Washington State Democrats Continue To Give Voters The Finger

Just as with other states, Washington State is beset with budget woes due to over spending and unfriendly attitudes to business. Here in Washington State we see a proposed budget deficit of nearly $3 Billion and fears of climbing higher.

Oregon recently passed their measures 66 & 67, drastically raising taxes on businesses and those they consider wealthy, which also create and supply the bulk of jobs for working sector voters in the state.

Washington State was handed a gift an a golden opportunity to draw businesses to our state and put people back to work in the private sector, which undoubtedly would bring many tax dollars back into the state treasury.

Unbelievably, our Democrat led State Legislature chose instead to ignore the free gift handed us, focusing their attention on how to further raise taxes and alienate voters.

The alienation comes from the Democrats suspension of citizen Initiative 960, voted in back in 2007 that requires a two-thirds approval from state legislators to raise taxes and public disclosure of such tax increases prior to their being passed along with who voted for such increases.

State Senator Don Benton (R 18th) sent out a release the evening of February 16 saying he, “witnessed an all-out assault on the initiative and referendum process Monday night” and called the action by the majority in the last few days “appalling.”

In the Democrat majority’s removal of “transparency” in I-960, Benton says, “What we are witnessing are actions to destroy democracy and our constitution. When you stomp on the will of the people by acting in the dark of the night to restrict their rights just because you don't agree with their decisions, what else can it be called but an all-out assault on the people’s right to determine how they are governed,” adding, “The majority is way out of line. They were elected to represent the people, not rule over them. It’s outrageous!”

Just today, I have received email from Representative Ed Orcutt (R 18th) wherein he said; “I don't believe the Legislature has set forth clear and concise priorities in dealing with our $2.8 billion budget hole. My fear is that without leadership, without establishing and defining our priorities, state leaders are setting us on a perpetual course of state budget deficits. We already know that a large deficit looms before us for the 2011-13 biennium. Because legislators are making it easier to raise taxes - and setting the precedent to do so - tax increases will become the norm for future budget holes rather than the rarity.”

Examples of pending increases to what taxpayers are faced with are,
· A doubling of the "death tax"
· A 1 percent increase in the state sales tax, making Washington's the highest in the nation
· A tax on candy and bottled water
· A state income tax
· A Hazardous Substances Tax (HST) increase which amounts to a 6-cent per gallon gas tax increase

Indicating the examples are just the ones that have garnered attention, Rep. Orcutt continued, “The full list of tax and fee increase proposals is astounding: A total of 77 bills proposing tax and fee increases have been introduced thus far, for a total of over $3 billion in new state and local taxes or fees for Fiscal Year 2011. These same proposals would amount to over $11 billion in the next biennium! (2011-13)”

This at a time we in Washington State are seeing a statewide unemployment rate hovering around 10% with 14.3% here in Clark County. That is taxes you and I will be paying through increased prices from businesses. That is, from those who will wish to remain in our state with less jobs being offered.

Our current governor Gregoire’s words on taxes all over the place. She campaigns on no tax increases, but what does she do? Gregoire: Raise taxes on bottled water, soda pop, cigarettes & more.

Those are what you and I most likely use, not the so called wealthy. Those aren’t business taxes, they are to be added to what products you and I might be using.

As always can be expected when Democrats are raping taxpayers, we are told the necessity is to “avoid large cuts to education and social services.”

No one ever asks them why do we keep pouring money into those programs and it is never enough. No one asks them why is it those are the only areas they can ever discuss cutting when faced with deficits.

No, instead we hear of Democrats such as State Senator Craig Pridemore actually bragging about sticking it to us, then saying he “stands for the little guy.”

He says he’s “never sold out,” but in a 2005 tax increase Pridemore voted for, he said, “I think the Senate has balanced the budget on the backs of the poor and powerless.” Yet, HE VOTED FOR IT!

Democrats’ favorite canard is that they will only “tax the wealthy,” drawing on class envy that starry-eyed Liberal followers of theirs love to front. That is how the jobs killing Measures 66 & 67 were passed in Oregon and how they promote tax increases to the public.

But, when faced with increasing their own taxes, as the 2003 Puget Sound Latte Tax, slated to add a “dime a cup to pay for child care and preschool programs,” they handily voted it down.

Those who labeled it “the wrong solution, but the right problem to tackle” have no problem though, voting or supporting raising your taxes if you smoke, drive a car to work or enjoy a beer. Just leave their designer coffees alone, even though “it’s for the children and schools.”

You, the taxpayer, did not cause this deficit problem in our state, politicians did. Spending has been rampant for years now in spite of warnings from Republicans like Senators Don Benton & Joe Zarelli and Representatives like Ed Orcutt. Democrats continually ignored those warnings and as the old saying goes, ‘spent like drunken sailors.’ The difference being, sailors stop spending when out of money.

We have a chance to save the country and our state come November. It’s time to turn the tide an ignore Democrats’ “New Direction” and their “Hope & Change” they ran on. Both have been shown to be abject failures harming the very citizens they claim to support so much.

It’s time to turn the Democrats out to pasture.

It’s time to replace them with renewed Republican candidate who will practice fiscal responsibility, even if we have to keep fires lit under each and every one of them.

Democrats’ have shown they are not willing to listen to us. Their hollow words and promises repeatedly their concern is special interests in unions and government workers.

Republicans failed and in 2006, were spanked pretty hard. Democrats swept in and worsened the country and economy and now, expect us to pony up what we don’t have.

It’s time to spank the Democrats over their heavy-handed partisan tactics and raping you and I of our hard earned taxes.

Stop falling for the glib words and centrist promises made by Democrat candidates. They have shown they have no intention of carrying them out.

This November, show the Democrats what you think of their ignoring our voices. We need to return their extended fingers right at them.

VOTE THEM OUT!