Majority Rules Blog

• "Can't Keep Cutting" Washington State Budget says Representative Williams

  Representative Brendan Williams speaks out in his latest Legislative Update about the need to "invest" in our state. He argues that we can't keep cutting our state budget without killing the economic engine driving Washington State's future.
  
  Watch here and urge your state Legislator to also step up, speak' [...]
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  Posted: December 09, 2009, 11:09am EST
  

• Washington State Budget Deficit Now $2.6 Billion in the Hole

  Bad news for Washington State continues as declining tax revenues now put the state budget deficit at $2.6 billion. The November forecast by the Washington State Economic and Revenue Forecast Council projected an additional decrease of $760 million in revenue over the previous forecast.
  
  This $2.6 [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 1:56pm EST
  

• "The moral challenge of our generation"

  In advance of the December 2009 meeting in Copenhagen on climate change, the UN Environmental Program released in September a 68 page Climate Change Science Compendium. Ban Ki-moon the Secretary-General of the Unuited Nations, in the preface to the study, stated that:
  The science has become more irrevocable than ever: [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 6:45pm EST
  

• Is Congress Going to Cut Health Care Costs?

  Are there serious flaws in the approach Congress is taking on health care?  Business Week estimates that some $700 billion of heath care costs each year are wasted and believes the current reform bills don't address this problem.   They state that a new Thomson Reuters (TRI) report finds that: [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 6:10pm EST
  

• Eyman Sidekick Loses Bid for Spokane City Council

  Periodically it seems one of the taunts made to Tim Eyman has been to urge him to run for office and then see how he would deal with the reality of his tax cuts and the public demand for services. Well this year, one of his principal sidekicks, Mike Fagan of [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 11:52pm EST
  

• Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 Goes Down the Drain!

  Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 is still going down the drain by a decisive margin. The latest vote count on the Washington Secretary of State's website has it 56% NO to 44% YES. Ironically its symbolically what Grover Norquist, the national anti-tax fanatic that Eyman emulates, wanted to do with government - [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 5:06pm EST
  

• A Plethora of Blog Posts AgainstTim Eyman's Initiative 1033

  We've written quite a few posts against Tim Eyman's budget freeze Initiative 1033 over the last several months. You can check them out here:
  
  Initiative 1033 is a Freeze on Public Services
  
  Great Grassroots Video Telling the Truth About I-1033
  
  Initiative 1033 Transfers Tax [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 1:54pm EST
  

• Locations in King County to Drop off Ballots until 8 PM on Nov 3, 2009

  Here is the link to King County Elections to see a map and locations where your ballot can be dropped off today, Election Day, Nov 3, 2009 up until  8 PM.
  
  [www.kingcounty.gov]
  
  Here are the King County locations:
  
  •Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S., Auburn, 98002
  [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 12:38pm EST
  

• Latest Fundraising Totals in Seattle Races

  Campaign Disclosure Information can be found at the Washington State Public Disclosure website , as well as at the City of Seattle Ethics and Election Commission website.  You can get more detailed on these races, including who gave them money, how much and how the campaign spent it. This [...]
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  Posted: November 02, 2009, 4:20pm EST
  

• We're Number 37

  Here's a great YouTube video celebrating our position as number 37 in the world in terms of health care.
  Come on folks. It's time for a change.  Contact your Senators and Representatives and urge they act on reforming healthcare in the good ol USA.
  [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 6:43pm EST
  

• Protecting Aerospace Workers in Washington State

  An Open Letter to the Washington State Legislature:
  
  Yesterday, the Boeing Company announced that they intended to move production to South Carolina in order to have planes built by inexperienced non-union workers making an average of less than $14 per hour rather than having planes built by highly skilled [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 7:17pm EDT
  

• Democrats Ask Murray and Cantwell to Support Electronic Filing of Campaign Disclosure

  Last night the King County Democrats unamiously passed a resolution asking Washington State's two Senators to become co-sponsors of  legislation requiring US Senate candidates to join the electronic filing era of campaign disclosure.  Below is the text of the resolution:
  
  Resolution in Support of S 482 requiring electronic' [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 3:59pm EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 is a Freeze on Public Services

  Eyman is dishonest about the actual impacts of I-1033 on this state and cities and counties. Eyman is in essence proposing repealing existing taxes; he is not allowing government to function as a representative democracy but wants to impose budgeting by referendum.
  
  When the economy improves, sales tax revenues [...]
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  Posted: October 29, 2009, 2:51pm EDT
  

• Onion Alert: Morons March on Washington State

  For a little levity here's the link to a humorous Onion article out of Olympia, Washington entitled Nation's Morons March on Washington State.   
  
