Then again, I was kind of hoping for a 2/3 Public Vote Reauthorization for all Tax Giveaways (Stadiums, free roads, etc) and Tax Exemptions (where your tax dollars are going to give free limo rides on tolled roads to millionaires and billionaires who avoid paying taxes).
I read a while back that the State Supreme Court gave the Legislature an out several years ago by saying that the Court would not interfere with internal procedural matters. That is to say, all the House and Senate have to do is say that, as a matter of procedure, "majority" means a simple majority of members present unless the state constitution explicitly requires a different number of votes.
But, not surprisingly, Speaker Frank Chopp and President Pro Tem Margarita Prentice are far too cowardly to take even that basic step: if measures like I-1053 could be ignored so easily, then their corporate masters would heartily disapprove.
Totally agree, Goldy. I just love the folks on the right that scream "will of the PEOPLE!" up to the point where they disagree (1163, COLAs for teachers, minimum wage, etc.). I don't mind people having opposite views, just be consistent.
Supreme @ 5: If the leadership is bad, then how does 1053 help? If you don't like your representation, then change it. Don't expect different results by electing the same people.
Ah, I see @5 is part of the self-fulfilling prophecy crowd: "We don't like to spend money on the things we expect the State to fund, but it's totally their fault they can't fund the things we want without the money we don't want to spend."
@8: Asset tax is wack, since you need to pay the tax with cash, so you're repeatedly taxed on the same thing, year after year.
What we should do is abolish property tax and institute an income tax. If you have assets and sell them, count that as income. Income is much easier to quantify. The "value of assets" is not...until you sell them.
Asset tax, schmasset tax. I'm not in the legislature and can't pass ANY tax. But the state contitution says that bills are to be passed with a majority of the votes, and if the constitution hasn't been changed, that's just the bottom line.
Get that fixed, and THEN let's discuss which taxes to impose/raise without all the ad hominem garbage.
If Gregoire wanted to do this, why didn't she do it last year? The legislative session starts in 2 days.
I think a lawsuit has already been filed. But it won't wend its way to the Supreme Court for some time (years, even), and until then, no matter what anyone (including the Governor) thinks, 1053 won't be unconstitutional. That status is only defined by an appeals court.
Then again, I was kind of hoping for a 2/3 Public Vote Reauthorization for all Tax Giveaways (Stadiums, free roads, etc) and Tax Exemptions (where your tax dollars are going to give free limo rides on tolled roads to millionaires and billionaires who avoid paying taxes).
But, not surprisingly, Speaker Frank Chopp and President Pro Tem Margarita Prentice are far too cowardly to take even that basic step: if measures like I-1053 could be ignored so easily, then their corporate masters would heartily disapprove.
Supreme @ 5: If the leadership is bad, then how does 1053 help? If you don't like your representation, then change it. Don't expect different results by electing the same people.
Fine, then pass HB2100...a tax on assets.
But see, rich Liberals don't actually want to tax themselves...they want to tax middle class people working 65 hours a week.
What we should do is abolish property tax and institute an income tax. If you have assets and sell them, count that as income. Income is much easier to quantify. The "value of assets" is not...until you sell them.
Get that fixed, and THEN let's discuss which taxes to impose/raise without all the ad hominem garbage.
I think a lawsuit has already been filed. But it won't wend its way to the Supreme Court for some time (years, even), and until then, no matter what anyone (including the Governor) thinks, 1053 won't be unconstitutional. That status is only defined by an appeals court.