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Legislature should have
focused on economy, jobs
By Rep. Dan Kristiansen
Special to chambers of commerce
As we approached the final
days in April of the 2009 legislative session, statewide unemployment
figures were released. More than 344,000 Washingtonians are jobless and
looking for work. Statewide unemployment is the highest since 1982. In
the 39th District, where the aerospace industry is laying off people,
and places like Milgard Windows in Marysville have closed, we have the
largest number of unemployment recipients (6,352) in the state.
The highest priorities of
the Legislature should have been jobs and the economy. Instead, it went
the opposite direction. Out of more than 3,000 bills introduced, few, if
any, that would have helped employers create jobs, were allowed to
advance.
What were the priorities
of the majority party? Here's a sample of what they passed:
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Senate Bill 5599 - Popular vote: This measure bypasses the
Electoral College system of voting for the president and diminishes
state sovereignty by entering Washington into a pact that gives our
electoral power to other states.
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Senate Bill 5688 - Domestic partnership: This measure gives
same-sex domestic partners all the legal rights and benefits of
married heterosexual couples.
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Senate Bill 5735 - Climate change: This bill sets Washington
on a course of hefty environmental regulations that will hurt
business owners, discourage companies from growing or locating here,
and threaten good family-wage jobs.
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Senate Bill 5963 - Unemployment insurance rates: This bill
increases payroll taxes businesses must pay on unemployment
insurance, and allows employees to quit their jobs and still receive
unemployment benefits.
On April 15,
tax day, more than 5,000 people gathered at the state Capitol in Olympia
in a "Tax Tea Party" ("tea" standing for "Taxed Enough
Already") to protest higher taxes, such as several income tax
proposals introduced this year. It was the second largest rally in
Olympia in the last decade and coincided with other tax revolt
demonstrations throughout Washington.
What was the
majority party's response? On the same day, they introduced five new tax
bills, including one that would increase the state sales tax.
As Winston
Churchill noted, "For a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is
like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the
handle." That's one reason why I have consistently voted against tax
increases.
My House
Republican colleagues and I are continuing to fight in Olympia for the
hard-working taxpayers of our state and for the thousands of people who
have lost their jobs. When it comes to employers and job creation, we
believe, as Ronald Reagan said, that government "should work with us,
not over us; stand by our side, not ride on our back. Government can and
must provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not
stifle it."
I encourage you to be
involved. Here are important phone numbers where you can voice your
opinion:
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Governor - (360)
902-4111
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Senate majority leader
- (360) 786-7604
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House speaker - (360)
786-7920
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Toll-free legislative
hotline - 1-800-562-6000
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My office - (360)
786-7967
I also encourage you to
sign up for my e-newsletter updates on my Web site at:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Kristiansen.
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EDITOR'S NOTE:
State Rep. Dan Kristiansen, R-Snohomish,
represents the 39th Legislative District, and also serves as chairman of
the Washington House Republican Caucus. He can be contacted at (360)
786-7967 or from his Web site at:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Kristiansen.
For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
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