Our truthful, forthright and honest Democrat controlled legislature, which has to censor the minority party’s efforts to reveal the truth, is scheming again. This time the target is how to further evade the 601 spending limit to allow its massive supplemental spending increase.
The 601 spending limit is tied to appropriated funds, so when appropriated moneys increase, the limit increases. In the latest scheme to increase the limit, Democrat legislators want to appropriate money to savings accounts for next year, which will increase how much they can spend this year. The bills enacting this scheme are SB 6896 in the Senate and PSHB 2552 in the House.
So why should putting money into “savings” count as expenditures this year? They could easily leave it in the pot until next year. But to trigger the limit, they have to appropriate it. Therefore, there is no good reason for the legislation except to artificially increase the 601 limit.
In a further move of deceit, the authors included emergency clauses in both bills. Why is this necessary when the money is just going to be put into savings for the next budget? What possible emergency exists? None but to deny a referendum.
This “disingenuous” “shell-game” by “tax-and-spend liberals” is not acceptable. Taxpayers and constituents deserve better. The bills are teetering precariously and may not pass if pressure is exerted immediately.
If this is an issue you care about, contact your legislators, particularly Senator Roach and Benton. Further, pay careful attention to the following proposed amendments to the Senate bill:
6896-S AMS ZARE JONE 006 (AMD 157 ) – removes emergency clause
6896-S AMS WM JONE 004 (AMD 154 ) – removes changes to I-601
6896-S AMS WM JONE 001 (AMD 156 ) – ties bill adoption to approval of constitutional rainy day fund
6896-S AMS ZARE JONE 007 (AMD 153 ) – changes title of bill to show true effect
6896-S AMS ZARE JONE 005 (AMD 155 ) – eliminates ability of legislature to raise taxes with simple majority vote
PSHB 2552 and SB 6896 could be voted on any day.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
Editorial from the Spokesman-Review
A bit thin-skinned
Our View: Democrats look bad by censoring news releases
Warning: Parents should preview the following commentary before showing it to children who are too sensitive for exposure to harsh political language.
Such language as: "disingenuous" or "tax-and-spend liberals."
Sorry, but those are some of the uncivil terms that the chief clerk of the Washington state House of Representatives says violate the House's expectations for decorum. They are, therefore, not permitted in the state-funded press releases sent out by members or posted on their state-funded Web sites.
A bit thin-skinned
Our View: Democrats look bad by censoring news releases
Warning: Parents should preview the following commentary before showing it to children who are too sensitive for exposure to harsh political language.
Such language as: "disingenuous" or "tax-and-spend liberals."
Sorry, but those are some of the uncivil terms that the chief clerk of the Washington state House of Representatives says violate the House's expectations for decorum. They are, therefore, not permitted in the state-funded press releases sent out by members or posted on their state-funded Web sites.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Special Rights 101
Some are more equal than others. It is not only legal, but encouraged by our government to discriminate and be prejudiced against people by race, gender and religion. The difference between now and the 1920s is that the races, religions, and genders have changed.
As a voter, I pretty much know that any candidate supporting special rights for tribes, funded by the tribes is bad news for our state.
Equal means equal. Equal does not mean a different set of taxes, different business regulations, different zoning requirements or getting preferential treatment in public employment. Except for about 2% of the population, everybody’s ancestors had it tough, but in this generation we all are supposed to get an even playing field.
As a voter, I pretty much know that any candidate supporting special rights for tribes, funded by the tribes is bad news for our state.
Equal means equal. Equal does not mean a different set of taxes, different business regulations, different zoning requirements or getting preferential treatment in public employment. Except for about 2% of the population, everybody’s ancestors had it tough, but in this generation we all are supposed to get an even playing field.
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Goliath beats the county at their own game.
Thurston County has been jacking assessed property values on homeowners for the past 5 years. For the 2006 assessment, a record number of valuation contests/appeals were submitted and inundated county officials. Although it’s not clear what the property really is here, it looks like Qwest isn’t any keener about the county’s game than other tax payers have been.
It's a regular dot com bubble right here in South Bay. This irresponsible assessment game is part of what is feeding the development boom as the tax assessed values really set the basement of what the open market will bear. In a manner of speaking, this is about as irresponsible as investing state pension funds into Rambus stock. Any economist worth his/her salt would be turning coal into diamonds over the thought of what happens when the margin call comes along.
