Email to Senator Becker

Senator Becker I have watched the legislative process in our country take some amazing steps over the last five years. Some have been huge leaps forward, others back. One common thing I have seen though is many persons in our government taking a stance that they, as elected representatives, know better then the people they represent. We have seen many examples in the previous years of voters in other states sending a clear message to their elected officials, by passing a referendum or initiative, and the Legislature invalidating or modifying the peoples will after the vote is complete. This is a terrifying step.

America is founded on the basis of a representative Republic. We, the voters, elect our representatives to go before the legislature and represent us, and our wishes. This is designed to be a governmental system "Of the People, By the People, and For the People". Our intent in sending legislators to Olympia is not to elect someone to make decisions for us, but instead to respect our decisions, as the citizens of this state. Our State Constitution validates this premise. Article 1, Section 1 states "All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights."

SB 6843 is an effort to ignore the wishes of the people of Washington State. We made clear our intent to limit the growth of government by regulating taxes and increase in spending by passing I960. This new bill, 6843, is a travesty and an insult to the citizens of this state.

I have a few specific questions in regards to the bill. First, is there any reason to change every instance of the word "raises" to " increases". We, the voters, understand that a raise is an increase is a new tax is a larger government, so why the change? Second, in Sec. 2(1)(c)(i), the Bill speaks of a "unprecedented economic crisis" necessitating a "temporary means to stabilize revenue correction". When has any tax, fee, excise, etc in Washington state ever been temporary? Third, Sec. 2(7)(a) clearly defined a tax increase as "any action or combination of actions by the legislature that increases state tax revenue deposited in any fund, budget or account". This was a clear message that any new tax is a new tax, so why does the legislature need to qualify it? Fourth, Sec. 2(6)(a) states that "The legislature finds that an optimal tax policy promotes fairness and spurs economic development or other public benefits. It is therefore the legislature's intent to maintain fairness and to advance economic prosperity and serve the public interest by enabling current and future legislatures to modify tax preferences with a simple majority vote." This is a terrifying statement when taken at its face. Why is it the legislatures intent to "maintain fairness and to advance economic prosperity"? Fifth, the subject of the bill "declares an emergency". What is this emergency, and what other measures can and will be enacted in its wake?

Life is not fair, neither is it equal. We are not guaranteed equality by either our State or Federal Constitution. We are guaranteed Life, Liberty and Property, and an Equal Opportunity. Equal opportunity for all people was, and is the intent of our Constitution, and the framework on which America was built. Equal Opportunity is a Representative Republic that preserves the rights of the individuals from a tyrannical and overpowering government. Equal Opportunity is America and Washington State. Equality is Socialism.

Washington State is running in a deficit. This means that the Legislature is spending more then it brings in. Increasing taxes is not the solution to this problem. Decreasing spending is the only answer. I know that this might hurt in the short-term, but controlling spending is the only legitimate answer to this problem.

Bryan Diesch