A long time ago, when BD first started out... Well, things were different. A lot has changed, but one of the first things BD did was call for the elimination of the Supermajority. We talked about it a lot.

Hopefully, it helped get other people talking. And then they told two people, and they told two people... blah blah blah. And, a little over a week ago, Washington State, a state in which education is the constitutionally mandated first priority of government, finally put school funding on the same footing as politicians, propositions, presidents (well, most of them) and stadiums (oopss... again, most of them).

I always thought that ending the supermajority was one of the biggest steps that Washington State could take in making real, structural change towards a more equatable and prosperous future.

And, I always thought that the bigger issue, and the one that should be tackled next, is the elimination of the sales tax and the implementation of a progressively indexed income tax. Once again, it means a change to the state consitution. And, once again, the fight will have to be waged over several years to convince people that this is the direction the state needs to go in.

And don't think that this can't be done... the Supermajority was never suppose to be eliminated. Horsesass.org talked about it yesterday while presenting a link from a Spokesman Review editorial. Although the description of the link is a bit misleading in my opinion (the editorial is really about how to structure a more progressive property tax system with the legislature running back into session to reinstate the 1% cap from Eyman's recently-ruled unconstitutional I-747, not about the income tax), the rumblings are starting. The Spokesman Review editorial says only this about a state-wide income tax:

Spokesman Review : Another Way (Nov 20, 2007)
Washington state's tax system... the nation's most burdensome for low-income people... An income tax would also help, but that isn't popular with voters or lawmakers.

They're right. It isn't... yet. But that's because people don't necessarily understand it. Just like they didn't understand the Supermajority. In my mind, one thing is for sure - any talk of implimenting an income tax must be in combination with the elimination of the sales tax. People of this state will never agree to a reduction of the sales tax in concert with the implementation of an income tax - nor should they. They will, rightfully, see that a reduction of the sales tax will mean that it can always go back up.

The sales tax must die and in its place, a more equitable, fair and easier income tax must replace it to keep moving Washington forward.

And, never fear - facts, wonky-ness, and ramblings about the income tax are going to be coming from me until it gets done.

Gary Randall and the "Faith and Freedom Network" are taking it to Washington's churches in a large scale effort to gain the signatures of at least 112,440 registered voters for Referendum 65 to qualify for the November ballot.

Referendum 65 would overturn legislation that bans discrimination based on sexual orientation. In other words, for Gary Randall "Faith and Freedom" can be translated to "Intolerance and Discrimination."

» Seattle Times

Kyle Netterfield signed the petition, an overseer at the Northshore Baptist Church.

'We have a real concern that our freedom to hold to or act upon our sincerely held religious beliefs are going to be significantly infringed,' he said.

When legislation prevents you from discriminating against other people based on your beliefs, that's wrong eh? Wow. Welcome to the churches of Washington, please leave your coats, civil rights, and sanity at the door.

Tim Eyman has an impressive list of nicknames he's received over the years. Watch Salesman. Asshat. Embezzler. Gambling Industry Hack. Now, it looks as if he wants to add bigot to that list. As Amy posted earlier, the state legislature finally made it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual preference. The Seattle Times reports Eyman waited a tasteful two-days to claim his new nickname:

Tim Eyman filed an initiative and a referendum this morning aimed at getting rid of the gay rights bill passed by the Legislature on Friday.

State law bans discrimination based on race, sex, religion, marital status, disability and other categories. The gay rights measure passed by the Legislature adds sexual orientation to that list...

"Politicians are deciding based on special interest group pressure and their own reelection calculations," Eyman said in a statement emailed to reporters. "The voters have watched this disgusting display of arrogance and selfishness for weeks."

Gov. Gregoire, in response to the news, said it best:

"It strikes me as counter to the values of the state of Washington to have an initiative now that would say to the people of the state of Washington it's ok to discriminate..."

You'd think so, Chris. But it always seemed to me that everything Tim Eyman does is counter to the values of Washington state.

