March 22nd - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 68

Just another example of the different feel this Legislative Session has, there were a lot of committee meetings cancelled this week and there have been several"work sessions” scheduled for next week. I had no committee work today, so I’m working through some budgetary issues. I’m looking forward to seeing Molly and Tiffany tonight … it’s been a long week.

The revenue forecast this week was mixed, so it will be interesting to see what kind and how many tax increases the House Democrat Majority bring forward in the coming weeks. The fact remains the same; the taxpayers of Washington State do not need to send more money to Olympia. The Legislature must return to the Priorities of Government and prioritize spending based on the Constitution.

I hope everyone has a great weekend.

March 13th - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 59

After several long days, House of Origin Cutoff is here. We’re still watching 1588 very closely and it sounds like at least a couple of key Democrats are still pushing to run it. We’re also asking Speaker Chopp to run HB 1771, Drones … please call the Speakers Office and ask him to run this important piece of Legislation.

I really want to thank everyone for all their hard work ... please keep it up.

January 15th - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 2

After an hour and a half of pomp and circumstance, Governor Gregoire's final State of the State Address has begun. Here we go ….

After acknowledging all the international businesses in Washington and identifying the great diversity across the state, the Governor reported the State of Washington State is"strong”. Unfortunately, the state of businesses and property owners in Washington is not strong.

The Governor touted the increased funding to K-12 education over the last eight years … wait, I thought we’ve been cutting that. It was a nice acknowledgement by the Governor that simply throwing more money at K-12 education won’t fix it. Oh wait, now the Governor says we have to fully fund a seamless K-12/Higher Ed program. Which one is it?

The Governor says"over the last two years we have funded the largest transportation construction plan in Washington’s history” … but we need more money? Folks, we need to spend transportation money on transportation projects, not environmental compliance.

#"state #of #the #state" #Gregoire #Rep #David #Taylor
https://chumly.com/n/196a8d3

January 15th - 2013 Regular Legislative Session Day 2

Greetings all, I will once again be responding to the Governor's State of the State Address live ... stay tuned!

#state #of #the #state #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
https://chumly.com/n/1969cda

January 14, 2013

In his speech accepting the election as Speaker Pro Tempore of the House of Representatives, Rep. Moeller just said"we must live within our means.” I guess that means Rep Moeller will be voting NO on any attempt by the Majority to raise taxes.

#Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District #WA #House #of #Representatives
https://chumly.com/n/19621cd

January 2, 2013

"That the people have a right to keep and bear arms; that a well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defence of a free state; that standing armies, in time of peace, are dangerous to liberty, and therefore ought to be avoided, as far as the circumstances and protection of the community will admit; and that, in all cases, the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power." --Recommended Bill of Rights from the Virginia Ratifying Convention, 1778

#Bill #of #Rights #keep #and #bear #arms #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #DIstrict
https://chumly.com/n/191b703

2012 Regular Legislative Session Day 50

I had a fairly good weekend in Olympia. I started reading The Love Dare and The Resolution on Sunday, both are great books thus far and a real eye opener for my many short-comings. I went and watched Act of Valor last night ... holy cow, great movie. God bless the men and women protecting this great Nation.

We’re on the House Floor this afternoon. We don’t have any indication on how late we’re going to go tonight, so it could be a very long day. Stay tuned.

#Olympia #House #Floor #Act #of #Valor #The #Resolution #Love #Dare #Fireproof #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
http://chumly.com/n/1116eaa

Emergency Alert

Folks, we need your help in Olympia as soon as possible. Please contact your Legislators and ask your friends to contact their Legislators to ask them to oppose HB 1755. HB 1755 relates to the humane treatment of dogs. Do not let the bill title fool you, this is a terrible bill.

Here's a link to the bill. Please read and start contacting people you know.

apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2011-12/Pdf/Bil...House Bills/1755-S.pdf

Here's a link ... the humane treatment of dogs

#HB #1775 #humane #treatment #of #dogs #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
http://chumly.com/n/107d9a2

2012 Regular Legislative Session Day 2

Back at it for the second day of session. We're getting ready to listen to the Governor's State of the State address ... should be interesting. The State of the State address has begun and so will my editorial comments ...

"Challenges and opportunities" ... What does that mean Governor? Is the challenge passing an increased tax or is it an opportunity to raise taxes?

"The system isn't broken" ... Really? I don't even know how to respond to this.

