SB 5011 would reverse progress on sustainable development

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Right wing, anti-government activists are pushing a state bill to weaken growth management in Washington State. SB 5011 – 2013-14  would prohibit ” the state of Washington and its political subdivisions from adopting and developing environmental and developmental policies that infringe or restrict private property rights without due process.” As this New York Time article discusses,…

U.S. Deficit Shrinking At Fastest Pace Since WWII, Before Fiscal Cliff

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U.S. Deficit Shrinking At Fastest Pace Since WWII, Before Fiscal Cliff “Believe it or not, the federal deficit has fallen faster over the past three years than it has in any such stretch since demobilization from World War II. In fact, outside of that post-WWII era, the only time the deficit has fallen faster was…

Social Security is not broke: speeches by Economist Dean Baker and Dr. Marilyn Watkins

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“Economist Dean Baker and Dr. Marilyn Watkins (EOI) explain how Social Security is an insurance program that really works for retirees, disabled workers and survivors. Since our pension system has been dismantled by corporations, and 401Ks are just not enough for the majority of workers to retire on, Social Security is the best program we…

Five proposed bills would amend the State Constutition to impose supermajority requirements for raising taxes

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Our ideological opponent, the Washington Policy Center, is reporting, in Proposed Constitutional Amendments Would Require Supermajority Vote for Tax Increases, that five constitutional amendments to require a supermajority vote to raise taxes have been introduced during the 2013 Legislative Session. To amend the state constitution would require a two third approval by voters. Voters approved…

Washington Conservation Voters' mistake

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Washington Conservation Voters is looking for volunteers for Tuesday, 2/25/13 (that’s tomorrow), to doorbell and persuade voters on Mercer Island to contact Republican State Senator Steve Litzow and ask him to support WCV’s Clean Energy and Climate campaign. (Contact tiffany@wcvoters.org.) As pointed out by Robert Sargent, the odd thing is that WCV endorsed Republican Steve’s run…

The Tea Party to the Rescue?

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I’m tempted to to say it: hallelujah for the Tea Party and for Ron Paul Republicans! President Obama and the Democrats couldn’t find the will or the way to cut the outrageous military budget. But the New York Times is reporting that fiscal hawks within the GOP are winning out over the incensed military hawks: …