Tax 'em when they're up, tax 'em when they're down. Tax 'em all around!

Sign the petition to stop an income tax!

Source:  ShiftWA.org 

The Washington State Senate is scheduled to vote Saturday on the unnecessary and unconstitutional state income tax on capital gains.   Despite the state coffers being flush with a projected 7% increase in current tax revenue, and with the upcoming March 17^th state revenue forecast expected to project an even larger increase, and $4.2 billion dollars in federal bailout money on its way, Democrats still insist on implementing this unnecessary new tax.   Governor Jay Inslee and Democrat legislators have even gone so far as to dishonestly declare there is an “emergency” in state revenues that requires this bill not be subject to the citizens’ right to repeal by referendum.   If the legislation is approved, it will undoubtedly face a costly legal challenge, in which the Democrats and their greedy special interest friends will hope the liberal Washington State Supreme Court will ignore the state’s own legal precedents and the voters’ opinion in 10 statewide ballot measures, to allow this unconstitutional tax to become law.  Newspaper editorials from across the state, including in Seattle, Tacoma, Port Angeles, Vancouver, Bremerton, Yakima, Tri-Cities, and Walla Walla have stated that the tax is unnecessary and a bad idea.  We have been told there are four Democrat Senators who are the swing votes on SB 5076.  They are Senator Reuven Carlyle (D – Seattle), Senator Annette Cleveland (D – Vancouver), Senator Emily Randall (D – Bremerton), and Senator Kevin Van De Wege (D – Sequim).  All four of them have contact information on their websites, and would certainly appreciate respectful messages on how their constituents view this unnecessary and unconstitutional state income tax on capital gains. (Washington Policy Center, Washington Legislature Bill Summary, and Senate Roster)

Governor Inslee’s failure to provide leadership and decide what will be required to reach Phase 3 in his inappropriately named “Roadmap to Recovery” plan has led Republican legislators to announce their own “simple, practical and consistent plan to get all communities in Washington fully open for both school and business.”  The plan puts more control into the hands of local health officials, requires the option of in-person instruction for all K-12 students, and allows retail and hospitality businesses to safely reopen to 50% capacity.  Republicans lawmakers stated that their plan was in response to the scientific data which reveals a steep decline in the COVID-19 infection rate, and that local officials have consistently demonstrated that they are more knowledgeable about the needed measures to keep the public safe than isolated state officials who work in fear of an erratic governor.  The response from the Governor’s office was predictable, as spokesperson Mike Faulk (the latest former journalist to prove his liberal bias by accepting a job to spin rhetoric for the governor) falsely stated there was “no scientific justification” for the Republican plan. Evidentially, Faulk is unaware of the declining infection rates, the number of immunizations, and the scientific data that shows schools can safely reopen.  We also wonder if Faulk is representing the belief that local health officials are incapable of monitoring and reacting to health conditions, for this has evidently been the belief of the Governor’s office, as they have repeatedly demonstrated this past year that they do not value local health officials. (House Republican Caucus, KXLY, and Yakima Herald)

Despite former Commissioner Suzi LeVine being promoted to a federal job, dysfunction continues to control Governor Inslee’s Employment Security Department (ESD), as the state agency revealed that 55,000 Washington residents might have to return cash benefits they have received during this past year.  This disquieting news came from Acting ESD Commissioner Cami Feek during a Senate work session on Thursday.  Reports indicate that many lawmakers were “startled” by the revelation.  At issue is the ESD not obtaining proper information and not managing changing eligibility rules, which might require thousands of state residents to fill out additional documentation or risk being responsible funds return money they have already used to pay bills. (Seattle Times)