  Note:
  Ccontrary to what you might initially think, this article is not about Tim Eyman or the teabaggers that gathered in Olympia in the [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 12:27pm EDT
  

• Great Grassroots Video Telling the Truth About I-1033

  Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 will be bad for Washington State.  Lynn Allen of Rebuilding Democracy has put together a great video summing up the arguments against I-1033.
  
  Please forward this video to others. And urge everyone to vote and vote no on I-1033. We need to defeat I-1033. ' [...]
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  Posted: October 26, 2009, 11:10am EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 Transfers Tax Burden onto Lower Income Taxpayers

  Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 points out the difficulty of trying to write complex legislation and budget by initiative. Tax and budget issues are not simple and most people do not understand our tax and revenue system
  
  Eyman proposes to freeze government services at this year's level and transfer any [...]
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  Posted: October 25, 2009, 3:21pm EDT
  

• A Better Way to Help Struggling Working Families than I-1033

  Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 claims to be helping "struggling working families and fixed income senior citizens" pay their property taxes.  Instead it is a wealth transfer scheme that takes sales taxes and other fees and uses them to only pay property taxes. It results in a tax shift putting even' [...]
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  Posted: October 24, 2009, 11:31am EDT
  

• Are You Ready to Play a Game of TimCity 2009?

  Tim Eyman has devised a new real life version of a popular game which he is calling TimCity 2009. Its rules are rather bizarre, but you had better read them now and decide if you like them, because Tim's Rules will become binding unless you vote NO on Initiative 1033.[...]
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  Posted: October 16, 2009, 11:05am EDT
  

• Washington State on Path to Dysfunctional Government?

  The Chief Justice of the California Supreme Court this past weekend denounced his state's overuse of the referendum process, stating that it has made California's state government "dysfunctional".
  
  Similarities in the issues he raises arise with repeated Eyman initiatives, like I-1033, here in Washington State.
  
  As [...]
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  Posted: October 13, 2009, 6:02pm EDT
  

• No on 1033 Releases first TV Ads

  Press release today from No on 1033 Campaign.
  
  No on 1033 releases first ads of general election
  Ads highlight how I-1033 would impact seniors, classrooms, students
  
  (Seattle, WA) – The No on 1033 campaign today released the first two television ads of the state’s 2009 general election. The [...]
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  Posted: October 06, 2009, 2:11pm EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 is Recycled Discredited Trickle Down Theory

  Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 is recycled, discredited trickle down economics mumble jumbo. He is pushing an economic theory that has no legs. I-1033 both proposes to cut state and local spending by freezing budgets and doing a complex tax redistribution scheme to use sales tax dollars and fees collected' [...]
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  Posted: October 05, 2009, 12:09pm EDT
  

• Washington State Democrats Oppose Initiative 1033 and Support Referendum 71

  Last weekend the Washington State Democratic Central Committee had a quarterly meeting in Walla Walla. They passed resolutions opposing Tim Eyman's budget freeze Initiative 1033 and supporting passing Referendum 71. Both measures are on the November 3rd, 2009 ballot.
  
  The No on 1033 resolution noted that the Democrats are' [...]
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  Posted: October 02, 2009, 6:31pm EDT
  

• The Joke is Eyman's Initiative 1033

  Tim Eyman tries to make a joke of the concerns of people opposed to Initiative 1033. People opposed to I-1033 are concerned that Eyman's budget freeze proposal will costs jobs in the state, cut health care and human services, reduce funding for educating our kids, increase costs to go to' [...]
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  Posted: October 01, 2009, 12:50pm EDT
  

• Initiative 1033's Fatal Flaw

  Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 does not give "refunds to taxpayers". It is much more complicated than that. It is a wealth redistribution scheme that shifts tax burden onto lower income folks to benefit just those that own property.
  
  Under I-1033, sales taxes and other fees will still be the' [...]
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  Posted: September 30, 2009, 11:28am EDT
  

• No on I-1033 Officially Kicks off Campaign officially

  Last Thursday the No on I-1033 officially kicked off its campaign. Over 160 organizations have now come out against Eyman's latest anti-tax, anti government measure that proposes to freeze state and local spending at this year's level. It is copied from a similar measure that Colorado voters recently suspended [...]
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  Posted: September 28, 2009, 2:06pm EDT
  

• No on Initiative 1033 Campaign Releases Video on Colorado's Experience

  Tim Euyman's Budget Freeze Initiative 1033 is a clone of a Colorado measure. It was a mistake and is not an experiment we need to repeat here. Watch the new campaign video below from the No on 1033 campaign to see how Colorado voters feel about their mistake now.
  [...]
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  Posted: September 25, 2009, 2:17pm EDT
  

• The Hidden Agenda to Radically Change Representative Government and Our Tax System in Eyman's Initiative 1033

  Voters beware. You're advised to read Initiative 1033 before you vote. It is not as simple a measure as Tim Eyman wants you to believe it is.
  
