The Washington 35th Legislative District Democrats

Join Us in Shelton for Our General Meeting and Holiday Party - December 3rd

noreply@blogger.com (35th Legislative Democrats) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:26:00 +0000

Representative Haigh's Legislative Update

noreply@blogger.com (35th Legislative Democrats) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 23:52:00 +0000

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Thank you for taking the time to read my Ememo update regarding the State Budget. I hope you find it informative and a helpful resource. As always, thank you for the opportunity to represent you in the 35th District.

Sincerely,
Kathy

Global economic crisis continues; the effects are hitting Washington state hard

The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) released their latest report Thursday, and the news is pretty grim – since the 2011-13 operating budget was approved earlier this year, the revenue forecast has dropped $1.8 billion.

That’s a huge number. And, according to Dr. Arun Raha, the Executive Director of the ERFC, things are unlikely to turn around anytime soon. “The aftermath of the Great Recession is turning out to be a never-ending nightmare...I see no end in sight, the best I can hope for is that we don't slip back into another recession," he said.

He also made these points:

Every time our state has looked like it would break out of the malaise, it has been sucked right back in.
The gridlock in Washington DC and the instability of the European markets are affecting our recovery.
It appears that we are at best in for an extended period of muddle-through – slow economic and job growth, high unemployment, and weak confidence. The risk of a double-dip recession too has increased.
Consumer confidence is headed back down, as are sales expectations and small business optimism.

Raha did note that the aerospace and technology sectors of Washington’s economy are strong, but that they are not enough to make up for the “fear and uncertainty” that are keeping people from buying homes, cars, and other big-ticket items.

What does this mean for our budget?

Well, the first thing to remember is that, unlike Washington DC, our state must balance its operating budget – and we can’t borrow money to do that. And, after three straight years of deep budget cuts to vital services like public schools, higher education, nursing homes, and public safety, we have few options left.

Our budget leaders have been at work for some time, combing through the budget again, looking for more efficiencies and reductions. At this point, all options are on the table.

What do you think? Do you support balancing the budget with all cuts? Do you think closing some tax loopholes should be considered? What about increasing some revenues? It’s important for me to hear from you as we move forward! Please send me your ideas at haigh.kathy@leg.wa.gov

If you would like a refresher on what decisions were made in the current 2011-13 budget, here is a quick overview.

Keeping our kids healthy

There is some good news to report, though. Even though the U.S Census Bureau reported last week that a record number of Americans now live below the poverty line, most Washington state kids are still getting the health care they need. Our award-winning children’s health coverage plan, Apple Health for Kids, deserves the credit.

The number of Washington’s kids who have no health coverage has dropped significantly in the past 10 years, according to the Census Bureau, and the total number of uninsured kids in our state (5.3%) is well below the national average of 9.7%.

These numbers are even more impressive when you consider that between 2006 and 2010, nearly 165,000 children lost health coverage through their families employers.

Apple Health for Kids is recognized as a national model; just last month, the state was awarded and additional $2.4 million from the federal government to make sure more eligible kids are covered. This is great news, because, despite the success of the plan, there are still nearly 85,000 Washington children lacking health insurance.

My commitment to early childhood education and support for full day kindergarten

Early childhood education and full day kindergarten for schools with high levels of students living in poverty is a passionate issue for me.

The legislative decisions last spring were very difficult and some social services had to be reduced. But the legislature agreed to maintain funding to enroll both 3 and 4 year old children in early childhood education through the ECEAP program. This program offers a high quality preschool to students living in poverty as well as helping young parents to become strong supporters of their children's education and well being. These are investments that can last a lifetime.

We also agreed to continue to increase funding for full day kindergarten in schools with a high percentage of students on free and reduced lunch. When you speak to teachers in elementary schools that have implemented full day kindergarten, they will tell you the tremendous difference it makes in the success of those student as they continue through their studies at higher grade levels.

I will remain committed to these and other programs that focus on the well being and education of our youngest and most vulnerable citizens. I know it will pay off in the success of these children for a lifetime by keeping them out of prison, well educated and contributing members of our society.

