Eastside progressives turn out in force at town hall to support 48th LD's Democrats
I just got back from a town hall meeting with Representative Ross Hunter, Deb Eddy, and Senator Rodney Tom. At a government funded community center, people who support rebuilding our economic future with essential revenue clashed with anti-tax reactionaries.
As we were coming in the door, we were bombarded by Senator Tom's challenger Gregg Bennett. He was competing for space at the door with Fuse, and the Washington Education Association, who sent folks to remind town hall participants that an all-cuts budget is not the answer.
The legislators took comments for the first thirty minutes, responded for an hour, and then took more comments. About 70% of those who spoke were in favor of raising revenue to offset cuts, and 30% were purists against taxes.
The list of services speakers supported were very diverse, and included:
There was a relatively little amount of heckling from the crowd, which was peaceful. Most people in the room seemed very happy with their representation.
One of the biggest issues was the restoration of majority rule. Initiative 960 currently allows Republicans to block any bill that raises revenue.
Senator Tom and Representative Hunter both voted to neutralize Initiative 960, while Representative Eddy voted with the Party of No.
Representative Eddy claimed her decision was based on not having a plan for the rest of the session. She also stated that she was okay with suspending it, but not okay with what might happen during the rest of session. Representative Eddy assured me that if her vote was necessary needed for passage, she would have voted for majority rule.
Senator Tom's rationale for suspending I-960 was that "we live in a representative democracy". He further observed that requiring supermajorities to pass budgets simply does not work in practice: it jams the gears of government.
Representative Hunter continued the remarks about I-960 in that he is not a "100%er". He does not support closing the budget gap exclusively with new revenue. Nor does he support an all-cuts budget. He mentioned how California's budgeting process does not work, and continued by saying that we do not want to become California where bad budgeting and "a lot of pork" is common.
After the talk about suspending I-960, Representative Hunter outlined what he thinks will happen next. Legislators expect $400 million from the federal government, which will leave a $1.5-1.8 billion shortfall. Revenue will be raised, but there will still be painful cuts.
NPI urges all the Legislature not to go home without passing a budget that relies on new revenue to replenish our common wealth.
Public services have only become more vital as the Great Recession has stretched on; now is the wrong time to take an axe to our safety net.
As we were coming in the door, we were bombarded by Senator Tom's challenger Gregg Bennett. He was competing for space at the door with Fuse, and the Washington Education Association, who sent folks to remind town hall participants that an all-cuts budget is not the answer.
The legislators took comments for the first thirty minutes, responded for an hour, and then took more comments. About 70% of those who spoke were in favor of raising revenue to offset cuts, and 30% were purists against taxes.
The list of services speakers supported were very diverse, and included:
- Senior home-based community care
- Community healthcare
- Public safety and our courts
- Residential rehabilitation centers
- Public schools (As the Constitution says, the education of Washington's youth is the paramount duty of the State)
- Affordable housing
There was a relatively little amount of heckling from the crowd, which was peaceful. Most people in the room seemed very happy with their representation.
One of the biggest issues was the restoration of majority rule. Initiative 960 currently allows Republicans to block any bill that raises revenue.
Senator Tom and Representative Hunter both voted to neutralize Initiative 960, while Representative Eddy voted with the Party of No.
Representative Eddy claimed her decision was based on not having a plan for the rest of the session. She also stated that she was okay with suspending it, but not okay with what might happen during the rest of session. Representative Eddy assured me that if her vote was necessary needed for passage, she would have voted for majority rule.
Senator Tom's rationale for suspending I-960 was that "we live in a representative democracy". He further observed that requiring supermajorities to pass budgets simply does not work in practice: it jams the gears of government.
Representative Hunter continued the remarks about I-960 in that he is not a "100%er". He does not support closing the budget gap exclusively with new revenue. Nor does he support an all-cuts budget. He mentioned how California's budgeting process does not work, and continued by saying that we do not want to become California where bad budgeting and "a lot of pork" is common.
After the talk about suspending I-960, Representative Hunter outlined what he thinks will happen next. Legislators expect $400 million from the federal government, which will leave a $1.5-1.8 billion shortfall. Revenue will be raised, but there will still be painful cuts.
NPI urges all the Legislature not to go home without passing a budget that relies on new revenue to replenish our common wealth.
Public services have only become more vital as the Great Recession has stretched on; now is the wrong time to take an axe to our safety net.
# Posted by Daniel : 10:42 AM
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