The Washington State Constitution currently says that a majority vote of our state Legislators is required to pass legislation. That means that 50% of the members of the Washington State House of Representatives and 50% of the members of the … Continue reading
The Washington State Democrats have urged voters to reject Initiative 1366. At their April 12, 2015 meeting in Pasco Washington they passed a resolution opposing Tim Eyman’s Initiative 1366. Initiative 1366, according to a May 17, 2015 Seattle Times article … Continue reading
At a special hearing in Olympia representing Washington residents from all 49 legislative districts on May 4, 2015 the voices were loud and clear about the need for tax reform. Washington State for a number of years has earned the unfortunate … Continue reading
Initiative 1366 is Tim Eyman’s 2015 initiative campaign to protect the wealthy and corporations in Washington State. It is both an appeal to greed and a guaranteed way to prevent reforming Washington State’s regressive tax system. Initiative 1366 is an … Continue reading
In a ruling today, March 2, 2015, Brad Owen, the Lt Governor and presiding officer of the Senate did the right thing. He ruled that the Senate rule passed by the Republicans in the Washington State Senate earlier this year to require a … Continue reading
Tax preferences and tax incentives are called tax expenditures by most other states and the US Congress – they are revenue that is not collected. Not collecting this revenue from certain taxpayers is a form of picking winners and losers and the end … Continue reading
Tax Exemption Transparency and Accountability Act 2015–HB 1239 & SB 5492 Tax exemptions, preferences, deductions, credits and deferrals are off budget expenditures. They lack the accountability and transparency that exists for other expenditures the state makes as part of the … Continue reading
Representative Gerry Pollet (LD-46) has reintroduced the Tax Exemption Transparency and Accountability Act in the 2015 Legislative Session. He was the prime sponsor of the bill in the House last year with 24 sponsors. This year as HB 1239 it has 26 … Continue reading
.The Republicans in the Washington State Senate when the Legislature convenes on Monday Jan 12, 2014 will try to bypass the Washington State Constitution calling for majority votes to pass legislation. Two Republicans – Doug Erickson of Bellingham and Mike Baumgartner … Continue reading