  Initiative 1033 proposes to radically alter our system of local control of government for our 39 counties and 281 cities in Washington' [...]
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  Posted: September 25, 2009, 10:25am EDT
  

• Realtors Vote to Oppose Eyman's Budget Freeze Initiative 1033

  As reported by the Kitsap Sun today, The Washington Association of Realtors came out today in opposition to Tim Eyman's Budget Freeze Initiative 1033. The Realtors noted in their press release that:
  

  "Initiative 1033 poses a threat to the quality of Washington schools, roads and other infrastructure, and basic'" [...]

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  Posted: September 25, 2009, 9:45pm EDT
  

• Tim Eyman Thinks Voters Are Dumb

  Think about it. Tim Eyman thinks voters are dumb. His current proposal, Initiative 1033 on this November's ballot, wants to abolish local control of the budget process for not just the state but all 39 counties and all 281 cities. It's because he doesn't think you're smart enough to elect [...]
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  Posted: September 24, 2009, 11:46pm EDT
  

• Ingraham High School Remand to DPD Victory for Public Process

  Save the Trees-Seattle scored another victory in their battle to stop the Seattle School District from needlesssly destroying part of an uncommon plant habitat at Ingraham High. In their second appeal hearing before the Seattle Hearing Examiner, they again got a remand of the project proposal back to the Seattle [...]
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  Posted: September 15, 2009, 2:05pm EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 Will Dig Us Deeper Into Recession Economics

  Eyman's Initiative 1033 will dig us deeper into recession economics over the coming years. In a newly released policy brief by the Washington Research Council on Initiative 1033, details are provided on the serious negative impacts of I-1033 over the next several budget cycles.
  
  Eyman likes to talk' [...]
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  Posted: September 14, 2009, 3:06pm EDT
  

• What's Wrong With Eyman's Initiative 1033?

  What's wrong with Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 which is on this November's Washington State ballot? Plenty. It a complex measure that proposes radical changes in our form of representative government and in our state's tax policies.
  
  We are in a recession and Tim Eyman is proposing that state and [...]
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  Posted: September 11, 2009, 11:52am EDT
  

• A Better Alternative to Help Struggling Property Owners than Initiative 1033

  Tim Eyman's I-1033 purports to help property owners pay property taxes. A big question of course is who should we help. Should we help everyone pay their property taxes - like people who own a second home and/or corporations like Boeing that owns property?
  
  Or should we help those [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 3:08pm EDT
  

• Kemper Freeman's Shortsighted $25,000 Contribution to Eyman's Initiative 1033

  The Seattle Times today gives prominent front page coverage to Kemper Freeman's long range plans at Bellevue Square. The article is in response to the opening of the upscale "The Shops at the Braven" only a few blocks away from Bellevue Square. A Neiman Marcus store is one of [...]
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  Posted: September 09, 2009, 1:15pm EDT
  

• A warning on Initiative 1033 from California

  In an article by Peter Schrag about California in 1996 we get this following warning on approving Eyman style measures that put unnecessary restrictions on representative government:
  
  "...ever since the passage of Proposition 13, the mother of all latter-day tax revolts, in June 1978, the state has been locked" [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 8:29pm EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 Cuts $7.7 Billion From Public Services by 2015

  Tim Eyman's 1033 would cut public services by Washington State and its counties and cities by some $8.7 billion over the first 5 years it is in effect. This is on top of current cuts due to the recession we are in.
  
  Because I-1033 would freeze public services at' [...]
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  Posted: September 07, 2009, 12:45am EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 - Abolishing Local Contro of Ciies and Counties

  Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 would wreck havoc on the idea of local control of cities and counties. Tim Eyman's one size fits all measure would remove the authority of Washington State cities and towns to control their budgets and spending.
  
  It would impose Tim Eyman's legislative priority that the' [...]
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  Posted: September 06, 2009, 7:06pm EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 -Eyman's Sugar Coated Poison Pill

  I-1033's goal is to freeze government spending, that's the poison pill Eyman's hiding. Giving voters the illusion that they’re going to see some reduction in property taxes is the sugar coating covering this goal that he hopes will induce voter's to unknowingly swallow the poison pill.
  
  Eyman's fear mongering [...]
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  Posted: September 03, 2009, 12:33pm EDT
  

• Renters Beware! Eyman's Initiative 1033 Will Rip You Off.

  A little known fact about Eyman's Initiative 1033 is that renters are the big losers under the initiative. The big winner's will be large property owners and corporations and businesses that own property.
  