"We must, we can and we will come out ahead" ... Not with the current tax and spend mindset in Olympia.

"It's now up to us, over the next 60-days I ask you to do four things:
1. Pass a budget quickly;
2. Pass a $500 million dollar sales tax increase;
3. Pass my school reforms; and
4. Pass a Transportation and Jobs package."
... ok, this one is a little difficult to respond to. I agree we need to pass the budget quickly, but not through a $500 million tax increase or an $.11 gas tax increase and definitely not through maintaining the status quo.

"Wall Street handed us this mess" ... Seriously? I think the ever increasing spending put us into this mess. Let's not forget that Washington State is still projected to receive $1.7 billion more revenue that the 2009-11 budget.

"We've already cut $10.5 billion over the past few years" ... And those are only cuts to what the majority WANTED to spend. To repeat, we're spending $1.7 billion more in this budget then the last.

"We must address our own education gaps" ... wow, the hypocrisy of the statement. Governor, if you want to address education gaps, why are you proposing to cut Levy Equalization?

"Let's create jobs now" ... Agreed! Let's repeal the GMA, let's cut taxes, let's increase local control, and let's pass some real regulatory reform.

"I ask you to pass a $1.50 barrel tax on all oil produced in Washington" ... translation, the Governor wants to increase the cost of gas on all citizens. Wait, we refine oil in Washington, but we don't produce any oil.

"Fight discrimination ... it's time to for marriage equality". Facing a budget crisis, cuts to education and serious unemployment, but the Governor's priority is gay marriage. Enough said.

Now it's my turn. Governor, it's time education get's the first dollar, not the last and it's time to pass some real regulatory reforms to get Washington working again.

#Governor #State #of #the #State #gay #marriage #Washington #reform #regulatory #education #15th #District #Rep #David #Taylor
http://chumly.com/n/f5766e

2011 2nd Special Legislative Session Day 10

Just finished a two hour brainstorming session with Rep Shelly Short, Rep Matt Seha and Rep Jason Overstreet. I think we came up with some really great ideas, but, more importantly, we were able to bounce all ideas off each other. I'm trying to get my office set up now, but Steph is out sick and she won't let me decorate my office without her direct input. :-)

Got a call this morning and now have a new project to work on. The Departmet of Ecology has released their new Fish Consumption Rates, Technical Support Document. Another opportunity to give DOE a hard time ... This should be fun.

I worked through the Governor's Priorities of Government for Natural Resource Agencies today and am amazed to see how much redundancy is built into those budgets. Time to start cutting or reprioritizing their budgets.

#Priorities #of #Government #Ecology #fish #consumption #rates #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
https://chumly.com/n/e7ec74

2011 2nd Special Legislative Session Day 8

Another fun-tactic day in Olympia. We actually took our first vote today or, as I like to say, I had my first opportunity to vote no this special session. We've actually be caucusing most of the day and have started through our own Priorities of Government excercise. I'm really happy we're going through the process to identify what core services should be provided by the state.

#Olympia #Priorities #of #Government #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
https://chumly.com/n/e7277e

2011 Legislative Session

Day 48 - Today was a real grind ... 10 hours on the House Floor debating and voting on legislation. We were able to grab some lunch at noon, which was nice, but otherwise it was a long day. No session tomorrow (Sunday) which should make for a relaxing day, but we'll be back at it Monday morning at 10:00 AM running the Suspension Calendar. I wasn't able to get home again this weekend and next weekend is up in the air as well. I miss the family and my dogs!

Next week looks to be very busy ... Monday, March 7th is the House of Origin cutoff which means all House bills which are not NTIB must be voted out by that night. There are a lot of bills sitting in the Rules Committee, which could make for a long week of late nights. We got some really great amendments for many of the Democrats bad bills, which always makes floor debate a fun time.

 #15th  #District  #Rep  #David  #Taylor  #House  #of  #Origin  #cutoff
http://chum.ly/n/70f0cb

2011 Legislative Session

Day 2 - Another busy day. The Governor gave her State of the State address today. She hit on a lot of Republican talking points and sounded like she will be willing to consider our ideas this year. The proof will come later this session, so we'll see. Tomorrow ... more meetings! I've got several bills introduced and am waiting for hearing dates.

 #David  #Taylor  #15th  #District  #Rep  #State  #of  #the  #State
http://chum.ly/n/5b6a28