Feb. 13, 2009

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Many of you have shared your opinions with me by e-mail, letters, phone calls and visits.  I want you to know how much I appreciate your input.

However, stay tuned to my weekly update.  I hope to have an online survey available soon where you can take a few minutes and let me know your thoughts on some very important and specific issues we're dealing with in Olympia.

An online survey - isn't technology great?  It's a way to stay in touch with you, my constituents, while being frugal on the budget (the online survey doesn't cost us anything).

Speaking of the budget, I'm continually dismayed by the "snail's pace" at which we're moving to address out state's budget deficit.  Every day we wait costs taxpayers millions of dollars. Forgive me for beating a dead horse here, but we're in the fifth week of session and we've still not sent a budget-cutting bill to the governor's desk.  The inactions by the majority party are leading me to believe that they have already given up and will try to pass a tax increase to the voters in November.

This is NOT the right approach.  I believe we can balance the budget without raising taxes on families and small businesses.  I hope you'll join with me in voting against any tax increase that Democrats put on the November ballot.

9th District legislators meet with district county commissioners. From Left: Pat O'Neil (Whitman), Dean Burton (Garfield), Sen. Mark Schoesler (Ritzville), Rudy Plager (Adams), Greg Partch (Whitman), Rep. Don Cox (Colfax), Rep. Joe Schmick (Colfax)

I also believe we should be spending as much time as possible in Olympia engaged in efforts to preserve existing jobs.  Much is being made at the state and national level about government trying to "create" jobs.  I think any economist worth a lick will tell you that it's much easier to preserve a job than to create one.

Constitutional protections for taxpayers
With the death of our state's previous spending limit, Initiative 601, we've seen what happens when the Legislature has no set parameters for spending taxpayer dollars.  We're in the middle of a $6 billion deficit that is due, in large part, to the fact that the Legislature refused to live within its means and went around specific parameters of state population and inflation increases.

This session, I'm supporting House Joint Resolution 4207 which would establish a state spending limit for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010.  The fiscal limit mirrors the original language found in the voter-approved Initiative 601 by limiting expenditures to an increase in the state's population and inflation growth over the previous three years.

If lawmakers had stayed true to the spirit and provisions of Initiative 601, we would certainly not be in the same situation we're in today.  The budget hole we're in now would have been much more manageable.

Another constitutional amendment I'm supporting is House Joint Resolution 4208 which would require a two-thirds vote of both legislative bodies for any tax increase.

I believe the voters of this state want protections from tax increases by their elected officials.  They voted for Initiative 601 in 1993 and then reaffirmed their desire for a two-thirds vote with the passing of Initiative 960 in 2007.

However, my concern is that the Legislature will soon undo the two-thirds voter requirement found in Initiative 960.  The law says the Legislature can make alterations to an initiative after two years.  Next year, a simple majority vote by the Legislature can be used to bypass a two-thirds vote requirement.  Talk about a loophole!

A state spending limit and a two-thirds vote requirement to raise taxes are two important ideas that need constitutional protections.

Taxing drivers per mile?
The House Transportation Committee held a work session on the Vehicle Miles Tax (VMT) this week, which is a tax based on the miles you drive.  While there is no specific legislation for this idea (yet), I wanted to make you aware of the issue.  It seems last year's proposal (which died) to tax the size of your car's engine wasn't enough for some in Olympia.  They are getting very creative in trying to figure out how to get into your wallet.  I'll keep you informed on this issue if anything further develops.

A B&O tax on farmers?
Senate Bill 5911 has been introduced in the Senate.  It would force farmers to pay the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax if their gross income is $200,000 or more.  Needless to say, I will fight against this proposal if it passes the Senate and makes its way over to the House.  Like I said earlier, folks in Olympia are getting very creative in their efforts to get into your back pockets!

Visit my Website for further information and news
You can always visit my Web site for updated information and to contact me via e-mail.  You can also sign-up for my E-newsletter by going to my home page and clicking on the "sign up here" link on the left side of the page.