by Sue | Dec 19, 2020 | Olympia News & Views 2021
Olympia, WA – Dec. 19, 2020 – Governor Inslee just released his proposed budget for the next two years. Below are some facts about the Governor’s initial budget and quotes from the Republican House and Senate Budget leads.
The Inslee Budget:
- would spend $57.6 billion over the next two years
- includes $1.3 billion in new taxes
- grows state spending by $5 billion over the current budget
- proposes a new income tax on capital gains of 9% on annual investment earnings of $50,000 for a married couple
- capital gains tax would take effect in the second year of the 2021-23 biennium and is expected to raise $3.5 billion over the next four years
- this tax has been proposed several times before but has never been passed into law
- drains the state’s Rainy Day Fund (again)
- Moves $1.7 billion out of the Rainy Day Fund, officially called the Budget Stabilization Account
- proposes a monthly tax of about $3 on health insurance policies
- allows state employment contracts to be re-opened for negotiations in the second year (likely means raises)
- spends $10 million to maintain the state’s COVID-19 relief fund for undocumented immigrants
- calls for a 10% reduction in the amount of carbon in fuels by 2028, and a 20% reduction by 2035
(more…)
by Sue | Dec 10, 2020 | 2021-2022 Clallam Co. BOCC
by Sue Forde, Chair
The Clallam County Home Rule Charter Commission (HRC) is recommending that the Board of Clallam County Commissioners’ pass a resolution “calling on the state legislature to pass legislation, which would enable the county (and other jurisdictions in the state) to adopt Ranked-Choice Voting for local elections, if they so choose.”
This was attempted in 2007 through the Home Rule Charter when I served on that commission. It went to the ballot and failed by a strong majority of the voters. Testimony by proponents disclosed that to change our voting machines and system to an Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) system would be very expensive to the taxpayers. It is also a complicated system. It effectively removes the “one man, one vote” premise upon which our nation was founded.
The Board of Clallam County Commissioners’ (BOCC) work session to be held on Dec. 14, 2020, commissioners will be presented with a resolution for consideration to promote the idea of Instant Runoff Voting (IRV), otherwise known as “Ranked-Choice Voting.”
I’ve written a comprehensive article for the Citizen Review, which you can read here. https://citizenreview.org/clallam-county-commissioners-to-consider-resolution-for-instant-runoff-voting/
Please consider taking action in (a) writing to the Commissioners with your thoughts after educating yourself on this issue; (b) showing up online to testify.
Be sure to let your county commissioners know what you think about passing the Resolution – and also consider:
If we are so concerned about elections, shouldn’t we (1) first be sure the voter rolls are cleared up every 30 days as required by law; (2) Make sure only legal citizens are voting; (3) and perhaps return to regular polling places where identity can be ascertained by photo ID; and (4) get rid of ballot harvesting?
The BOCC work session can be viewed on a live stream at this link:
http://www.clallam.net/features/meetings.html
If you would like to participate in the meeting by phone call 408-419-1715 and join with Meeting ID: 875 561 784.
If you would like to participate via video conference visit www.bluejeans.com and join with Meeting ID: 875 561 784.
Citizens are encouraged to make public comment by phone, video or in writing.
Citizens with comments or questions can be directed to the Clerk at agores@co.clallam.wa.us or 360-417-2256. Here’s the official notice of the work session meeting. (See Notice)
by Sue | Dec 7, 2020 | In Memory Of...
Each year on Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Survivors, veterans, and visitors from all over the world come together to honor and remember the 2,403 service members and civilians who were killed during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. A further 1,178 people were injured in the attack, which permanently sank two U.S. Navy battleships (the USS Arizona and the USS Utah) and destroyed 188 aircraft.
On Aug. 23, 1994, the United States Congress designated Dec. 7 as National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day. Every year, remembrance events are held at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, culminating in a commemoration ceremony on Dec. 7.
December 7, 2020
This years Pearl Harbor Day Commemoration’s theme, Above and Beyond the Call, represents a milestone of its own, as the first December 7 commemoration to follow the nationwide commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the end of WWII. This year’s ceremony will focus on Battlefield O`ahu. Though the Japanese Empire focused on the destruction of the Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, the attack encompassed the entire island with assaults on Army and Marine aviation bases as well as civilian facilities.
The experiences of the soldiers, Marines, Coast Guardsmen and sailors defending O`ahu, as well as the civilians caught in the crossfire, would exemplify courage under fire and perseverance. Their spirit at the beginning of the long crucible of war would frame the template for the securing of victory and peace. More information and photos can be seen at the National Park Service website.
by Sue | Nov 25, 2020 | Special Events
With all the challenges facing us in America today, Thanksgiving is a good time to step back into history and remember what our first president stated when he proclaimed the time set aside for Thanksgiving, and the reasons for it. It’s a good opportunity to read this short statement at our Thanksgiving dinner tables and learn a little history, too!
Thanksgiving Proclamation, 3 October 1789
Thanksgiving Proclamation
[New York, 3 October 1789]
By the President of the United States of America. a Proclamation.
Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor—and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me “to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.” (more…)
by Sue | Nov 1, 2020 | 2020 Elections
by Ruth Peterson
There has been a great deal of confusion over the past week about ballots and the terminology used when discussing ballot status. I’ve spent quite a bit of time with the Sec. of State’s office to get accurate information because of this confusion. Here is the bottom line.
The SOS’s office has a spreadsheet that tracks the status of every ballot in the state. Here is the link – https://www.sos.wa.gov/elections/research/2020-general-election.aspx
The information is contained in spreadsheets that are difficult to navigate unless you like to deal with spreadsheets. Even then, it’s tedious. (more…)
