I just couldn't get it done, folks. I wanted to give you my personal opinion on the referendums and initiatives for the election, but ballots must be postmarked in TWO days!! And I've been caught up in the whirlwind of Halloween festivities, birthdays, and a few new offspring added to the family (2 in 2 days...how sweet is that!!). Plus I'm leaving my kids for a few days and the prep to get out of town without your kids is almost more than if they were going with you...
But I didn't want to leave you hanging.
A conservative friend of mine passed along Matt Shea's recommendations and I liked most of what he recommends and has to say. Take it with a grain of salt, but if you're looking for a conservative member of our Washington State Senate for some guidance, Shea is a good one.
Whatever you political leaning, whatever your choice, just VOTE! This election is important...and your vote is your voice.
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Use links for full text of the Initiatives and referendums
MATT SHEA'S ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Initiative 1053 - Concerns tax and fee increases imposed by state government.
This measure would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.
This measure would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.
Vote Yes. “All power is inherent in the people…” Washington
Initiative 1082– Concerns industrial insurance.
This measure would authorize employers to purchase private industrial insurance (a/k/a workers' compensation) beginning July 1, 2012; direct the Legislature to enact conforming legislation by March 1, 2012; and eliminate the worker-paid share of medical-benefit premiums.
Initiative 1082– Concerns industrial insurance.
This measure would authorize employers to purchase private industrial insurance (a/k/a workers' compensation) beginning July 1, 2012; direct the Legislature to enact conforming legislation by March 1, 2012; and eliminate the worker-paid share of medical-benefit premiums.
Vote Yes. Washington
need relief to our struggling small business owners.
Initiative 1098 - Concerns establishing a state income tax and reducing other taxes.
This measure would tax “adjusted gross income” above $200,000 (individuals) and 400,000 (joint-filers), reduce state property tax levies, reduce certain business and occupation taxes, and direct any increased revenues to education and health.
need relief to our struggling small business owners.
Initiative 1098 - Concerns establishing a state income tax and reducing other taxes.
This measure would tax “adjusted gross income” above $200,000 (individuals) and 400,000 (joint-filers), reduce state property tax levies, reduce certain business and occupation taxes, and direct any increased revenues to education and health.
Vote No. This violates the State Constitution Article 7, Section 1 which reads “All taxes shall be uniform upon the same class of property within the territorial limits of the authority levying the tax and shall be levied and collected for public purposes only. The word "property" as used herein shall mean and include everything, whether tangible or intangible, subject to ownership.” The State Supreme Court has correctly ruled on multiple occasions that income (defined here as the fruits of one’s labor) is property. That is consistent with the founding fathers view as well.
Initiative 1100 - Concerns liquor (beer, wine and spirits).
This measure would close state liquor stores; authorize sale, distribution, and importation of spirits by private parties; and repeal certain requirements that govern the business operations of beer and wine distributors and producers.
This measure would close state liquor stores; authorize sale, distribution, and importation of spirits by private parties; and repeal certain requirements that govern the business operations of beer and wine distributors and producers.
Vote Yes. The role of government is to protect our God given unalienable rights to life, liberty, and property not run liquor stores. Like taxpayer funding of abortion clinics, it is also morally reprehensible to use tax payer dollars to distribute liquor.
Initiative 1105- Concerns liquor (beer, wine and spirits).
This measure would close all state liquor stores and license private parties to sell or distribute spirits. It would revise laws concerning regulation, taxation and government revenues from distribution and sale of spirits.
This measure would close all state liquor stores and license private parties to sell or distribute spirits. It would revise laws concerning regulation, taxation and government revenues from distribution and sale of spirits.
Vote No. This expands the size and scope of government through new mandates and licenses effectively trading one monopoly for another. It also proposes two tax increases.
Initiative 1107- Concerns reversing certain 2010 amendments to state tax laws.
This measure would end sales tax on candy; end temporary sales tax on some bottled water; end temporary excise taxes on carbonated beverages; and reduce tax rates for certain food processors.
Initiative 1107- Concerns reversing certain 2010 amendments to state tax laws.
This measure would end sales tax on candy; end temporary sales tax on some bottled water; end temporary excise taxes on carbonated beverages; and reduce tax rates for certain food processors.
Vote Yes. Cuts taxes and eliminates a massive regulatory burden on businesses to figure out which items are “candy” and should be taxed.
Referendum Bill 52 - Concerns authorizing and funding bonds for energy efficiency projects in school per EHB 2561 as passed by the Legislature.
This bill would authorize bonds to finance construction and repair projects increasing energy efficiency in public schools and higher education buildings, and continue the sales tax on bottled water otherwise expiring in 2013.
This bill would authorize bonds to finance construction and repair projects increasing energy efficiency in public schools and higher education buildings, and continue the sales tax on bottled water otherwise expiring in 2013.
Vote No. This is deficit spending and dishonest. This would allow “projected energy savings” to be the asset against which to bond half a billion dollars at a total cost to tax payers of almost $1 billion.
Senate Joint Resolution 8225- The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on state debt.
SJR 8225 would require the state to reduce the interest accounted for in calculating the constitutional debt limit, by the
amount of federal payments scheduled to be received to offset that interest.
Senate Joint Resolution 8225- The Legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment concerning the limitation on state debt.
SJR 8225 would require the state to reduce the interest accounted for in calculating the constitutional debt limit, by the
amount of federal payments scheduled to be received to offset that interest.
Vote No. This is an accounting trick to allow the state to borrow more money above the current constitutional debt limit while our spending remains out-of-control.
Engrossed Substgitute House Joint Resolution 4220 - The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on denying bail for persons charged with certain criminal offenses.
ESHJR 4220 would authorize courts to deny bail for offenses punishable by the possibility of life in prison, on clear and convincing evidence of a propensity for violence that would likely endanger persons.
Engrossed Substgitute House Joint Resolution 4220 - The legislature has proposed a constitutional amendment on denying bail for persons charged with certain criminal offenses.
ESHJR 4220 would authorize courts to deny bail for offenses punishable by the possibility of life in prison, on clear and convincing evidence of a propensity for violence that would likely endanger persons.
Vote Yes. This would restore the original understanding of when bail could be denied for “capital offenses.” Had this been in place it likely would have prevented the infamous Lakewood shootings.
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