Yesterday was the day, my friends. After thirty frickin' years, gays and lesbians finally have protection against discrimination in housing, employment, and insurance in Washington State, thanks to what should not have been a difficult vote for the state Senate.

Oh, but it was. State conservatives came up with all sorts of lame excuses for their bigotry and ignorance:

• Discrimination against homosexuals doesn't actually happen (then passing this bill shouldn't have been an issue, no?)
• This legislation will create unaffordable burdens for businesses (oh sure, because no one would bat an eye if someone suggested that insurance companies shouldn't have to cover, say, African-Americans because it would be "bad for the bottom line." Gays? No problem)
• Anti-discrimination legislation is the back door to gay marriage (sorry kids, wrong back door*)

Rep. Brendan Williams, D-Olympia, has proposed a measure that would ban the process of harvesting bloated livers -- known as foie gras, or 'fatty liver' -- and would ultimately remove the delicacy from state restaurants. - Seattle PI

Why is this an issue if there is no foie gras produced by farms in the state? Williams claims, "torturing an animal to make it tastier is not a proposition I support," and I can respect his personal decisions, but where is the line drawn? Is dropping a live dungeness in water torture too?

Perhaps it's the calous meat-lover in me, but does anyone else wonder if Williams assumes that all of Washington's other problems have been solved in the last session, and now he's just emptying out the closet?

State Legislators have been dusting off their gavels, robes and wigs in preperation for today's opening of the 60 day session. There are quite a few topics on the dockett for the Whigs and Torries down in Olympia, but might I suggest a pressing issue that could strongly benefit from your help and input:

The Strength and Health of Our Communities

Why you should care:

Right now, 405,000 families find themselves in a living situation that will force them to choose between food and rent.

More than 50,000 homeless individuals will seek shelter in the coming year, and will be turned away.

All of the major Housing Authorities have closed their waiting lists to those seeking affordable housing.

In the coming 5 years, the sharp increase in the costs of land and construction could cut the production of affordable housing in half.

What can we do about it this session?

HB 2418: The Home Security Fund

The below letter ran in this Sunday's joint Seattle Time/PI.

Invest the extra in a housing program
Chris McGann's Monday article, "State lawmakers to face surplus, urge to splurge," was an interesting look at the state's new fiscal outlook, but missed an important angle. Where did the money come from?

According to the Washington State Revenue Forecast Council, nearly 30 percent of the state's new revenue comes from real estate excise tax payments. The housing boom "accounts for well over half of the total change when the indirect impact of the strong housing market on spending on real estate related taxable sales is included" (W.S.R.F.C., September 2005). At the same time, more than 750,000 Washington households do not have a decent, safe and affordable place to live. It is only fair that the surplus (which was created by an unaffordable real estate market) go back to the people that the market has left behind.

The beautiful people at Music for America were awesome enough to send little me to the kickoff conference of the Progressive Legislative Action Network (PLAN) so that I could give all of you lovlies the scoop!

So. What's the plan at PLAN? See, right now, progressives like you and me are totally effed when it comes to the Federal government doing anything for us-- war for oil, oil for war, lather, rinse, repeat. But state governments? Governments in a lot of states aren't totally and paralyzingly dominated by the Republican party. So PLAN is going to use their own research, and get grassroots progressive groups (like BetterDonkey!!) together, to help rebuild a progressive future... from the states up.

Want highlights? 'Cause I've got highlights:

Evergreen Politics has a great interview with Lisa Brown Washington State's Senate Majoriy Leader. Its well worth the read.

This is where a breakdown between rural and urban voters shows up and is one of our biggest challenges as Democrats. I am the only Democratic Senator in Eastern Washington and there are only 4 Democrats from Eastern Washington and we are all from the Spokane area. There is a real decline in people in Eastern Washington who identify as Democrats and environmental legislation, particularly land use and natural resource regulation, is at the crux of that decline. This stems from the changing nature of the economy. Rural Washington used to be natural resource-based economy. That is changing and the change brings a lot of dislocation for folks. This is at the core of the differences between rural and urban voters

At this time, people often get their information and form their views based on limited sources. So they don’t see the whole story, as in the anti-tax initiative I mentioned before. There is a lot of skepticism of people in power, which is positive on the one hand but also limited. A lot of people on the street think that politicians waste their money. They ask only, “What’s in it for me?” This attitude makes it hard to govern well for the longer term. I don’t have answers, just questions.