  Why renters lose is that they will not see a reduction in sales taxes or other [...]
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  Posted: September 02, 2009, 11:00am EDT
  

• Eyman's I-1033 Says Paying Corporate Property Taxes More Important than Educating State's Children

  Initiative 1033 on this November's ballot is Tim Eyman's clone of a failed Colorado measure. It proposes to freeze state and local government programs permanently by limiting the growth of tax revenue to the current year's spending plus a slight adjustment for inflation.
  
  Any money over this year's spending [...]
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  Posted: September 01, 2009, 5:10pm EDT
  

• Is Unfettered Corporate "Free Speech" Coming to a Campaign Near You.

  Federal law currently prohibits the spending of corporate money in Federal elections. Many states also prohibit the spending of corporate money in state elections. But this could all change soon as the US Supreme Court is considering overturning the ban on corporate money in elections put in place over 100 [...]
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  Posted: August 30, 2009, 4:40pm EDT
  

• Looking for Members to Join the new Seattle Urban Forestry Commission

  Yesterday it was announced that the Seattle Mayor and Seattle City Council are seeking members for the newly created Urban Forestry Commission. The press release, a fact sheet, and the ordinance establishing the Commission can be found here:
  
  [www.seattle.gov]
  
  Anyone interested in serving on the Commission should [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2009, 5:30pm EDT
  

• Honor Senator Edward Kennedy by Passing Health Care Reform

  The best way to honor Edward Kennedy's life and serrvice to America is to pass health care reform in his name.
  
  Here's a petition by Wired for Change;
  
  PETITION TO THE SENATE: "Ted Kennedy was a courageous champion for health care reform his entire life. In his" [...]
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  Posted: August 26, 2009, 4:07pm EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 Offers Taxpayers Free Lunch

  No one likes to pay taxes but it is how we fund public services. And who wouldn't like to get a break on your property taxes as I-1033 proposes. Yet beware, there is no free lunch.
  
  I-1033 basically proposes to freeze government services. Government will not grow under I-1033' [...]
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  Posted: August 21, 2009, 2:46pm EDT
  

• Seattle Mayor Nickels Not Picking Up Votes in Latest Count

  The election results released by King County Elections at 4:08 PM today August 19, 2009 did not bring good news for Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels. He actually received the least votes of the 3 candidates battling for the 2 seats in the General Election.
  
  Joe Mallahan picked up 4725 [...]
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  Posted: August 19, 2009, 5:24pm EDT
  

• King County Election Results - Tuesday Evening

  King County Elections posted at 9:52 PM the last results for today of ballots that were received through Tuesday in the mail and in person polling today at its three locations. The next results will be at 4:30 PM on Wednesday.
  
  It is going to be a bad night [...]
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  Posted: August 19, 2009, 11:25pm EDT
  

• Seattle City Council Races Sorting Out in First Election Results

  The three Seattle City Council races are sorting out in the first results from King County Elections being released at 8:03 PM. Because this is an all mail in ballot, final results may take a while to sort out in position 8 but the trends are pretty clear in [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 8:37pm EDT
  

• Seattle Mayor Nickels in Trouble in First Election Returns

  The first Election returns from King County Elections shows a three way tie for Seattle Mayor. Greg Nickels the incumbent is actually in third place. Michael McGinn is at the top right now with 26.56%. Joe Mallahan is in second place with 25.81%. Greg Nickels is third with 25.05%.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 8:22pm EDT
  

• Former CIGNA PR Executive Details Insurance Company Strategy Against Health Care Reform

  Wendell Potter is the former Head of Communications for CIGNA Corporation - one of the largest health insurers in the US. Over on Common Dreams.org he now writes about how the health insurance industry has worked to sabotage health care reform for years.
  
  Here are some of his [...]
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  Posted: August 18, 2009, 1:22pm EDT
  

• King County Elections Last Minute Voting Help for August 18, 2009 Primary

  King County Elections has issued the following press release detailing special Saturday hours, other last minute opportunities to vote, get a duplicate ballot or deal with other problems:
  
  King County Elections News Release
  
  Date: August 14, 2009
  Contact: Kim Van Ekstrom, 206-296-1552
  
  Megan Coppersmith, 206-296-2796
  
  Elections [...]
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  Posted: August 14, 2009, 3:44pm EDT
  

• Watch Video on Why I-1033 Would be Bad for Washington State

  Initiative 1033 is Tim Eyman's Washington State version of Colorado's TABOR law (Taxpayers Bill of Rights). It's been a dismal failure. It has permanently decreased Colorado's level of basic services by using the same inflation plus population growth limits. Voter's recently put the measure on hold to try to undo [...]
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  Posted: August 13, 2009, 2:32pm EDT
  

• Primary Endorsements by Majority Rules Blog

  The August 18th 2009 Primary is fast approaching in King County. Having been to a number of campaign events and having tracked election issues and candidates here are my recommendations on some of the candidates worthy of being given your vote. I am active in Democratic politics and progressive politics [...]
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  Posted: August 12, 2009, 5:30pm EDT
  

• www.WhiteHouse.gov/Reality Check - Obama's "Secret" Healthcare Website

  The media seems to be working overtime to keep the new Obama "Reality Check" website on health care secret. We're publishing it up front so you can see it for yourself. Its www.WhiteHouse.gov/RealityCheck .
  
