This Week in Olympia
Week 10
March 14 - 18
Special session politics are always different from the regular session. Instead of hearings and votes, there’s usually a lot of backroom meetings and shuttling back and forth.
After the Senate released its latest budget offer publicly on Friday, March 11th, talks moved back behind closed doors. There are rumors of negotiations continuing, but no budget details are emerging.
The one bill that did gain attention was SB 6665, introduced by Senator John Braun, R, Centralia. SB 6665, in simplest terms, would make national media stations pay their back taxes, in return for a 50% cut in future tax rates in perpetuity. The amount due is about $80 million.
The $80 million is a budget balancing idea that seems to replace their previous scheme to merge LEOFF and TRS plan 1 revenues in order to meet the four year balanced budget requirement. The House Democrats have called for using rainy day funds and closing tax loopholes.
Sen. Reuven Carlyle, D, Seattle said this about SB 6665: “The policy of having national broadcasters pay the money they owe, in exchange for a 50 percent discount on their taxes, is debatable. . . This is a major structural change, and the public has an absolute right to have it fully vetted.”
A one-time payment for a permanent tax reduction should be fully vetted for the public so the long term impacts are understood.
Saturday is the WEA-PAC Recommendation Convention About 220 WEA-PAC delegates are converging in Tukwila where they will make recommendations for candidates for Governor. Lt Governor, and SPI.
The only gubernatorial candidate attending is Governor Jay Inslee. Lt. Governor candidates attending are Sen. Karen Fraser, Sen. Cyrus Habib and Rep. Jim Moeller. And SPI candidates include Rep. Chris Reykdal, former Rep. Larry Seaquist, Erin Jones and Robin Fleming.
Each will give a prepared speech and respond to questions. Delegates will debate, discuss and ultimately vote on who WEA PAC will recommend for these statewide offices.
You can follow the nominating convention on Twitter at #WEAPAC16.