This is not good folks:

WASHINGTON - Cities may bulldoze people's homes to make way for shopping malls or other private development, a divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday, giving local governments broad power to seize private property to generate tax revenue.

Fortunately, almost everyone seems to agree that this ruling is a terrible, terrible thing. For an excellent roundup, visit Arguing With Signposts." He tracks 56+ bog reactions accross the politcal spectrum. Interesting stuff. People on the Left and Right are PISSED.

Dave at Gristmill has a good summary on why this sucks so bad:

Yes love, I know, I am not telling you anything new when I point out that Microsoft decided that it supports gay rights after all.

Of course in reality Microsoft is sidestepping the issue just an eensy weensy bit by saying that it supports "diversity in the workplace," not anti-discrimination legislation for any specific group. Which is fine. The point is that we shouldn't discriminate against people just for being who they are, no?

But then we have Senator Val Stevens complaining that Microsoft is "overstepping:" "This is not a good place for a company the size and magnitude of Microsoft to be now," Stevens told The Associated Press. "I know it must be difficult for the employees who do not agree with their policy."

Um, Val honey, are you high? Do you really think this is a precedent-setting move on the part of any large corporation with the cash to hire lobbyists? Do you think that a multinational corporation doesn't have an interest in influencing the legislation of its home state?

A while back annemariem told you about the new clean car legislation that sailed through the state house and was on its way to the senate.

She told you to bug your senator about this bill, 'member?? Chances are you didn't, 'cause you were thinking, "Oh whatever! My senator is so not going to read my email, and anyway, I have important internet porn research to do."

I know. You are very busy. But! As Brian at WashBlog discovered, when you write your senator, your senator takes notice:

Last night, HB 1397 passed in the Senate with my vote of support. I received numerous calls, letters and e-mails regarding support of the California emission standards... and I have sincerely appreciated all of the effort made to keep me informed about its importance to everyone.... Thank you for taking the time to get involved on this important issue. I hope you will continue to be an active participant in the legislative process.

Focus with me, for a moment, on a charming bit of gay subculture: the leather daddy.

Now. These fellows are by no means representative of all gay men, but certainly of some; and while I myself am put off by the idea (leather is so... noisy and funny-smelling, don't you think?) I suspect a similar percentage of my hetero sisters and brothers love them the leather too. Perhaps I am talking about you, lovey? Hmmm??

Anyway. We're going to sit here and think leather daddy thoughts because babies, our state Democratic legislators need some of those good ass-whippin' vibes right now. As Robert L. Jamieson pointed out in his column on Monday, the Dems may be the majority party in Washington State, but their whipping skills are damned rusty. So rusty that the once and future party of civil rights can't even get all of its own people to vote for basic civil rights legislation.

Earlier this year, the legislature contemplated removing the state funded teeth from one of Washington’s most belligerent right-wing groups. Now it looks like the BIAW is thinking about retaliating, running an initiative that would make Washington a "Right to Work" State.

McCabe said the group wants to do something dramatic to retaliate against recent efforts in the Democrat-controlled Legislature that would have taken a multimillion-dollar bite out of the association and removed much of its political clout. The legislation, which appears dead for this year, was pushed hard by the Washington State Labor Council.

I don't know how well any of you have been paying attention, but the whole state budget process so far has been pretty fucking boring. Republicans want to cut social services, Democrats want to improve social services while cutting out middle management jobs in order to look "tough," blah blah blah.

Not interesting. I mean, sure, I get all stabby when I read about the GOP wanting to cut Medicaid coverage for children (you know, protect the unborn; let the born figure it out on their own!)-- but these are not fun reruns to watch.

Know what else is not fun, and also not surprising? This pansy-ass "sin tax" business that rears its flaccid head every budget cycle.

