Three Initiative to Vote “NO” On

There are three ballot initiatives this year that would have severe impacts to our state budget.  They would repeal laws that I supported and that were crafted over many years.  I am voting NO on all three.  Here is why.  Our initiative process has been an important tool for our state.  As a legislature we have a choice to adopt initiatives of the people or to refer them to you for a vote.  We let these go to the voters because we do not agree and believe that voters will agree when they know about why they were passed and what the benefits are to our state.

Initiative 2109: Repeal of the Capital Gains Excise Tax

In Washington we have had the most regressive tax system in the nation.  Low income people pay less of their income for taxes than the very wealthy. Most states have a capital gains tax that is broader than our.  The only people that will pay this tax are folks who sell stocks and bonds and other assets. They only pay 7% on the profit above $250,000. Only about 4000 Washingtonians will pay this. The following are the kinds of assets that will NOT PAY THIS TAX:

A variety of deductions further reduce the amount of tax subject to this law. An important question is WHERE DOES THE MONEY FROM THIS TAX GO? The funds from this tax are used for two purposes:

In short this tax makes our system more fair and provides additional funds for our education system which our constitution requires as our most important duty. P.S. Washington is now the 6^th most regressive system in the nation.

Initiative 2124: Eliminate Washington’s First in the Nation Long Term Care program

Our nation is in a crisis for caring for aging seniors and family members.  Many believe that long term care is covered by Medicare.  It DOES NOT.  It is covered by Medicaid AFTER ALL OF THE SENIOR’S MONEY HAS BEEN SPENT AND ASSETS LIQUIDATED.   There are insurance companies that have been selling expensive policies for many years to cover the costs of care, but many have given up that business or raised rates so high most cannot purchase the coverage.

Most families and people will face this issue.  The program that Washington established took many years to develop. Is it paid for through an 0.58% paycheck deduction and offers critical help after five years. It means a senior or their family has money to plan, seek options or sell property and make sure that their loved one has the care they need.

Initiative 2124 Requires that:

Passing this initiative means there will be more people each year that will need to have taxpayer- supported help.  Without broad support and predictive revenue, the state cannot offer this program at all.  Remember, this is paid only by the people who most likely will need it someday.

I am voting NO.

Initiative 2117: Repeal the Climate Commitment Act

We all know that getting hard problems solved requires setting realistic goals and steps.  Initiative 2117 takes away the state’s ability to set realistic goals and to pay for the work needed to address climate change.  It would prohibit the state from adopting the methods that other west coast states and  Brirish Columbia have adopted to address this serious and urgent issue.

The law we passed:

The initiative would repeal our efforts to address climate change in a meaningful way and to set goals to keep the state moving forward. And the initiative does nothing to ensure that the savings to the oil industry will be reflected at the pump. I will VOTE NO.