  But read the print edition of the Seattle Times. today. Nowhere does it publish' [...]
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  Posted: August 11, 2009, 1:55pm EDT
  

• Approve the Bag Fee says Seattle Times

  The Seattle Times recommends that Seattle voters approve Referendum 1. Referendum 1, on the August 18, 2009 Primary ballot would impose a 20 cent fee on both paper and plastic bags sold at large grocery stores, drugstores and convenience stores.
  
  The Seattle Times notes that it is "a" [...]
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  Posted: August 10, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
  

• Republican Naysayers Present Challenge to Democrats on Health Care Reform

  Politics is a rough and tumble contact sport and health care reform is no exception. Republicans and conservatives are rallying their right wing base and trying to change the outcome by confrontational tactics. Do Democrats and Progressives have what it takes to fight back? Do they have the tenacity to [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 1:20pm EDT
  

• Why I-1033 Limits on Spending Growth Won't Work

  Colorado has had the experience of living under the growth limits on government spending that Tim Eyman is proposing with I-1033 . The Colorado measure was called the Taxpayer Bill of Rights or TABOR. It was passed by Colorado voters in 1992 as a constitutional amendment and placed strict limits [...]
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  Posted: August 07, 2009, 12:12am EDT
  

• Seattle School Board Candidates Mostly Low Profile and Low Fundraising.

  Three Seattle School Board seats are up for election this year and two seats have Primary Elections. The School District has an odd hybrid electoral system where candidates run in a district in the Primary and city wide in the General Election.
  
  Seattle School Board President Michael DeBell is [...]
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  Posted: August 06, 2009, 9:38pm EDT
  

• Seattle City Council Acts to Protect Urban Tree Canopy

  The following press release was issued today by the Seattle City Council after they voted on two measures to increase tree protection in Seattle.
  
  Council approves new tree protection guidelines Implementation begins in 2010, establishes an Urban Forestry Commission
  
  SEATTLE – The City Council today unanimously passed [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 11:15pm EDT
  

• Seattle City Council Creates Urban Forestry Commission

  The Seattle City Council today unamiously passed by 8-0 votes two measures designed to help protect Seattle's urban forest. The two measures were Resolution 31138 to improve City tree policies sponsored by Councilmember Conlin and Ordinance 116577 to create an Urban Forestry Commission that was sponsored by Nick [...]
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  Posted: August 04, 2009, 11:00pm EDT
  

• Eyman Continues to Use Erroneous Information to Support I-1033 Overtaxed Rant

  Part of the impetus behind Initiative 1033 according to Tim Eyman is his repeated rant that Washington State is overburdened with State and Local Taxes. Hence his claim that Washington State is 8th highest in terms of tax burden. He cites a recent Forbes magazine article as [...]
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  Posted: August 02, 2009, 4:18pm EDT
  

• So How Would You Spend $1,431,259?

  Over the next 18 days the American Chemistry Council will finish spending all of it's $1,431,259 against Referendum 1. Referendum 1 is a measure to charge a 20 cent fee for throwaway bags at large stores in Seattle in an attempt to reduce waste and pollution.
  
  According to [...]
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  Posted: August 01, 2009, 11:11pm EDT
  

• WashPIRG Supports Creation of Consumer Financial Protection Agency

  WashPIRG Explains “Game-Changer” Proposal To Reinstate Federal Financial Laws As Pro-Consumer Floor - Letter Shows Bankers Prefer “Failed Business As Usual System” --
  
  Seattle, WA, July, 27 2009 – At the epicenter of the worldwide financial collapse was a lack of consumer protection that can best be remedied [...]
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  Posted: July 28, 2009, 11:56am EDT
  

• Mayor Nickels Supports Urban Forestry Commission

  The Seattle City Council is currently in the process of passing legislation to create an Urban Forestry Commission. A bill introduced by Councilmember Nick Licata is currently before the City's Environment Committee for a vote. It is expected to pass this afternoon and go before the full Council for a [...]
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  Posted: July 28, 2009, 11:14am EDT
  

• Are Thowaway Bags Something to Get Worked up About?