Representative Kathy Haigh:
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600

(360) 786-7966
1 (800) 562.6000 toll free
1 (800) 635-9993 TTY-TDD (hearing impaired)

haigh.kathy@leg.wa.gov

Home page

A Primer on the Statewide Measures You'll See in the General Election

noreply@blogger.com (35th Legislative Democrats) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 22:39:00 +0000

It's that time again, when the minds of engaged citizens turn to the upcoming General Election. Among some of the most challenging decisions voters have to make, year in and year out, are regarding how to vote on various measures. As has been the case in nearly every election in recent years, there are some statewide measures - three initiatives and two amendments to the state constitution - which give us reason to spend time doing a little extra study.

Click here for the Statewide Online Voters Guide. There you will find the official titles, descriptions, financial impact statements, and official statements for and against the Statewide Measures.

Initiative Measure No. 1125 concerns state expenditures on transportation. This initiative is another by Tim Eyman. Love him or hate him (and there seems to be practically no middle ground), his is a force for change in Washington state.

It is notable that, right at the top of the financial impact statement, we encounter this foreboding statement:

The State Treasurer states that bonds secured solely by toll revenue will become prohibitively expensive if the Legislature sets tolls, thus eliminating this financing tool for transportation projects.

Among the intents of this initiative is to remove the setting of tolls from local commissions and place it in the hands of the state legislature. The Treasurer is of the opinion that this will reduce the reliability of toll-setting - tolls set by the legislature may be changed by the legislature - and that instability in income will cause bond issuers to charge prohibitively high interest rates. "Because investors in toll revenue bonds see the independence of toll-setting bodies as a critical credit characteristic, no other toll revenue bond issuer in the nation sets tolls subject to legislative approval," according to an analysis by the Public Resource Advisory Group.

"OFM: Tim Eyman’s I-1125 would imperil key transportation projects, raise borrowing costs"

However, supporters argue there's no difference between a toll and a tax. Initiative 1053, passed last year with a 64% vote, requires a super-majority of the legislature in order to enact increases in taxes and many kinds of fees. Supporters see this new initiative I-1125 as just a way of closing a loophole.

"Initiative 1125 assures accountability and transparency"

Find out more about I-1125. Start your research with these two web sites:
No on I-1125
Yes on I-1125

Initiative Measure No. 1163 concerns long-term care workers and services for elderly and disabled people.

Didn't we already vote on this? Pretty much, yes. In 2008, voters passed Initiative 1029, which required federal criminal background checks and increased training for the long-term workers who assist seniors and people with disabilities. However, in response to budget pressures, the legislature reduced training requirements and delayed criminal background checks. I-1163 seeks to restore the background checks and training.

"NORTHWEST VIEW: Proponent says I-1163 will restore protections for seniors, disabled"

From the financial impact statement:

Current law requires increased mandatory training, background checks and certification for long-term care workers, depending on worker classification, beginning Jan. 1, 2014. Initiative 1163 would require the training, background checks and certification for long-term care workers to begin Jan. 7, 2012, but delay these requirements for community residential providers until Jan 1, 2016. For the long-term in-home care program, administrative costs are capped and performance audits with additional fraud investigators are required. Over six fiscal years, costs are estimated to increase $31.3 million and revenue from the federal government and fees is estimated to increase $18.4 million.

Opponents argue that the cost of these background checks and training will require the state to either raise revenues or, more likely, to cut services to the very people I-1163 intends to benefit.

Initiative 1163: Why no funding source, SEIU?

No on I-1163
Yes on I-1163

Initiative Measure No. 1183 concerns liquor: beer, wine, and spirits (hard liquor). This is Costco's effort to take a do-over after I-1100 failed to win voter support last year. Readers will recall that was one of two related initiatives - the other was I-1105 - which failed to pass. If approved by voters in November, the measure would require the state to close its 300-plus stores and sell off its liquor distribution center, while making Washington grocery stores with over 10,000 square feet (or approximately 1,500 stores) eligible to sell hard liquor.

Proponents argue that I-1183 gets our state government out of the business of distributing and selling liquor. They also say the campaign against 1183 "is funded by big national liquor distributors that profit from Washington’s outdated liquor monopoly."

Opponents say I-1183 will benefit big-box stores over smaller outlets, will increase liquor consumption and will drive up the cost of liquor, through increased taxes.

