I-1631 should look familiar to Jefferson County voters. It is the misleadingly labeled “carbon fee” plan that is actually exactly like the carbon tax scheme soundly rejected by voters just two years ago. Indeed, it imposes the very same tax on energy, but now attempts to misleads consumers by deceptively trying to persuade people it is nothing but a “fee on major polluters.”
Baloney. It is primarily a tax on gasoline. It will take $2.3 billion from consumers in just the first five years, according to the Washington State Office of Financial Management.
And it keeps going up. Every year, with no end in sight.
While nearly all voters in Clallam County have received their ballots, a small number have reported that they are still waiting for their ballots to arrive. In following up on this concern, the Elections Office has been communicating with postal officials at both the Seattle and Tacoma Post Offices. The USPS has helped research every pallet of ballots that were included in the mail drop, and has not found that any trays of ballots are missing. The Elections Office and USPS are continuing to work together to further explore the concern of non-delivery or delayed mail. (more…)
Voting in Washington’s 2018 General Election is now underway as ballots were mailed last week to all registered Clallam County voters.
New Washington state voters have until Monday, Oct. 29 to register in person at the Auditor’s Office in the Clallam County Courthouse, 223 E. 4th St. in Port Angeles, to participate in this election.
Those needing a replacement ballot may securely access a printable ballot via the MyVote website at www.myvote.wa.gov., or obtain one by contacting Clallam County Elections directly at 360-417-2221 or elections@co.clallam.wa.us.
Ballots must be postmarked by Election Day, Nov. 6, or returned to a ballot drop box by 8 p.m. that day.
Ballot drop off options include 24-hour drive-up ballot boxes at the Clallam County Courthouse in Port Angeles, the Sequim Village Shopping Center near JCPenney’s in Sequim, and the PUD in Sekiu just off Highway 101. Additionally, walk-up drop boxes are located outside Forks City Hall, outside Washburn’s General Store in Neah Bay, and in front of the Clallam Bay Branch Library. An additional ballot drop box will be installed soon next to Sunny Farms Country Store in Carlsborg (adjacent to Mill Road).
An accessible voting unit is also available at the Auditor’s Office to assist voters with disabilities in voting independently. Regular business hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, with extended Election Day hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Printed statewide voters’ pamphlets featuring local candidate races and measures were mailed to all Clallam County residences earlier this month. Additional copies are available at the Clallam County Auditor’s Office as well as local libraries and city halls. A local Online Voters’ Guide is also available on the Clallam County Elections website at www.clallam.net/elections.
Press release from Clallam County Auditor, Oct. 22, 2018
Washington State Initiative 1634 – Keep Groceries Affordable Act of 2018
by Sue Forde
How do you stop a tax before it begins? Well, we have a way to do that on our November ballot. Simply vote “YES” on Initiative 1634 – the “Keep Groceries Affordable” initiative!
Washington state government doesn’t currently collect taxes on food and beverages, but a loophole exists to allow local governments to do so.
And Seattle used that loophole to tax sweetened carbonated drinks. (Big surprise there!) That really was the engine to get this initiative off the ground!
What’s next? Meat, dairy, all your groceries? Yes, there has been talk about taxing these items.
And how long would it be before other local governments followed, as they look for more ways to cover the cost of an ever more expensive budget brought about in part because of State unfunded mandates.
The camel’s nose is under the tent, according to many small business, restaurants, and farmers, to name a just a few, who have signed on to I-1634.
I-1634 is a “pro-active” initiative, ensuring that our groceries -the food and beverages we consume every day – are protected from any new or increased local tax, fee or assessment.
With the rising cost of living, more taxes on necessities like food hurt the low- and fixed-income families the most.
So checking the “YES” box on this initiative is really a no-brainer! Vote Yes on Initiative 1634.
And while you’re at it, vote for Republicans who will work toward lowering taxes and reducing regulations all the way around!
