The Washington State legislative session is finally over! I say, finally, because I’m not sure how much more damage could have been done over the past two years to the citizens and taxpayers of Washington State! The largest tax increases ever to take place happened, along with unprecedented “income tax of 9.9%” despite the Washington State Constitution clearly specifying there would not ever be one assessed. Among the highest gas taxes in the nation, gas at the pump is now over $5.00 a gallon at many pumps, and well over $6.00 for diesel. That’s a particular concern, as the trucks that bring groceries and other necessities to us have to pay that, which gets passed on to you and me. Property taxes have also gone up, with new levies for various local and state “needs”. Our duly elected sheriffs can now be removed at the whim of a small panel appointed by the governor. More government restrictions at every turn. More to come about the details of these later.
The point of this statement is to consider why these new huge taxes and regulations are coming about without the majority party that passed and signed them into law didn’t pay attention to the thousands of citizens who weighed in against them at every turn.
There IS an action you can take. This year every state representative is up for election, along with quite a few of the state senators. Vote the bums out and at minimum, give balance to the voices in Olympia. We currently have (and had for many years now) a “trifecta” at the state government level. That is, all three branches of elected government is of one party – the democrat party, which many suggest has turned quite radical. You only have to check out some of the bills presented and passed to perhaps agree with that assessment. This can change – this year.
Talk to individuals about running for office, or run yourself. Support and help those candidates who will agree to reduce the size of bloated government and reduce the taxes and regulations you now live under. Many are choosing to leave the State – from large businesses to small , to individual families. If you would like to continue living in the beautiful state of Washington, it will take work to change the direction of the politics. One voice counts for a lot – will that be yours? Talk to others, get involved, and maybe, just maybe, the state of Washington can be as business friendly and people friendly as it once was.
Commentary by Sue Forde
Recent Comments