Sue | Clallam Republicans

Are You Ready for an Income Tax?

by Sue | Feb 16, 2021 | 2021 Olympia Bills to Watch, Olympia News & Views 2021

by Ruth Peterson

It looks like we will likely have an income tax this year. Whether it makes it through a court challenge or not remains to be seen. But SB 5096 is scheduled to have an executive session on Tuesday in Ways & Means, a hearing that will start at 1:30 pm. Here is a link to the bill –> https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=5096&Year=2021&Initiative=false.

Every bill that is introduced is heard in a Committee in a public hearing. That is when the legislators listen to testimony. After that step is complete, the next step is to pass the bill out of committee in an executive session. There is no testimony allowed when that happens, but by voting a bill out of committee, the majority signals that the bill will likely go forward. That is bad news for all of us.

This bill will put an income tax on long term capital assets. They call it a Capital Gains Excise Tax, but it’s the first step in creating an income tax that will affect everyone. The Democrats have freely spoken about what their goal is. The most underhanded thing about this bill is that they have an emergency clause on it. In the Constitution, the people are always allowed to have recourse to get signatures for a Referendum to be put on the ballot that will repeal a law. But not if it has an emergency clause. Of course, it’s obvious that this is not an emergency, because the tax doesn’t get implemented until next year, but we will have no recourse. The emergency clause takes away our right of referendum. (if you click on the link for the original bill and go to the very end, you will see the emergency clause there). This is the Democrats’ way of thumbing their nose at the people of this state.

They have set this up to make a new tax very tempting for people to support. It goes to free college. What a great way to get more college students signed up to vote Democrat. I know there is another bill in the house that will tax everyone more to provide free child care. College is wonderful and so is childcare and both of those are hard things sometimes. But the end goal here is free college for all and free childcare for all. The desire for more money by a Democrat-led government is never ending. They start out with free college and free childcare for those at the poverty level, but again, they’ve been very clear about wanting free college for all, free childcare for all – and there’s even yet another bill that raises taxes on health care to start paying for free healthcare for all. I have often heard that we should have an income tax instead of the high property taxes and the sales tax, because it’s a fairer way to tax. The problem is that they don’t want to do away with other taxes – or even lower them permanently – the government is a never-ending black hole tied directly to your wallet.

One other note about this tax. You will read that we need it to fill a gap in our state budget. That is a false statement – pure political spin. The truth is that this tax is needed to fill a gap that would occur only if the Democrats get their budget passed – a budget that increases our state expenditures dramatically. However, the Republicans put their own budget out this week that keeps spending within our means – without raising taxes! I know I promised a newsletter on the budget, and I will get to it. I promise. But this seemed a bit more critical, since it’s a vote that will be taken on Tuesday, Feb. 16th.

Please consider letting your legislators know that you do not want an income tax. And then get ready to work like crazy to get some seats flipped next year. We have a very progressive Legislature, and the only way they will be stopped is to take away their majority!

Bills to limit the governor’s emergency powers, to speed up business re-openings, and to re-open schools are likely dead for this year

by Sue | Feb 12, 2021 | 2021 Olympia Bills to Watch, Olympia News & Views 2021

Through much of 2020, state legislative leaders urged Governor Inslee to call a special session so the legislature could pass measures to deal with the ongoing COVID pandemic. Instead, the governor issued repeated emergency orders on his own for nearly a year, without consulting elected lawmakers.

When this year’s regular legislative session convened last month, lawmakers introduced a number of bills to limit the governor’s emergency powers and re-assert the legislature’s role as an equal branch of government.