Freaking stupid, and freaking cowardly. Yes, truly, Washington State has big ugly budget gaps. Enormous painful open budget sores. It is really the scab-picking twitching meth head of state budgets. But the Democrats, with all that crazy power they've got in this state, are still too scared to do anything that would really make a difference, like propose a state income tax. For instance. Instead, in order to close those oozing wounds, they decide to raise the taxes on liquor and cigarettes.

The Seattle Times is reporting that, the gay rights bill, which has been rejected annually in the state legislator for almost the last 30 years, is very close to passing. Will this be the year that Washington joins 15 other states and legally protect homosexuals from discrimination? Time will tell.

You might, dear reader, remember my earlier rant regarding one state Senator's plot to divide the state in two. You might also remember that I thought it a load of poo-poo.

Well. Joel Connelly of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer shares my view... though he manages to express it without using words like poo-poo or making personal anatomical references.

Whatever. Everyone has their faults.

Do you know why it is that I am your bestest, bestest friend? Is it my wit? My dance moves? My penchant for stuffing vodka minis into my bra and smuggling them into hockey games? All of these things are important, sure, but I think you and I would both agree that the reason we are so BFF is that

I read legislation so that you don't have to.

For real. I do it. I read the text of bills. And then I tell you about them. I do all the work, and you reap all the benefits!! Maybe you should be smuggling in the minis next time.

But anyway. I'll bet you've noticed, because you are just that aware, that there has been a lot of talk around town recently about major street construction projects. You know, like the Alaskan Way Viaduct, a two-way Mercer, Mayor Nickels' unfunded sidewalk construction pipe dream? That stuff. Well, what no one mentions during the fights over these big price tag projects is that Seattle is-- conservative estimate-- a good 30 years behind on transportation infrastructure improvements. SDOT does what it can, but there is just not the money available to maintain what we've got.

You know what's awesome??? I mean, besides Reading Rainbow??? What's awesome is when your government wants you to get involved, and then tells you how to do it.

The Washington State Legislature has a whole section on its website devoted to empowering YOU. The Guide to Effective Participation tells you everything you need to know about following bills, contacting your legisators, and lobbying them effectively (read: bending them to your will).

So in every other post I write, I say something about how you should read up on a bill or contact your legislator. But you don't have to take my word for it-- read the website yourself!!

A lot of you probably don’t know this, but one of most successful/powerful rightwing groups in Washington State is the BIAW (Building Industry Association of Washington). This group is flush with cash and has not been afraid to use it.

Who is this group and how did they get so powerful you ask?

Well according to their website,

Building Industry Association of Washington exists to unite those in the building industry in Washington state in their fight against a government that has made this industry among the most regulated in the nation.

Where do they get their money?

Well believe it or not, the State of Washington gives it to them. It all has to so with the Department of Labor & Industries Retrospective Rating Program. It allows employers to get back some of the money they spend for workers compensation insurance if they reduce the number of claims (i.e. improve worker safety). While in concept this law makes a tremendous about of sense, a loophole has allowed the BIAW to skim an estimated $5 million from rebates in 2004 alone.

The BIAW then used this money in their effort to overturn the State's ergonomics law, to run a very large and aggressive campaign against Democratic candidates (they were Dino Rossi's biggest funder), and to undermine workers rights (one of their larger goals is to break up unions by making Washington a right to work state).

What is truly ironic about this situation is that in Washington worker, many of whom are union, help pay for their workers compensation insurance, so in effect union workers are helping to pay for their bosses to fight their union.

Anyway, I bring all this up, because the the folks over at Evergreen Politics alerted me to the fact that

There is now a bill in the House, HB1875, that would impose limits on how refunds could be used, barring most of the political lobbying the BIAW has been doing. A companion bill has also been filed in the Senate. Conway and Fromhold are the prime sponsors. A hearing was just held on the House version (see TVW for the stream), and I would say the chances for the bill are not great unless the Dems hear more from everybody about what a danger a retro-funded BIAW is and will be to just about everything Washington progressives care about.