got booted from or your new district?

[Meeker]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that all the school levies are passing. I expected widespread defeat in the current political climate.

[CultureKing]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that all the school levies are passing. I expected widespread defeat in the current political climate.

Agreed. Are there any school levies failing? All of them in my area are passing. Perhaps Washingtonians are a bit smarter than the "current political climate".

[Meeker]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that all the school levies are passing. I expected widespread defeat in the current political climate.

Agreed. Are there any school levies failing? All of them in my area are passing. Perhaps Washingtonians are a bit smarter than the "current political climate".

Only one I can find failing is in Federal Way (the margin is within one percent and thus subject to change though).

[bgwah]

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that all the school levies are passing. I expected widespread defeat in the current political climate.

I don't expect to see any right-wing climate move across Washington this time, but I guess I could be wrong.

[RI]

Every levy in my county passed.

[Meeker]

Federal Way is now narrowly passing. Contrary to recent trends - at least from what I've noticed in Pierce - the poll votes and the after E-day absentees were mostly more in favor of the levies than the pre-E-day absentees.

[Ogre Mage]

On an unrelated note, Murtha's death means Norm Dicks is now the second ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee and in line to head the Defense subcommittee. Obviously Murtha's death is a sad event, but the reality is it's rather opportune for us.

Defense Industry Analysts seem to think Boeing is now likely to win the Air Force tanker contract:

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100210/BIZ/702109877

You must be logged in to read this quote.

http://in.news.yahoo.com/137/20100210/371/tbs-boeing-seen-aided-by-ties-to-key-u-s.html

[bgwah]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011039089_pendoreille11m.html

lol Republicans.

[Alcon]

So, I'm currently on the fence about getting involved in the Sensible Washington (I-1068) campaign for marijuana legalization.  All things considered, R-71 was organizationally boring.  Gays are a pretty establishment voting bloc by this point, and other than a few bar crawls, there wasn't much in the way of outreach to weird voters.  The grassroots people were also basically affluent society people, too.

On the other hand, I-1068 involvement so far has been exactly what I feared.  They can't take donations yet, because of concern over pro-pot funds being frozen (it's happened before.)  And one of the (self-appointed) local organizers is an anarchist who isn't registered to vote.  But fortunately I won't need to worry that he has some philosophical opposition to voter registration, because this is all explained by finding his 2006 conviction for felony vehicular assault.

Basically, I-1068 is shaping up for all my fears: The "grassroots" (snicker) are less composed, the base for GOTV/signature-collecting is less motivated and "with it," there's less money...basically signature-collecting will be a nightmare, and advertising won't be much better, if they even manage to collect enough signatures.  Which is doubtful.

[bgwah]

So, I'm currently on the fence about getting involved in the Sensible Washington (I-1068) campaign for marijuana legalization.  All things considered, R-71 was organizationally boring.  Gays are a pretty establishment voting bloc by this point, and other than a few bar crawls, there wasn't much in the way of outreach to weird voters.  The grassroots people were also basically affluent society people, too.

On the other hand, I-1068 involvement so far has been exactly what I feared.  They can't take donations yet, because of concern over pro-pot funds being frozen (it's happened before.)  And one of the (self-appointed) local organizers is an anarchist who isn't registered to vote.  But fortunately I won't need to worry that he has some philosophical opposition to voter registration, because this is all explained by finding his 2006 conviction for felony vehicular assault.

Basically, I-1068 is shaping up for all my fears: The "grassroots" (snicker) are less composed, the base for GOTV/signature-collecting is less motivated and "with it," there's less money...basically signature-collecting will be a nightmare, and advertising won't be much better, if they even manage to collect enough signatures.  Which is doubtful.

I don't see I-1068 getting on the ballot, honestly...

[CultureKing]

So, I'm currently on the fence about getting involved in the Sensible Washington (I-1068) campaign for marijuana legalization.  All things considered, R-71 was organizationally boring.  Gays are a pretty establishment voting bloc by this point, and other than a few bar crawls, there wasn't much in the way of outreach to weird voters.  The grassroots people were also basically affluent society people, too.

On the other hand, I-1068 involvement so far has been exactly what I feared.  They can't take donations yet, because of concern over pro-pot funds being frozen (it's happened before.)  And one of the (self-appointed) local organizers is an anarchist who isn't registered to vote.  But fortunately I won't need to worry that he has some philosophical opposition to voter registration, because this is all explained by finding his 2006 conviction for felony vehicular assault.

Basically, I-1068 is shaping up for all my fears: The "grassroots" (snicker) are less composed, the base for GOTV/signature-collecting is less motivated and "with it," there's less money...basically signature-collecting will be a nightmare, and advertising won't be much better, if they even manage to collect enough signatures.  Which is doubtful.

I don't see I-1068 getting on the ballot, honestly...

Agreed. Even if it would pass (though I have strong doubts) the movement is likely not organized enough to get things done. Truthfully though pot is so widespread in this state that almost no one really minds and it isn't really fought against that hard by authorities.

[Meeker]

The pro-tax increase rally in Olympia today drew twice as many people as the anti-tax increase teabagging/Paulist types (6000 vs. 3000). Thank God for union organization.

[CultureKing]

Front page article yesterday about extremist tea party groups. Guess where nearly all of them were based? Spokane/Northern Idaho! It seems the area may be trending back towards having  more crazies just like in the good 'ole days. My favorite was the nice old woman who advocated for a new civil war should elections "not go the right way".

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/16/us/politics/16teaparty.html?scp=1&sq=Lighting%20a%20fuse%20for%20rebellion&st=cse

Why did I choose to live here?

[bgwah]

Also, from that article:

Most of the people there had paid only passing attention to national politics in years past. “I voted twice and I failed political science twice,” said Darin Stevens, leader of the Spokane 9/12 Project.

How dumb do you have to be to fail political science twice? Wow.