Let me begin with some political realities about your state Legislature.
Republicans, and I am one, are in the minority. The Senate Republican Caucus, of which I am the chairwoman, has 20 members. Our Democratic colleagues have a 9-vote majority in the state Senate, which makes our jobs representing rural values and needs a challenge.
Most Senate majority members are from King County and Seattle. So, their world view is different.
I do my best to communicate the very real concerns of my constituents in the 13th District and they're simple. We want less government intrusion in our lives, reasonable taxation for programs that work and accountability from our state .
Within that context, there are still opportunities for Senate Republicans to be effective at shaping our state's future. Because of our efforts, I think we've been able to achieve significant wins so far this session:
Taxes and affordability
This year, legislation that would increase the limit on property-tax growth nearly made it to the Senate floor for a vote. Senate Bill 5770 would have permitted tripling the growth rate in local property taxes.
It's a bit nuanced, but it won't triple your property taxes. Rather, it would allow jurisdictions to triple growth, which is now capped at 1%.
Voters approved that cap in 2001 and when the state Supreme Court overturned it, even a Democratic governor, Chris Gregoire, respected the will of the people.
She called a special session of the Legislature, and the cap was passed into law with nearly 85% of the Legislature voting for it.
This very costly proposal, which recently died, not only comes at a bad time for working families in our state struggling with rising costs. It would have also taken away citizen oversight.
I understand that local governments' budgets are tight and that in many ways cities and counties are picking up where the state is failing or must do more because of edicts from Olympia. It is unfair. But that's not the whole story.
Local jurisdictions can get around the property tax growth limits, but they must do so with a vote of the people. This proposal would have allowed that increase to happen without input. We pushed back and the other side listened.
Initiatives to the Legislature
Over the past several years, the state has undertaken an aggressive and expensive push to regulate or tax everyday activities. The public has recognized that the piling on is making life here simply unaffordable.
Look at the state's long-term care tax to fund an already insolvent program, WA Cares. Workers who have not received an exemption must pay into the program at ever-increasing rates for a small, limited benefit.
The public was rightly concerned and frustrated that the state imposed this without their real input.
My Senate Republican Colleagues and I have worked to stop bad legislation or work collaboratively to improve bills that affect our communities. But when our efforts fail, people take action.
This legislative session is historic in that, for the first time, six initiatives to the Legislature have been certified. While Democrats have been hesitant about giving any credence to these measures, the public pressure appears to be too much. While their imposition may have been partisan, people around the state appear to be waking up across the political spectrum to make their voices heard.
Voters will have the final say in November on these initiatives since it appears that the Senate and House majorities won't let the Legislature pass these measures.
Here are short summaries of what they'll do:
• Initiative 2117 repeals the Climate Commitment Act (hidden gas tax);
• Initiative 2109 undoes the capital-gains income tax;
• Initiative 2111 bans state and local governments from imposing an income tax;
• Initiative 2113 loosens restrictions on police pursuits;
• Initiative 2081 empowers parents in their students' education, allowing review of student records and curricula, and letting parents to opt children out of inappropriate sex education
• Initiative 2124 allows workers to opt out of the long-term care tax known as WA Cares Act.
Things move quickly in Olympia, especially in this short, 60-day session. I'm hopeful that as we near the end of this year's work, lawmakers around the state are listening and paying attention to the actual needs of our citizens.
No more blank checks, no more onerous regulations and taxes that keep working families struggling.
Senate Republicans are listening and putting people before politics.
- Sen. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, represents the 13th Legislative District
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