So far this session, the only legislation related to the governor’s emergency powers that has passed is SCR 8402, extending the governor’s orders indefinitely. The measure passed both houses, which are controlled by Democrats, along mostly partisan lines by 28-19 votes in the Senate, and 54-44 votes in the House. (more…)

Good Bills – Bad Bills – We need to pay attention!

by Sue | Feb 10, 2021 | 2021 Olympia Bills to Watch, Alerts about pending legislation 2021, Olympia News & Views 2021

Here are several more good bills and bad bills making their way through the halls of Olympia. (Or should I say, through the “Zoom” meetings, where citizens have very limited access to their legislators. Forwarded by Ruth Peterson.

Good Bills –>

SB 5207	Freshman senator, Jeff Wilson, introduced this bill. It would streamline environmental permitting. This bill is scheduled for executive session on Feb 11th. Finally – some good news!	Senate Ag, Water, & Natural Resources
HB 1029	Emergency orders and rules – this bill puts a 14 day cap on the Governor’s ability to take over all government during an emergency – Hearing tomorrow on Monday the 8th at 1:30	House State Government & Tribal Affairs
SB 5037	Sen. Braun introduced a bill requiring schools to offer face to face classes depending on COVID metrics. While we believe in local control, there needs to be some incentive for school districts to be required to meet face to face. Our kids have been out of school for a year. Some are thriving, but a huge number are going to suffer in their educational future forever because of this!	Senate Early Learning & K12
SB 5114	Sen. Braun introduced another big one. This would move all of the state into Phase 2 of the Governor’s “COVID plan,” allowing restaurants and other industries to open back up safely. We are killing our small businesses and the hospitality industry is suffering mightily. There were over 1600 people who signed up to testify. The vast majority were for the bill. This past week, the Republicans attempted yet again to bring this bill out of committee. They will likely try again. One wonders if the Democrats don’t want to go on record as voting no against all our businesses!	Senate State Government
SB 5243	Senator Lynda Wilson introduced this bill that will streamline the approval of engineered plans. A little in the weeds, but honestly, trying to build anything in some counties is an absolutely nightmare – streamlining anything would be a blessing.	Senate Housing & local Govt
SB 5245	Sen. Brown – Requiring written notification of crime victims before release of prisoners for certain crimes. This has moved to the budget committee.	Senate Ways & Means (budget)
SB 5316	Sen. Wilson, L. – This is also in the weeds, but this is big. The state has gotten millions of dollars from the federal government to help with COVID expenses. It is the Legislature’s job to appropriate funds and decide where the money is spent. The Governor has taken that job over because of yet another loophole in the law. Senator Wilson’s bill requires that a committee, made up of legislators approve or reject a request for expenditure by the Governor.	Senate Ways & Means (budget)