Too bad for Thurston County tax payers that the county doesn’t actually employ or consult with any of those economist characters.
It's a regular dot com bubble right here in South Bay. This irresponsible assessment game is part of what is feeding the development boom as the tax assessed values really set the basement of what the open market will bear. In a manner of speaking, this is about as irresponsible as investing state pension funds into Rambus stock. Any economist worth his/her salt would be turning coal into diamonds over the thought of what happens when the margin call comes along.
Too bad for Thurston County tax payers that the county doesn’t actually employ or consult with any of those economist characters.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Violence: The international language
I have nothing against Islam or any major religion for that matter. If you want to pray 5 times a day, have at it. However Muslim extremists have thrown down the gauntlet with regard to abridging our freedom of speech. This is where Americans really have a patriotic duty to not only pick up the gauntlet, but to shove it up the backside of the same folks who are plotting to kill us.
Americans are often accused of being inconsiderate and insensitive of other cultures. Our problem is that we just don’t appreciate the sensitivities of those with different beliefs. This is pretty much the basis for MSM not publishing the Danish cartoons of Mohammed. We are supposed to buy into the theory that this is extremely offensive to any Muslim and no Muslim would dare print such a caricature. A holy war against any infidel sketching such a thing is an appropriate and understandable response.
On the other hand, blowing up a shrine, along with perhaps some human beings of another Muslim sect is pretty much fine and dandy in the world of Islam and call for Jihad would be a gross overreaction.
I really look forward to the day we wean ourselves from foreign oil.
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
How to read a MSM news story
Take CNN’s coverage of “Bikers roll to military funerals to oppose anti-gay protests.”
On first look, I want to go put my size 12 steel toe into some thick gay bashing skulls. Then I think for a second on whether a group this idiotic would have much of a following. A reasonable person would conclude: probably not. Then I start to examine what propaganda agenda CNN might be driving in a way the casual reader would tend to overlook.
First it doesn’t really say how many protesters are really there- a pretty significant detail methinks. The article goes into great detail about these patriots storming into a funeral on motorcycles and emotions that might evoke, but doesn’t really talk about what their agenda is. Do these guys ask to attend all funerals of fallen soldiers or just the ones where gay bashers intend to protest and the family invites them? CNN/AP author doesn’t say. Is the leader gay and driving a gay defense agenda? CNN/AP article doesn’t say. Again, this is a pretty significant big gap
CNN/AP does provide a history of the gay bashers and their personal history. Nothing on the two-wheeled patriots.
How do the moto-patriots find out about the gay bashers PR agenda and road show schedule? Do the gay haters have a website (providing someone in the Phelp’s family is web literate)? Buried down below the article notes that this is not really part of any organized church, in fact it is just one isolated screwball and his extended family (5-10 people maybe???).
Really? Since when does the opinion of a gay basher and his second cousins become worthy of national headlines? How do I sign up to get CNN’s number to drive this level of awareness to MY causes? It looks like the neo-nazi’s and gay bashers sure know how to get MSM to show up for their events!!!
Next is the “legitimization” of the news-worthiness of the story. The story says the Kentucky legislature passed a law that would keep protesters 300 feet (or out of earshot) of the funeral service. The article stakes that the law is targeted at the gay-bashers, but doesn’t really say it. HMMMM……Now we are at the thick of it: CNN/AP is attempting to wrap the story of the anti war protest law around an isolated group of non-PC obviously evil gay bashers. Now which do you think is more likely given the unpopularity of the Iraq war?
a- The legislature passed a law because 5-10 gay bashers in Kentucky are protesting funerals and causing grief to a few of the families of the fallen.
Or
b- The legislature passed a law because the probability or occurrence of tons of anti war kool aid drinkers protesting at military funerals in poor taste.
I’ll bet CNN would not/is not going to be the news source covering occurrences of the latter. Shame on you CNN for passing yourself off as a legitimate news source.
On first look, I want to go put my size 12 steel toe into some thick gay bashing skulls. Then I think for a second on whether a group this idiotic would have much of a following. A reasonable person would conclude: probably not. Then I start to examine what propaganda agenda CNN might be driving in a way the casual reader would tend to overlook.