  On August 18, 2009 Seattle voters will have a chance to make a change in the way our society deals with thowaway bags. Will we be in the forefront of change or do we not have time to be bothered by the seemingly trivial issue? Will a $1 million advertising [...]
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  Posted: July 26, 2009, 7:48pm EDT
  

• Did Eyman Forget to Turn in all His Petitions for Initiative 1033?

  I guess its time for another Eyman Initiative 1033 grassroots joke. In two separate comment threads over on Crosscut on Initiative 1033 Tim Eyman makes the following statement:
  
  "out of 48,148 supporters who were mailed a I-1033 petition in February, an extraordinary 34,588 sent back a" [...]
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  Posted: July 26, 2009, 4:47pm EDT
  

• List Growing of Organizations Opposing Initiative 1033

  The list is growing of organizations opposing Eyman's Initiative 1033 which will be on the November 2009 ballot. I-1033 is Eyman's latest attempt to impose his Orwellian view of hogtying and limiting state, county and local government spending by ratcheting down revenues available every time there is a recession.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: July 24, 2009, 12:55pm EDT
  

• Campaign Against Seattle Bag Fee Tops $1 Million Dollars

  It's Plastics. For those who remember Dustin Hoffman in The Graduate it's definitely plastics as to where the money is. Last Friday the American Chemistry Council dropped $500,000 into it's Stop the Bag Tax campaign. And a day ago they added another $300,000.
  
  Except for $10,000 from Seven - [...]
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  Posted: July 23, 2009, 12:18am EDT
  

• Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 Overtaxed Hoax

  Washington's state and local tax burden last year was ranked 35th (1 is highest) according to the conservative Tax Foundation. These figures include both state and local property taxes in their calculation.
  
  These and other figures below are taken from data available at the Tax Foundation's website [...]
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  Posted: July 22, 2009, 12:05pm EDT
  

• Waldo Woods Saved After 3 Year Battle!

  The following is a Press Release just sent out by the Maple Leaf Community Council:
  
  Maple Leaf Community Council welcomes MMSC Day School
  Historic Waldo Hospital and significant urban tree grove to be preserved
  
  
  MAPLE LEAF, SEATTLE – The Maple Leaf Community Council, an organization representing [...]
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  Posted: July 22, 2009, 11:03pm EDT
  

• Hutchison's Republican Media Consultant

  Susan Hutchison, running for King County Executive, claims she is nonpartisan.
  
  Hutchison's media firm, however, is the opposite of nonpartisan . A Google on Dresner, Wickers & Associates is unambiguous. "Dresner, Wickers & Associates is the go–to political consulting firm for Republican candidates, ballot initiatives, and major" [...]
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  Posted: July 21, 2009, 12:50pm EDT
  

• Tim Eyman's Initiative 1033 Grassroots Joke

  We all love a good joke. Tim Eyman told one the other day on KING 5 News Up Front Blog. He was bragging about how much grasssroots fundraising support Initiative 1033 had gotten.
  
  Initiative 1033 is Eyman's latest wealth transfer scheme. This one is to transfer state [...]
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  Posted: July 20, 2009, 3:57pm EDT
  

• The Susan Hutchison Nonpartisan Myth

  So if you made contributions to Dino Rossi, Dave Reichert, Mike Huckabee, Cathy McMorris, Mainstream Republicans, King County Republicans' Central Committee, George Nethercutt and George W Bush but not to any Democrats and Democratic organizations is it honest to call yourself nonpartisan? Susan Hutchison, running for King County Executive seems' [...]
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  Posted: July 19, 2009, 3:14pm EDT
  

• New Report Confirms I-033 Will Make Recovery Worse for Washington State

  A just released report by the Rockefeller Institute of Government confirms analysis that Initiative 1033, if passed by voters in November, will likely make economic recovery in Washington State more difficult. While not directly addressing I-1033, the negative impact of the initiative is clear from the current economic figures.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: July 18, 2009, 11:02am EDT
  

• Seattle's Conifer Forests Disappearing - Invasive Plants a Big Problem

  A new report released by Seattle Urban Nature finds that conifer forests are a vanishing resource in the Puget Sound region. Conifer trees are not regenerating in sufficient numbers to perpetuate healthy forests into the future. Instead, these forests are becoming dominated by English holly, sweet cherry, English ivy [...]
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  Posted: July 15, 2009, 5:30pm EDT
  

• Nickels and Mallahan Lead in Fundraising in Seattle Mayor's Race

  While incumbent Mayor Greg Nickels has raised the most money in Seattle's Mayoral race, both he and Mallahan have about the same amount of money in the bank at this point. Greg Nickels has raised $481,279 through June 30, 2009 and spent $161,554. This leaves him with $319,395 cash on [...]
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  Posted: July 13, 2009, 5:42pm EDT
  

• Larry Phillips Leads Fundraising for King County Executive

  In the latest fundraising totals available from the Washington State's Public Disclosure Commission, King County Counclimember Larry Phillips has raised some $395,173 through June 30, 2009 in his bid to fill the King County Executive seat vacated by Ron Sims.
  