No on I-1183
Yes on I-1183

Senate Joint Resolution 8205 would remove an inoperative provision from the state constitution regarding the length of time a voter must reside in Washington to vote for president and vice-president. One portion of the Washington Constitution allows a citizen to vote in all elections after they have resided in the state for 30 days. But, another section in the Constitution requires 60 days residency before they can vote for President. SJR 8205 fixes this conflict to allow the shorter 30 day voter residency requirement is the constitutional standard for all elections in the state, including the presidential election.

There is no official statement against this measure, on the Online Voters' Guide.

Senate Joint Resolution 8206 is a constitutional amendment which "would require the legislature to transfer additional moneys to the budget stabilization account in each fiscal biennium in which the state has received 'extraordinary revenue growth,' as defined, with certain limitations."

From the statement in favor of SJR 8206, we read:

In 2007, voters approved the creation of a constitutionally-protected rainy day fund that requires state government to set aside 1% of revenues annually for hard times. SJR 8206, a bipartisan measure, strengthens this fund by requiring a portion of “extraordinary” revenue – that which exceeds 133% of historical average growth – be saved, rather than spent.

However, the statement against this constitutional amendment points out that:

8206 requires more than the 1% that voters approved - it would also require that "extraordinary revenues" go into savings. While it sounds like a good idea to save more – the result is people paying taxes and getting nothing for it, except a bigger savings account.

"ELECTION 2011: Constitutional amendments"

So, there they are. Your 2011 statewide measures. What arguments are you finding particularly compelling? What resources are you finding to help you to come to an educated opinion regarding how you will vote? Leave your comments here.

Redistricting Proposals Could Change 35th LD - Public Asked to Comment

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 19:52:00 +0000

"The U.S. Constitution requires that all states evaluate electoral district boundaries every ten years following the U.S. Census. In 1983, Washington voters established the Washington State Redistricting Commission to ensure district boundaries are redrawn through a fair and bipartisan process. The Redistricting Commission includes two Democrats and two Republicans as voting members and a non-voting, nonpartisan chair."
- from the web site of the Washington State Redistricting Commission

The commissioners' draft redistricting proposals are now posted online. Also online are links you may use to comment on these proposals. Public input to the drafts will wrap up with a meeting in Olympia on October 11. The meeting will be webcast on TVW and broadcast on TV. Public comments will be taken during the meeting by phoning in or joining the interactive webcast.

After the meeting on October 11, the Redistricting Commissioners will meet as often as needed to hammer out a final plan for congressional and legislative districts. Their meetings will be open to the public and announced at least 24 hours in advance. The Commissioners have set a goal of November 1st to agree on a final plan, providing time to correct minor errors before the Constitutional deadline for submitting the plans to the Legislature on January 1, 2012.

What are some of the preliminary reviews of the effects of the redistricting on the counties within the 35th Legislative District? From the standpoint of the area's Congressional Districts, the Kitsap Sun ran an article, "Kitsap could become a congressional 'big dog' under redistricting plan" in which author Steven Gardner observed that all proposals would place Kitsap County entirely within the 6th Congressional District, currently represented by Democrat Norm Dicks.

As far as changes to the Legislative District are concerned, Redistricting Commissioner Slade Gorton's proposal to move Silverdale into the 35th LD "would make the Mason County-dominated 35th more conservative."

On the other hand, Democrats on the Redistricting Commission proposed moving parts of Key Peninsula into the 35th.

Proposals which would result in changes to the Legislative District could have an impact on Representative Kathy Haigh's campaign for reelection and in the election to replace retiring Representative Fred Finn.

The majority of the proposals also remove from the 35th LD the sliver of western Thurston County presently within the District.

Denny Heck, who in 2010 lost to Jaime Herrera Beutler in the 3rd Congressional District, is said in the Olympian to have "put out a statement that said the final map looked nothing like the preliminary maps of 1991, the last time the state added a district." For this reason, it's an especially good time for interested voters to review the redistricting proposals and to make their comments known to Redistricting Commissioners.

Click here to review the proposals and to make comments to each of the four voting members on the Redistricting Commission.

You’re invited to a fundraising reception in honor of Representative Kathy Haigh!

