As we’ve been asserting for years, Tim Eyman’s initiatives requiring a super-majority requirement for the legislature to pass tax increases is unconstitutional. As reported in the Seattle P-I, and as you can see for your self here at the State Supreme Court’s website, The state Supreme Court has thrown out a referendum passed by voters…
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,…
First Known Bank Malfeasance of the Week: With the $25 billion attorneys general settlement, banks are supposed to reduce the principal and interest on thousands of mortgages that are in trouble. When they do this, they get credit towards their portion of the settlement obligation. Leave it to the banks, however, to find a way…
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…
“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…
Please take action asap and help send this around. It is urgent that Washington State stops the Dirty Coal Trains in their tracks. Dear Linda, Please take 2 minutes before you start your day to call the toll-free Legislative Hotline at 1-800-562-6000, and ask your Senator to vote no on Senate Bill 5805. This bill…
Below is the address I made at the University of Washington the 30th of January 2013 before a meeting of the Socialist Alternative Party. It reflects my thoughts on where we are today and what we must do to redeem the dream of a true democracy that our founding fathers set out to create for…
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 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…
Friends, We need a state bank. Not much good will come out of the legislature this year, but we must continue to push the state bank idea forward. We can make our money go further, reduce state debt, and keep investing in our own state economy. It doesn’t hurt that this bill would take our…