  Fellow King County Councilmember Dow Constantine has raised [...]
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  Posted: July 12, 2009, 5:10pm EDT
  

• Only Four Seattle City Council Candidates Raise over $10,000 in June

  Candidates running for Seattle City Council have only about 1 month left before the August 18, 2009 Primary. The two top candidates in each race will go on to the November election. Here are the latest monthly fundraising totals as of June 30, 2009.
  
  Sally Bagshaw has raised the [...]
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  Posted: July 12, 2009, 4:20pm EDT
  

• Initiative 1033 - Eyman's Latest Wealth Transfer Scheme for the Rich

  Old dog Eyman just ain't learning any new tricks. Initiative 1033, which he filed today with the Washington State Secretary of State is just another old trick to transfer money from the poor to those better off, namely property owners.
  
  Eyman latest scheme puts a limit on state,' [...]
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  Posted: July 02, 2009, 3:43pm EDT
  

• Should Money Buy "Free" Speech in Elections?

  U.S. Supreme Court maneuvering in a case involving corporate money in political campaigns suggests that the right wing majority on the court is practicing judicial activism. The case involves a corporate documentary last year that was critical of Hilliary Clinton. According to an article today in the New York Times [...]
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  Posted: June 30, 2009, 10:47am EDT
  

• King County Democrats Make Primary Endorsements

  The King County Democrats met last night to endorse candidates for the August 18, 2009 Primary. Many candidates were voted by acclimation following the recommendations of the endorsement committee. The most fought over races were those for Seattle City Council and Seattle Mayor. A 2/3 vote was required for endorsement. [...]
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  Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:33am EDT
  

• Two Seattle City Council Candidates Pass $100,000 Fundraising Mark

  Candidates running for Seattle City Council have only 2 months left before the August 18, 2009 Primary. The field is crowded in two seats where incumbents have retired. The two top candidates in each race will go on to the November election. Here are the latest monthly fundraising totals as [...]
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  Posted: June 19, 2009, 1:10pm EDT
  

• 46th District Democrats Make Primary Endorsements

  The 46th District Democrats had a long meeting last night at Olympic View Elementary School in North Seattle. Some surprises emerged as the endorsement process in some races took 3 ballots to reach a final outcome. To receive endorsement, a candidate had to receive a 2/3 vote of members voting.
  [...]
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  Posted: June 19, 2009, 11:19am EDT
  

• Seattle School District Refiles Construction Proposal to Build in Rare Plant Habitat

  Despite the Seattle Hearing Examiner's decision that the NW Forest area at Ingraham High School is a rare plant habitat, the Seattle School District has resubmitted plans to build there anyway. Their concession is to remove a proposed courtyard which still will force cutting down 30 old conifer trees [...]
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  Posted: June 18, 2009, 12:53pm EDT
  

• Seattle School District Loses a Third Time on Cutting Down Trees at Ingraham High School

  
  The Seattle School District has lost a third time in their effort to clearcut trees in the Northwest Forest area at Ingraham High School. The first time the Seattle School District lost was an attempt to use a loophole in Seattle City law to [...]
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  Posted: June 01, 2009, 1:25pm EDT
  

• Grocers Join Mayor Nickels in Supporting Reusable Bags.

  
  "Choose Reusable" seems simple but the plastics industry will be spending lots of money opposing the referendum slated for the August 18, 2009 Primary Ballot in Seattle. The American Chemistry Council of Arlington , Virginia has raised some $239, 453 to date and 7-Eleven has [...]
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  Posted: May 30, 2009, 3:02pm EDT
  

• Seattle Needs an Urban Forestry Commission

  
  Right now eight different Seattle departments deal with trees. There is no overall coordination or vision. While an Urban Forestry Management Plan has been drafted, it has never been approved by the Seattle City Council. A just released Report by the Seattle City Auditor [...]
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  Posted: May 28, 2009, 11:01pm EDT
  

• Obama Appoints "Unabashed Liberal" "Hispanic""Woman" to US Supreme Court.