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:32:00 +0000

Please join friends, family and supporters at a fundraising reception in support of Representative Kathy Haigh’s 2012 re-election campaign for State Representative in the 35th district! Show your support for Representative Haigh and help get the campaign under way by making a contribution of $35, $50, $100, or whatever you can afford. Light appetizers and complimentary beverages will be served.

Tuesday, September 13th, 2011
5:00-7:00 pm
Grove Street Brewhouse
233 S. 1st Street, Shelton, WA 98584

To RSVP or for more information please contact Mina Mercer at mina@hdcc.org or (206) 381-1220.

Can’t attend the event? Campaign contributions can be mailed to Committee to Re-Elect Kathy Haigh, 81 SE Walker Park Rd, Shelton, WA 98584.

This event is paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Kathy Haigh, 81 SE Walker Park Rd, Shelton, WA 98584.

Legislative Break Update from Representative Finn

noreply@blogger.com (35th Legislative Democrats) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 21:00:00 +0000

Dear Neighbor,

As we head into the final weeks of summer, I wanted to give you an update on the work I’ve been doing as your state representative during the legislative break, as well as other important legislative information.

Housing Tour Highlights the Need for New Low-Income and Transitional Housing Approaches

As vice-chair of the Community Development and Housing Committee, I have participated in several planning committee meetings. I also visited emergency, transitional and low-income housing facilities throughout Mason, Thurston, and Lewis counties in July. These facilities, which are run by nonprofit organizations and built with the help of state and federal funds, serve a variety of populations in our communities, from at-risk teens to single adults to families.

On July 1, I visited two living facilities operated by Community Youth Services, and spoke to the Executive Director and staff about how the Legislature can best promote their activities with at-risk youth. Both facilities, which serve teens in crisis as well as single mothers, are funded by federal grants administered through the state Department of Commerce.

The following week, I visited the Mason County Shelter, which houses single adults as well as families. The building is over 100 years old and prone to flooding from nearby Shelton Creek, but the staff is doing the best it can to make it work.

I also visited Drexel House and Evergreen Vista in the Olympia area, two newer facilities which offer low-income housing units as well as emergency shelter. It was especially insightful to meet Michael, a resident of Drexel House who welcomed me into his studio apartment. Without a place like Drexel House, Michael would be homeless. A chronic disability combined with the tough economy makes it nearly impossible for him to find employment. Michael has seen his monthly stipend from the state’s Disability Lifeline program shrink further and further due to state budget cuts, and knows that beginning this October it will go away entirely.

Fortunately, Michael has been able to secure Social Security disability benefits that will allow him to continue to afford the rent on his subsidized apartment. But he can’t afford market-rate housing, and that is a problem many in our community are facing right now.

As our state, and the nation as a whole, struggle to climb out of the recession, there simply isn’t enough public funding to fully cover programs that in the past have kept people like Michael out of homelessness. At the same time, the more I understand this important area, the less I am convinced that our existing approaches result in optimal bang for the taxpayers' buck. We often renovate, or build, expensive new facilities which help a lucky few, without making a substantial dent in the homeless population. How to improve these policies is a challenge that state legislators face as we move forward into 2012, and one that my committee continues to work on between now and then.

I also took action to support the Kitsap Continuum of Care Coalition’s request for a levy that would benefit veterans and their families, as well as other homeless individuals. I am hoping to visit Grays Harbor County on this and other issues next month.

Public-Private Partnerships in Transportation

Earlier this month, I attended a workshop of the state Joint Transportation Committee, which focused on public-private partnerships. We discussed various models for such partnerships, including the pros and cons of each, and the criteria for deciding what makes a project suitable for public-private partnership, among other topics.

Funding transportation needs will be one of the biggest issues facing the legislature as revenues from the state gas tax continue to drop. They are estimated to drop over $100 million in the near future. Transportation funding is critically important to our district as it impacts issues from ferries to the Belfair bypass, and interchanges at Gorst, Johns Prairie Route 3 and 101 and Lynch Road, as well as projects along Highway 12 in Grays Harbor. Future funding options were the main topic of discussion at a Pacific North West Regional Economic(PNWER) meeting I attended in Portland.