Bad Bills –>

HB 1091	Low Carbon Fuel Standards will definitely increase gas prices further. This obviously hurts everyone, but especially those in the rural areas. Scheduled to be exec’d on Feb 9th. Then it goes to rules. Article discussing this bill – https://www.washingtonpolicy.org/publications/detail/will-lcfs-raise-gas-prices-california-oregon-and-wa-budget-agency-say-yes	House Appropriations
HB 1018	The “paddleboat tax” – you will have to take a class and pay a fee to be able to use a paddle boat, canoe, or kayak – waiting to be passed out of committee (the term is exec’d)	House Community & Econ Develp
SHB 1054	This bill will really show you how far left the Democrats have moved. This bill outlaws almost every non-lethal tool that police have – including K9 Dogs – when faced with a dangerous or volatile situation. Just a horrific bill. It’s in Rules which means it could go to the House floor for a vote any day.	House Rules
HB 1099	Do you ever want to own a house? Develop property. Do you care what happens to your community? This bill would require the goal of “climate change mitigation” to the goals of Growth Management. This will even require local governments to track your travel. Listen to Rep. Peter Abbarno discuss it. https://peterabbarno.houserepublicans.wa.gov/2021/01/29/rep-peter-abbarno-opposes-measure-to-require-counties-to-plan-for-pay-per-mile-program/	House Appropriations
HB 1135	Increase gas prices – Isn’t this one of the best ideas? Right when most of WA state has been out of work for the past year? This will be an 18 cent increase (on top of increases by low carbon fuel standards.) The bill report on this one doesn’t say much, but I linked to it anyway. It’s part of an entire transportation package that includes tons of new spending, as well. Wonder how much goes for the light rail boondoggle?	House Transportation
HB 1141	Expanding assisted suicide	House Rules
HB 1225	Creating school-based health centers in our schools. Basically removes the parent from the health decisions of their children. This one is fast-tracked, as well. Scheduled to be passed out of committee before the end of the week.	House Appropriations
SB 5038	Prohibits open carry at demonstrations at the Capitol. Another Second Amendment issue – this could go to the floor for a vote any day now.	Rules
SB 5044	Imposing Critical Race Theory on our children in public school. This one is fast tracked, folks. May be on the floor this week, passed and sent to the House for a quick pass and then, boom, into law before the end of February. You need to organize and work to get this defeated.	Passed the Senate vote 30-19 Now in House Education
SB 5052	Concerning the creation of health equity zones. This is the year of racial equity & social justice. These bills are fast tracked and will likely be passed. There are a bunch of them. I’m only hitting on a few. These are racists bills. If you have to check a person’s color or gender to be able to choose what action to take, you are doing it wrong!	Senate Ways & Means (budget)
SB 5078	Hi Cap Magazine ban Bill – could go to the floor for a vote any day now	Rules
SB 5096	Capital Gains Income Tax – make no mistake. This is a push for an income tax. The next step is to be exec’d (passed) out of committee	Senate Ways & Means (budget)
ESSB 5121	This bill will allow for early release of even more felons. It was passed in the Senate along party lines this past week, with the Democrat majority rejecting a long list of amendments that would have protected victims and put important restrictions on the program. It’s headed for the House.	It has passed the Senate and is headed fro the House.
SB 5188	The WA State Bank. Terrible idea, but they are definitely pushing it. We have great credit ratings in this state, thanks to Treasurer Duane Davidson. They want to destroy that good rating by creating our own state bank. Not the place of government to do that! This bill is scheduled to be exec’d on Feb 9th. Let’s hope that’s as far as it goes!	Senate Business & Finance
SB 5204	Universal healthcare. Because government just runs everything else so well!	No hearing scheduled yet – Senate Health & LTC
SB 5340	Changes the qualification for running for School Board from requiring citizenship to just being a permanent legal resident. The next step after this is allowing permanent legal residents to vote without requiring citizenship. Scheduled for a hearing on Feb 1 at 1:30 pm This is scheduled to be voted out of committee on Feb. 10th. You need to take action on this one – soon!	Senate Early Learning & K12
SB 5371	Soda Tax – all sweetened beverages would be taxed if this passes.	No hearing scheduled yet – Senate Health & LTC
SB 5373	More increased prices – a Carbon Tax!	No hearing scheduled yet – Senate Env & Energy

Follow what the House Republicans are doing in Olympia here: https://houserepublicans.wa.gov/

Follow what the Senate Republicans are doing in Olympia here: https://src.wastateleg.org/

Learn how YOU can be involved in the legislative process and make a difference: https://houserepublicans.wa.gov/2021/02/01/how-you-can-be-involved-in-the-legislative-process/

Why the Majority in the Legislature is Important!

by Sue | Feb 8, 2021 | Olympia News & Views 2021

by Ruth Peterson | Feb 1, 2021

I’m a Second Amendment supporter and this morning I saw a question posed to those of us are 2A supporters. Why are we always on defense when it comes to protecting our rights?!? (warning: long post, but if you want the important stuff, please read the last three paragraphs)

The 2A page I was on is a non-partisan page, and all we talk about is 2A rights. It’s a way to keep an eye on Olympia and communicate what is happening to those rights. We need a coordinated effort to stop bad bills from being passed. This is important stuff.

