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More Ghost Bills and 'The Bill We've been Aiming for All Session'

Posted by Brett Davis - March 05, 2010

The Washington State Legislature has hit rock bottom, and it’s started digging. I’m not just referring to the recent sneaky goings-on regarding a proposed state income tax, but also the many “ghost” bills (read: title-only) that continue to haunt the Capitol.

 
This week, at least five such bills with no content have been introduced: HB 3206, HB 3207, HB 3194, HB 3199 and SB 6143. In fact, SB 6143 has an executive session with the Ways & Means Committee scheduled for noon today. What about a public hearing, you ask? Take a gander at this from the legislature’s website last night (H/t to Jason Mercier):

 

Ways & Means*
3/5/10 12:00 pm

Senate Full Committee
Senate Hearing Rm 4
J.A. Cherberg Building
Olympia, WA

REVISED 3/4/2010 7:31 PM

Public Hearing: To be announced.

Possible executive session on bills heard in committee. Other business.

These newest ghost bills are in addition to ghost bills introduced earlier this legislative session. See here and here. There are so many ghosts floating around Olympia, the kids from Scooby-Doo would be hard pressed to solve this mystery.
 
Actually, it’s not much of a mystery why the legislature is being less than transparent in budget and tax matters. No doubt it has something to do with the unpopularity of jacking up taxes on already put-upon households and businesses during an economic downturn.
 
Check out this e-mail from Fuse Washington, which starts out with, “The bill we’ve been aiming for all session is here.” The e-mail continues: “On Monday, four members of the House introduced HB 3204 that would prevent deep cuts in health care, schools, environmental protections and other critical programs. The bill would generate $1.4 billion by closing tax loopholes and raising new revenue from sin taxes and big polluters.” The e-mail goes on to state HB 3204 “…would protect $600-700 million more in critical state programs than the current House or Senate budget proposals.”
 
Translation: Let’s raise taxes because state government can’t prioritize its spending in order to cut itself down to a size the economy can support. You and I have to tighten our belts during hard times; the state just picks the pocket of taxpayers some more.
 
No public hearing is scheduled yet, but HB 3204 is 151 pages chock full of tax changes. Not surprisingly, the fiscal note for this bill is not available.
 
Even for the Washington State Legislature, all of this is low. This barrage of last-minute tax bills combined with the myriad bills already posted is designed to spread the opposition thin by overwhelming taxpayers. It also gives lawmakers a chance to keep all their options open, even an income tax—especially an income tax, until the last minute.

Update: I clicked on TVW's coverage of the executive session on SB 6143 just in time to catch an amendment restoring Initiative 960 being voted down. No last-minute coming back to life like one of those methodical, indestructible killers in a horror movie whom the soon-to-be-victim thinks is dead.
 

Thoughts?   Add Comment -

RedRaider2x said on Mar 05 2010 at 1:57pm
I just love how the Ds in squishy districts do not audibly record their votes on amendments and final passage of bills during executive session in committee. I guess they are banking on nobody looking up their voting records...and we know how competent their banking skills are...

Darrell said on Mar 05 2010 at 5:05pm
I have a serious problem with this whole issue. But first and foremost you have access to more people and I would like to use that to let people know they need to demand an accounting for the following problem. First of all there are millions upon millions of dollars left untouched in the SNOW REMOVEL fund that has not been used or needed this year. There was no overtime paid out and no gas purchased or repair of equipment needed. Those millions can now be used for other things and the 4.1 million the Gov. wants for drought is not needed as there is so much more money that was not used. The press did not ask her what they have done with that money nor did they ask where it is. If this issues is not raised they will simply and quietly spend it with no one being the wiser. We need to let them know we are not stupid and the snow that was not needed to be removed is millions upon millions that is not debt reduction and used for other programs they do not need to threaten us with ending.
I hope you are able to help me shed light on this issue before they spend it.


Sincerely,

Darrell