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Legislature should have
focused on economy, jobs
By Rep. Dan
Kristiansen
When the legislative
session began Jan. 12, lawmakers knew the bleakness of our state's
economy. More than 251,000 people were jobless. In the Republican
response I delivered to the governor's State of the State address, I
said "the best way to help the economy is to help business retain and
create new jobs."
Now fast forward. The
Legislature adjourned this past Sunday. Washington's latest unemployment
figures are at 9.2 percent, and in Skagit County the jobless rate is
10.8 percent. More than 344,000 people are without work. In the 105 days
that the Legislature was in session, thousands of people lost their
jobs.
One of the Legislature's
higher priorities should have been jobs and the economy. As legislators
struggled to balance a state budget in a $9 billion deficit, they should
have realized the best way to help that budget is to get people working
again. When citizens have jobs, they pay taxes, which provides revenue
for the budget.
Unfortunately, out of more
than 3,000 bills introduced during the session, few, if any that would
have helped employers create jobs were allowed to advance. Instead, the
majority party spent much of the session on other issues -- some of
which would be devastating to employers and jobs.
Bills brought to a vote
included: a ban on novelty lighters, regulating tattoo parlors, changing
how Washington's presidential electoral votes are distributed, restoring
felon voting rights, and designating the Olympic marmot the state's
official endemic mammal.
Some legislation took
direct aim against jobs. For example, the Legislature increased payroll
taxes businesses pay on unemployment insurance. This, at a time, when
many businesses are barely able to make payroll. Another bill affects
the home construction industry, allowing first and subsequent homeowners
to hold contractors liable for the life of the home, regardless of
improper maintenance. Then there's the climate change legislation, which
not only would thrust hefty regulations against employers, but could
discourage other companies from growing or locating here.
With thousands out of
work, why send more people to the unemployment lines?
My House Republican
colleagues and I fought hard through the session for employers,
taxpayers and those who have lost their jobs, and we can claim a partial
victory. From day one of the session, we said the state budget should be
balanced without tax increases. The other party floated various income
tax proposals and even a sales tax increase in which they claimed
"people would die" if it wasn't approved. In the final outcome, your
strong voices against tax increases during statewide tax tea party
gatherings prevailed. A final budget was passed without tax increases.
Still, there were millions
of dollars of fee increases you'll be paying. Plus, the majority party's
budget cuts deep into the most painful areas of services, opening the
door for possible tax increase ballot measures this fall to "buy back"
those reductions.
Most disappointing is that
this Legislature adjourned with unfinished business -- that is to get
people working again. It will take time for Washington to climb out of
this recession. Jobs and the economy need to be our focus. And
government's role? It should be as Ronald Reagan once stated: to
"work with us, not over us; stand by our side, not ride our back;
provide opportunity, not smother it; foster productivity, not stifle
it."
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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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