Impact of Cuts on Education

Although we were able to preserve levy equalization funding and monies for early childhood education, the legislature also made cuts to public education, particularly higher education, in order to balance the state budget.

I have visited a number of schools in the area to try to determine how they are doing in this challenging environment. The long term impact of the cuts the legislature made cannot yet be determined. Many do not take effect for some time. We are also looking closely at the extent to which the significant layoffs in some districts are primarily the result of the reduction in student census or management issues. I hope to continue to re-examine these issues while I am in the legislature.

Next State Revenue Forecast Coming Sept. 15

When legislators wrapped up the session last spring, our state budget was balanced and we left over $700 million in reserves – a responsible cushion to protect us if revenues declined further.

Unfortunately, revenues have continued to be down, a result of decreased consumer spending as Washingtonians ride out the recession. We’ve had to dip into those reserves, and just last week the governor directed all state agencies to prepare for cuts of up to 10 percent. We’ll know more when the official revenue forecast comes out September 15, but this is extremely tough news coming on the heels of the $4.5 billion in cuts that were just made in order to balance the current budget. As I am out in the community meeting with constituents, I am seeing firsthand the effects that state budget cuts have on people, and I am concerned about what further cuts may mean.

Monitoring Safety of Our Correction Officers

This past session the legislature passed a number of bills directed at preserving and enhancing safety of our correctional officers. One measure (Senate Bill 5907) ensures corrections officers will have personal body alarms, assigns proximity cards to make sure the correct people are in the different parts of the prison, and establishes a number of workgroups to correct deficiencies or create better working policies to reduce workplace dangers for prison staff. Another measure gives off-duty correctional officers who complete an approved training course the same rights as off-duty law enforcement officers when it comes to carrying firearms for protection.

These issues are vital to the hundreds of 35th residents who work in corrections. We will be monitoring the impact of these bills on the climate of our correctional facilities and the safety of our officers. Additional legislation may be necessary in this area.

Work Source Office Has Moved

Belfair-area residents will soon have a new WorkSource office to visit. I know the moving process has left these residents without service, which is particularly difficult at a time when more people than ever need it. The WorkSource employment center in Belfair is relocating to a larger space and will reopen mid-September in the North Mason County Resource Center. The new location, at 23554 N.E. State Route 3, also houses the Department of Social and Health Services, the Mason County Health Department and other community agencies. The employment center will still be staffed every Monday when it reopens. Until then, assistance is available at the WorkSource Mason County facility in Shelton, online at www.go2worksource.com or by calling 360-427-2241. Thank you for your patience during this transition.

My Final Term

Being a state legislator is an honor and privilege, and I am very grateful that the people of the 35th District have twice put their trust in me. I have worked hard during my term to merit that trust. I served on multiple committees and did not miss a single vote, declined most of my per diem and all mileage reimbursement, and considerably increased my personal charitable giving to projects within the District.

I recently announced publicly that this will be my last term. It was a difficult decision, because the Legislature’s work is never done, and I enjoy working with people on both sides of the aisle to improve our communities. I will be 67 at the end of my term and the demands of family and private business preclude further public service at this time.

But even though I am not running for a third term, I will still be working hard for you between now and the end of 2012. Many challenges still face our state and only by putting our differences aside and coming together will we be able to overcome them. We all ultimately want the same things – strong schools, economic opportunity, affordable housing options, clean water, abundant natural resources, and the promise of a better future. I am pleased that in debating how to achieve these goals we have so far avoided most of the grid lock of many other states and the Federal government.

I look forward to continuing to serve you in the coming year, and welcome your calls and emails with questions, concerns, and other feedback.

In order to save money, I am opting not to send any printed newsletters via postal mail this year. Instead, I will send occasional updates via email.

Please feel free to share these updates with your family members, neighbors, and friends who live in the 35th district. If they would like to receive my updates directly, they can sign up at this link. If you want to respond to the newsletter, you can email me directly at Finn.fred@leg.wa.gov.

Representative Fred Finn Releases His 2011 Legislative Wrap-Up

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 19:35:00 +0000

Dear Neighbor,

With the 2011 Regular and Special Legislative Sessions now officially over, I am sending you information regarding the final state budgets and new legislation.