  "Unabashed Liberal" Who cares that Karl Rove today said that Obama's Supreme Court appointment is an "unabashed liberal"? Anyone to the left of Karl Rove is an unabashed liberal and the public has said good riddance to the Rove/Bush /Cheney era because it failed to live up to what America' [...]
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  Posted: May 26, 2009, 1:37pm EDT
  

• Lloyd Hara to Run for King County Assessor

  With less than a week to go before filing starts for politcal office, Seattle Port Commissioner Lloyd Hara is changing races. He has decided to run for the vacant seat of King County Assessor with the conviction of Scott Noble on drunk driving charges - leaving the Assessor's Office' [...]
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  Posted: May 26, 2009, 11:01pm EDT
  

• An Open Letter to Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell

  Dear Senator Patty Murray and Senator Maria Cantwell:
  
  Thirty-seven Senators currently are co-sponsors of S 482 - the Senate Campaign Disclosure Parity Act. The bill requires candidates for US Senate "to file designations, statements and reports for campaign financing in electronic form."
  
  Both candidates for the US House [...]
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  Posted: May 25, 2009, 8:04pm EDT
  

• Seattle School District Continues Fight to Cut Down Trees at Ingraham High School

  
  Despite a clear ruling by Seattle Hearing Examiner Ann Watanabe that the NW Forest at Ingraham High School was a rare and uncommon plant habitat and should be protected according to Seattle's environmental laws, the Seattle School District is continuing its campaign to try' [...]
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  Posted: May 24, 2009, 5:22pm EDT
  

• Who's raising the dough for Seattle City Council?

  Filing as a candidate for the August 2009 Primary is coming up June 1 -5. Candidates for Seattle City Council are busy campaigning and raising money. Two Seattle City Council seats are open races. Jan Drago and Richard McIver are retiring. Two incumbents are running - Richard Conlin and Nick [...]
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  Posted: May 19, 2009, 3:30pm EDT
  

• Seattle City Auditor Critical of Seattle's Tree Management Policies

  Seattle's City Auditor today released a report today entitled "Management of City Trees Can be Improved." A year in the making, one could argue that this report's title is a classic example of understatement.
  
  Citizens have been complaining for quite a few years that Seattle City Government has [...]
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  Posted: May 19, 2009, 12:01am EDT
  

• What do guns have to do with credit card legislation?

  In a step backward for reasonable gun control, a horde of Democratic Senators in Congress have voted to allow loaded guns in our National Parks. As noted in an e-mail from tha National Parks Conservation Association:
  

  What does credit card reform legislation have to do with national parks? We [...]

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  Posted: May 15, 2009, 3:50pm EDT
  

• More Details on The Ingraham High School Tree Victory by Save the Trees - Seattle

  
  For the past 16 months a group of dedicated people working under the umbrella of Save the Trees – Seattle has been working to save the NW Forest Area at Ingraham High School. While a final resolution has not been reached, the end to the [...]
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  Posted: May 12, 2009, 4:57pm EDT
  

• New Report: Modernizing Our Voter Registration System Could Eliminate Millions in Wasteful Spending

  If there’s one lesson we all learned in the last few elections, it’s that their success or failure is dependent on the resources and skills of our local and state-level election officials.
  
  The 2008 elections were commendable in many ways, for example, the 3.4 million more young voters who [...]
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  Posted: May 06, 2009, 11:46am EDT
  

• Save the Trees- Seattle Wins Hearing Examiner Ruling !

  
  In a decisive victory for proponents opposed to cutting down 72 Douglas fir, western red cedar and Pacific madrone trees in the NW Forest area at Ingraham High School, the Seattle Hearing Examiner has ruled in favor of Save the Trees – Seattle and the [...]
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  Posted: May 04, 2009, 4:36pm EDT
  

• Are Incumbent King County Councilmembers Going to Get a Free Ride this Year?

  Five King County Council races are up for election this year. Officially filing for these seats is June 1 through June 5, 2009. That is only a month away. And so far according to the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission, the only candidates who have filed with the PDC [...]
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  Posted: April 29, 2009, 3:55pm EDT
  

• Money Starting to Move into this year's Seattle City Council Races

  It's still a pretty slow start but money is starting to move into this year's Seattle City Council races. The Primary is in August so candidates have less than 5 months to get their campaigns together in order to hope to survive the Primary. The races are non-partisan and the [...]
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  Posted: April 13, 2009, 11:41pm EDT
  

• Senators Murray and Cantwell Vote for Another Tax Break for Wealthy

  Maybe Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell are angling for the endorsement of the Seattle Times next time they're up for election. They are certainly not working for most of the citizens in Washington State when they voted last week to raise the Federal estate tax exemption for the very' [...]
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  Posted: April 08, 2009, 9:48am EDT
  

• Is Governor Gregoire Providing the Leadership We Need Now?

  Below is a letter sent today to Governor Gregoire by the King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee. What do you think?
  
  Dear Governor Gregoire:
  
  The King County Democrats Legislative Action Committee is disappointed with your leadership on resolving our state budget crisis by not considering revenue increases as [...]
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  Posted: March 18, 2009, 1:26pm EDT