First it doesn’t really say how many protesters are really there- a pretty significant detail methinks. The article goes into great detail about these patriots storming into a funeral on motorcycles and emotions that might evoke, but doesn’t really talk about what their agenda is. Do these guys ask to attend all funerals of fallen soldiers or just the ones where gay bashers intend to protest and the family invites them? CNN/AP author doesn’t say. Is the leader gay and driving a gay defense agenda? CNN/AP article doesn’t say. Again, this is a pretty significant big gap
CNN/AP does provide a history of the gay bashers and their personal history. Nothing on the two-wheeled patriots.
How do the moto-patriots find out about the gay bashers PR agenda and road show schedule? Do the gay haters have a website (providing someone in the Phelp’s family is web literate)? Buried down below the article notes that this is not really part of any organized church, in fact it is just one isolated screwball and his extended family (5-10 people maybe???).
Really? Since when does the opinion of a gay basher and his second cousins become worthy of national headlines? How do I sign up to get CNN’s number to drive this level of awareness to MY causes? It looks like the neo-nazi’s and gay bashers sure know how to get MSM to show up for their events!!!
Next is the “legitimization” of the news-worthiness of the story. The story says the Kentucky legislature passed a law that would keep protesters 300 feet (or out of earshot) of the funeral service. The article stakes that the law is targeted at the gay-bashers, but doesn’t really say it. HMMMM……Now we are at the thick of it: CNN/AP is attempting to wrap the story of the anti war protest law around an isolated group of non-PC obviously evil gay bashers. Now which do you think is more likely given the unpopularity of the Iraq war?
a- The legislature passed a law because 5-10 gay bashers in Kentucky are protesting funerals and causing grief to a few of the families of the fallen.
Or
b- The legislature passed a law because the probability or occurrence of tons of anti war kool aid drinkers protesting at military funerals in poor taste.
I’ll bet CNN would not/is not going to be the news source covering occurrences of the latter. Shame on you CNN for passing yourself off as a legitimate news source.
Karen surpasses Sam in dumb remarks from the 22nd.
Last fall Socialist Sam Hunt made one of the dumbest remarks ever regarding one of his many favors to his union buddies on delaying pay increases to state employees
Today Karen Fraser- Senator of the 22nd district topped that.
“I have to be careful to preserve the state tax base because it funds education, social services and economic development,” Fraser said.
Karen do you really believe the purpose of a business is to fund schools and the financial anchor that we all know as DSHS? So far as economic development, she must be referring to Gregoire’s campaign payback to unions with apprenticeship requirements for public projects. To utter this quote in the same fiscal quarter as she proposes to spend the budget surplus for a foot bridge on the Chehalis trail in Lacey indicates we need to start drug testing our Senators or at least require them to pass the WASL.
A legitimate background in business is just too much to ask for from our Reps and Senator in the 22nd.
Today Karen Fraser- Senator of the 22nd district topped that.
“I have to be careful to preserve the state tax base because it funds education, social services and economic development,” Fraser said.
Karen do you really believe the purpose of a business is to fund schools and the financial anchor that we all know as DSHS? So far as economic development, she must be referring to Gregoire’s campaign payback to unions with apprenticeship requirements for public projects. To utter this quote in the same fiscal quarter as she proposes to spend the budget surplus for a foot bridge on the Chehalis trail in Lacey indicates we need to start drug testing our Senators or at least require them to pass the WASL.
A legitimate background in business is just too much to ask for from our Reps and Senator in the 22nd.
Impact of Oregon’s property rights
A busted clock is right twice a day. The same is true with Oregon's Supreme Court. This has serious overtones for the upcoming initiative here in Washington.
Old timers who have tended their land for decades note that all of these people move out to the country and then want to stop all further development. They completely ignore the fact that their house is built on some old pasture or woodland. The bottom line is that if you buy a house with a view of a hayfield and expect it to continue being a hayfield, you should buy the hayfield too. You should also be paying for the new school that your house has caused too, but that is another topic.
Most people get this concept, but the vocal few on the environmental fringe do not. They believe each and everyone one of us would cut our private forests to the ground if we were not prohibited to do so by law. These same people don’t seem to have a problem buying a house that once was a hayfield. The sun rises and sets around their ideology and conveniently become socialists in order to stick someone else with the bill for the aesthetics of their own back yard.