One person answered the question above with the idea that we need to work with sympathetic legislatures, and that is spot on. But we have to be doing that now. We have to be working to get sympathetic legislators elected in 2022 right now. The Democrats work to get out the vote non-stop. Literally non-stop. They have college kids combing the campuses right now to get people signed up to vote – they are training them about the evils of firearms. On the other side, we are very busy with families and jobs. Politics takes a back seat to what is important. I get that. I have 4 kids and 9 grandkids. I homeschooled my kids, so my involvement from politics didn’t really happen until I was in my 40s. I will raise my hand as a person who put politics in the backseat of life. But meantime, the state became bluer and bluer – now we have a yearly battle on our hands.However, I also want to explain something about the Legislature that I hope will help you in the future as you try to persuade others in the election process and for you to think about in your own choices during an election.

Party matters. I had someone mention yesterday that all of this political stuff is just voting for the party. I objected, but as I thought about it, he was right. It’s all about party. Why? Do you remember the legislative years of 2013 – about 2018? Do you remember that while people talked about bad bills, we didn’t have to do much fighting to keep them from being passed? I know it’s hard to remember back, but we had 5 years of a Legislature that stopped every bad gun bill from passing. Do you know why? Republicans had a 1 vote majority in the Senate. Were all those Republicans staunch 2A people? Not really. We probably had a handful that were more center than right. In fact, I know we did.

But here is the key point (if you take nothing away from this – please remember this one thing). The majority – even those with only a 1 vote majority – appoints Chairs to committees. Those Chairs have total power over what bills come out of committee. Because we had a 1-vote majority, Senator Padden was appointed Chair of Law & Justice. Every bill that was introduced that was harmful to the 2A was killed in his committee. All of them. Even if they passed the House, they went to his committee, and he flat-out just didn’t allow them out. So even though we had some Republican members who were less conservative and who I disagreed with often, having them there allowed the right ones to be in places of power to stop bad bills.

Even when there is a majority, if it is close, it’s still a struggle – we can stop bad bills, but only if we get one or two Democrats to vote with us (note here – Senator Sheldon (D) always votes with us on 2A bills). If we had a House and Senate that were close in numbers, we wouldn’t have the bad bills racing through the Legislature this year. But we don’t have close numbers this year. They can lose several members and still pass the bills. The next two sessions are going to be very, very hard. Whether it’s 2A, gas taxes, income tax, low carbon fuel standards, critical race theory, tying the hands of the police – you name it. Their large majority means they decide which bills come before the floor for a vote, and they have the votes to pass those bills.

What to do? You need to keep the pressure on them – they respond to the possibility of losing votes. But that also means we need to persuade others to add their voice. It is far more powerful for 6 people to write than it is for 1 person to write 6 times. You also need to start looking at who is running for office and get behind them. Start working to get people elected who will put a Senator Padden back in charge of the Law & Justice Committee. We need Senator Wilson or Senator Braun in charge of the Ways & Means Committee, Senator Hawkins in charge in K12, etc. That is what is going to make a difference down the road.

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Ruth Peterson works for State Senate Republican Caucus leader John Braun. She is a PCO and State Committeewoman for Lewis County. You can follow her writings on the Lewis County Republican website.

Clallam County GOP passes resolution to Re-Open Washington, Defends County Autonomy

by Sue | Feb 6, 2021 | Clallam County News, Republican Party News, Resolutions

February 6, 2021

At its regular meeting of the Clallam County Republican Party, the Central Committee unanimously passed the following resolution:

Resolution Calling for Re-Opening Clallam County and Defending County Autonomy

Whereas, the forced shutdown in response to the Covid19 pandemic has had detrimental impacts to the economic, social, mental and emotional health and wellbeing of Clallam County residents that far outweigh any health benefits; and

Whereas, edicts issued by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee threaten the autonomy of Clallam County, under its Home Rule Charter, by administratively usurping county authority and creating regional governance without legislative authority or legal due process; (more…)