2011 First Special Legisative Session

You just got to check this out. Our Minority Leader Rep Richard DeBolt absolutely kicked some serious butt with his comments. Enjoy!
http://chumly.com/n/92d011

2011 First Special Legislative Session

Day 30 Update 2 - Well we're still here. After a flurry of activity this morning ... passage of 5 bills before lunch ... we're finally back at work debating bill #6 for the day.

It often goes unnoticed, not reported or otherwise outside of the public's eye, but I want everyone to know how hard the House Republican Caucus worked this year. When the other three caucuses were willing to negotiate their various interests away, it was my Caucus that held the line. We stayed united throughout the process, which gave our negotiators the power they needed to negotiate in the best interest of the people of Washington. When none of the other three Caucuses wanted to release a proposed budget to the public, it was my Caucus that proposed a budget that prioritized spending to K-12 education, public health and public safety and didn't rely on onetime funding or budget gimmics to balance. I can't express how proud I am of these folks or how honored I am to be a small part of this team.

We've been on the House Floor almost 22 out of the last 31 hours and we're all getting tired. Never fear, we will fight until the very end.

#HOuse #Republican #Caucus #budget #K-12 #education #public #safety #health #15th #District #Rep #David #Taylor
http://chumly.com/n/92bf80

2011 First Special Legislative Session

Day 30 Update - State debt statutory limit ... done, cash portion of the Capital Budget ... done, bond portion of the Capital Budget ... done. Now we're looking at increasing document recording fees by another $10 for low-income and homeless housing assistance. We challenged whether the bill is a tax or a fee, but of course the Democrat Majority ruled it a fee. Interestingly, the liberal 9th Circuit Court once ruled ... "no amount of semantic sophistry can undermine the obvious; a non-negotiable mandatory payment into the state treasury for unrestricted use, is a TAX" (emphasis added)

#Tax #fee #capital #budget #9th #circuit #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
http://chumly.com/n/92addf

2011 First Special Legislative Session

Day 30 - The end is near ... in theory anyway! We're evenly split in the Caucus as to whether or not we'll get out of here today. My bet is we're here until Friday, but others believe we'll get put of here sometime late tonight or tomorrow morning. Guess we'll have to wait and see. We worked until midnight last night and are already back on the House Floor this morning. It's going to be a long day!

#Sine #die #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
http://chumly.com/n/929d65

2011 First Special Legislative Session

Day 29 Update 3 - So now we're actually debating a tax increase! Seriously, what is it the Democrat Majority didn't understand about the voters turning down several tax increases last November? Anyone see the movie "The Crazies"? I think I'm living it right now.

#Crazies #tax #increase #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
http://chumly.com/n/9267ad

2011 First Special Legislative Session

Day 29 Update 2 - So the Governor and House Democrat Majority gave us a list of 12 bills we need to pass to get the session over with ... the latest run list includes 5 bills, but only one is on the "go home" list. NICE! Tonight will be a late one for us. We broke at 6:00 PM for dinner until 7:00 and at 8:50 PM we are finally debating bills. Even better! What an incredible waste of time and money!

#Day #29 #legislation #bill #go #home #Rep #David #Taylor #15th #District
http://chumly.com/n/9263db

2011 First Special Legislative Session

Day 29 Update - We're about to begin debating the 2011-13 Operating Budget. Did you know 41% of all the budget cuts are to Education? Did you know that teachers and support staff will receive a 1.9% pay cut? Did you know that the Department of Ecology's budget is only cut by 3.5%? Did you know public safety is being jeopardized through the reduction of 86 Community Corrections Officers and approximately 2,100 fewer offenders on active supervision (offenders guilty of sexual misconduct with a minor 2, custodial sexual misconduct 2, communication with a minor for immoral purposes, failure to register as a sex offender, etc.)? Did you know the budget pushes $120 million education expenditures to something called a "25th Month"? Did you know the budget offers zero long-term systemic changes to the way government does business?

#Operating #budget #15th #District #Rep #David #Taylor
http://chumly.com/n/924b99