I’m fine with everyone agreeing a hayfield should stay a hayfield, just pay the farmer fair market value because he could easily have sold this land in 1985 when farming ceased being profitable in order to invest in Microsoft stock, but instead held onto it for another 20 years. Instead we have people moving out to the country, expecting to “own” the view without paying for it and then expecting to stick everyone who already lives there with the bill for the view, the new roads, schools, police and fire stations that go with it.
This is exactly what is happening here in Thurston.
Old timers who have tended their land for decades note that all of these people move out to the country and then want to stop all further development. They completely ignore the fact that their house is built on some old pasture or woodland. The bottom line is that if you buy a house with a view of a hayfield and expect it to continue being a hayfield, you should buy the hayfield too. You should also be paying for the new school that your house has caused too, but that is another topic.
Most people get this concept, but the vocal few on the environmental fringe do not. They believe each and everyone one of us would cut our private forests to the ground if we were not prohibited to do so by law. These same people don’t seem to have a problem buying a house that once was a hayfield. The sun rises and sets around their ideology and conveniently become socialists in order to stick someone else with the bill for the aesthetics of their own back yard.
I’m fine with everyone agreeing a hayfield should stay a hayfield, just pay the farmer fair market value because he could easily have sold this land in 1985 when farming ceased being profitable in order to invest in Microsoft stock, but instead held onto it for another 20 years. Instead we have people moving out to the country, expecting to “own” the view without paying for it and then expecting to stick everyone who already lives there with the bill for the view, the new roads, schools, police and fire stations that go with it.
This is exactly what is happening here in Thurston.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Slaying the evil dragon remains on the “to do” list
Union saving “Death to Walmart” bill dead this session.
If they’ve already bribed every Democrat with campaign contributions, and the Democrats own the House, Senate, and Governor’s mansion in this state, how will unions spend their extortion money in the next election cycles? Could it be the liberal puppet machine has gone off and started thinking for itself? My speculation is the absolute venom against Bush in some areas of the state has Democrats believing they can win their district simply by demonizing the entire GOP based on the unpopularity of the Iraq war. It would really suck to be Chief Big Casino Feather Favor, or Big $olidarity Union Dues Man if this is true.
Also as a fair scale of unproductive people getting healthcare at the taxpayer’s dime, why don’t we ever see the number of State employees? Surely if more of government services were privatized, there would be fewer employee pensions and healthcare benefits to fund.
Though I wouldn’t characterize every state employee as having the same skill set as a Walmart associate, I can justify the term unproductive here by the very definition of GDP which excludes government as being a productive entity.
If they’ve already bribed every Democrat with campaign contributions, and the Democrats own the House, Senate, and Governor’s mansion in this state, how will unions spend their extortion money in the next election cycles? Could it be the liberal puppet machine has gone off and started thinking for itself? My speculation is the absolute venom against Bush in some areas of the state has Democrats believing they can win their district simply by demonizing the entire GOP based on the unpopularity of the Iraq war. It would really suck to be Chief Big Casino Feather Favor, or Big $olidarity Union Dues Man if this is true.
Also as a fair scale of unproductive people getting healthcare at the taxpayer’s dime, why don’t we ever see the number of State employees? Surely if more of government services were privatized, there would be fewer employee pensions and healthcare benefits to fund.
Though I wouldn’t characterize every state employee as having the same skill set as a Walmart associate, I can justify the term unproductive here by the very definition of GDP which excludes government as being a productive entity.
Friday, February 10, 2006
Wiretapping is kid stuff; check out what DSHS OSE is up to
As an employer you are required to report all new hires to the state debt collector (DSHS, OSE). What you probably didn’t know is that the courts have delegated the authority of subpoena to any peon within OSE to access any of your records with no cause or justification; simply because you have an employee who is paying child support through DSHS.
Now those of you on the left may not trust the President Bush, but I sure as heck don’t trust DSHS. My mistrust for DSHS would be correctly applied. As evidence of abuse of this power has come to light, it turns out the agency is using this power to snoop around on parents who are in fact up to date on their support and have never been late on a payment. This includes snooping on employer bank records and phone records. Outraged yet?
To add insult to injury, the agency has no obligation to inform the payor that his employers records are being sought. More on this as evidence comes to light. Big thanks to the big government legislature for empowering these goons in OSE. It would sure be nice if our local ACLU wanna-bes spent time on real violations of the constitution instead of trying to embarrass the President for doing his job in stopping terrorists.
Hat tip to geezer
Now those of you on the left may not trust the President Bush, but I sure as heck don’t trust DSHS. My mistrust for DSHS would be correctly applied. As evidence of abuse of this power has come to light, it turns out the agency is using this power to snoop around on parents who are in fact up to date on their support and have never been late on a payment. This includes snooping on employer bank records and phone records. Outraged yet?
To add insult to injury, the agency has no obligation to inform the payor that his employers records are being sought. More on this as evidence comes to light. Big thanks to the big government legislature for empowering these goons in OSE. It would sure be nice if our local ACLU wanna-bes spent time on real violations of the constitution instead of trying to embarrass the President for doing his job in stopping terrorists.
Hat tip to geezer
Sunday, February 05, 2006
I voted no on both school levies: Here's why:
First: Our schools’ poor choices when it comes to goods and services in a competitive market. Case in point, their choice of portable restrooms. If you drive around Thurston County you'll notice that most of the restrooms at the schools are provided by the same company. Though I occasionally notice a few units from a local guy, these are often not rented through the standard school channels. There are 3-4 other companies operating in Thurston providing the same or better service at a lower price. Often the price of the local competitor is significantly lower.
So if schools are paying 20-40% too much for their toilets, what else are they wasting too much money on? This inability to shop around for a better price can't be limited to the toilets. Why in the "buy local' hype of liberal Olympia are they not supporting a competitive environment among local businesses? Home and business owners such as myself are being asked to pay for the levies so the schools can spend that money to support a non-competitive environment. NOT WITH MY TAXES! This is 1000 times more evil than Walmart.
Second: Growth management. Houses that are 20+ years old have already paid for the current infrastructure. I want to see new construction fund the growth of schools. I'm happy to pay for maintaining the current school size, but I really want to see an equitable taxation for the impact of new construction. Until the County implements a multiplier on new homes that reflects the requirement for more infrastructure, I'm voting no on any levy asking me to pay for it with my 1970 ranch house.
So if schools are paying 20-40% too much for their toilets, what else are they wasting too much money on? This inability to shop around for a better price can't be limited to the toilets. Why in the "buy local' hype of liberal Olympia are they not supporting a competitive environment among local businesses? Home and business owners such as myself are being asked to pay for the levies so the schools can spend that money to support a non-competitive environment. NOT WITH MY TAXES! This is 1000 times more evil than Walmart.
Second: Growth management. Houses that are 20+ years old have already paid for the current infrastructure. I want to see new construction fund the growth of schools. I'm happy to pay for maintaining the current school size, but I really want to see an equitable taxation for the impact of new construction. Until the County implements a multiplier on new homes that reflects the requirement for more infrastructure, I'm voting no on any levy asking me to pay for it with my 1970 ranch house.
Friday, February 03, 2006
Stellar job performance doesn't pay any more for state workers.
Today's Yakima Herald published one of the best stories on the state worker controversy to date: "State workers fired for refusing to pay union dues"
“Cathy Munson's last day on the job after 18 years with the state Department of Agriculture in Grandview is Saturday. This would be unremarkable except that Munson, 56, isn't retiring. She's been fired.”
“That might not be noteworthy either except the day after she was pink-slipped, Munson received her yearly performance evaluation, and it was glowing.”
Sound Politics has picked it up and is running a number of good comments. Click here to read more.
“Cathy Munson's last day on the job after 18 years with the state Department of Agriculture in Grandview is Saturday. This would be unremarkable except that Munson, 56, isn't retiring. She's been fired.”
“That might not be noteworthy either except the day after she was pink-slipped, Munson received her yearly performance evaluation, and it was glowing.”
Sound Politics has picked it up and is running a number of good comments. Click here to read more.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Jihad this
My freedom is non-negotiable. You post movies of terrorists cutting off heads and then demand respect for your culture? Here's respect: Any holy book dictating death to nonbelievers isn't good enough to line a bird cage.
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