This year, I'm opting not to mail any printed newsletters. With reductions being made throughout state government, it makes sense to take advantage of electronic communications.

Two-year operating budget passes

The Legislature approved a two-year general operating budget for our state, which includes $4.5 billion in cuts and no new taxes. While the final budget is, I believe, responsible and sustainable given the constraints legislators had to work within, it is also not without pain. Some examples of cuts that were made in order to close the revenue shortfall include:

Suspension of voter-approved initiatives regarding class size and teacher pay (saves $1.2 billion)
A 3 percent reduction to state employee salaries (saves $177 million)
Salary reductions for K-12 employees (saves $179 million)
Cuts to public colleges and universities (saves $535 million, will be partially offset by tuition increases)
Changes to the Basic Health Plan, which insures low-income workers and their families (saves $129 million)
Reduced personal care hours for long-term care and developmentally-disabled clients (saves $97 million)

These and other cuts will affect real people in our community - our family members, friends, neighbors, and colleagues. As a former school board member, the cuts to public education are particularly painful for me. However, state legislators - with House lawmakers leading the charge - were able save or institute the following:

Levy equalization funding for public schools, which helps provide a more level playing field for property-poor school districts. This funding is particularly important to rural districts.
All-day kindergarten programs that are already in place will continue forward. Additionally, funding was set aside to ensure that additional schools will be able to offer the program over the next two years.
Early learning fared reasonably well in the new budget. This is an area where a small investment by the state pays big dividends down the road. Studies show that taxpayers save $10,500 per year, every year, for each student who graduates rather than drops out. Children who are exposed to early learning programs are less likely to drop out of school later in life. We passed a measure (Senate Bill 5427) to give teachers the tools they need to assess a child's strengths and challenges as they make the transition from preschool to kindergarten.
Along with strengthening early learning, we are also working to reduce the high school dropout rate by proving a new incentive for schools. We enacted legislation (House Bill 1599), which I supported, that uses proven strategies to help students stay in school and graduate on time. In addition, the new law institutes a pay-for-performance program for high schools, encouraging schools to do better on graduation rates.

Shared sacrifice should truly be "shared"

In these times of cuts and efficiencies, legislators should not be exempt from shared sacrifice. I co-sponsored a measure this year (HJR 4204) that would have given voters the opportunity to amend our state constitution to allow for salaries of elected officials to be decreased in times of economic crisis.

In order to help fund lower class sizes for kindergarten through third grade, I was one of 48 House members who co-sponsored a measure to end a tax exemption that benefits large, out-of-state banks (House Bill 2078). The bill was approved by a simple majority in the House, but not by the supermajority required by I-1053.

I voluntarily took the following steps to reduce costs and expenditures in my own office:

No per diem pay during the special session this year
50 percent cut in per diem during the regular session
No travel/mileage reimbursement since I first came to the Legislature
Additionally, all legislative staff - including my own - has taken mandatory furloughs for the past two years, and will be impacted by the 3 percent cut in salary along with other state employees

State construction budget makes investments in the 35th District

I am pleased to report that both sides of the aisle came together to pass a bipartisan capital budget for our state. While smaller than the previous two-year budget, it still funds vital, job-creating and job-sustaining infrastructure projects across Washington, including several in or adjacent to our own district. These projects improve water quality and other infrastructure, as well as provide funding to local nonprofits for construction and renovation of their facilities:

Silverdale Water District 16 Water Quality Improvements ($10 million)
McCleary Well 2 and 3 Improvements ($1.55 million)
Mason County PUD 1 Hood Canal A and B Intertie ($472,000)
North Mason Senior Center ($1.36 million)
YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties ($2 million)
United Way of Kitsap County ($605,000)
West Sound Teen Center in East Bremerton ($305,000)
Boys and Girls Club of Thurston County ($163,000)
Roof and other repairs at Grays Harbor Community College ($1.7 million)
Heater repairs at Stafford Creek Correctional Center ($500,000)

Transportation Budget keeps Belfair Bypass moving forward

The state Transportation Budget was the first of the three state budgets (operating, capital, transportation) passed by the Legislature this year. It includes funding for the following vital projects in our district:

$4 million for widening and safety improvements along State Route 3 in the Belfair area
$435,000 to complete environmental work for the Belfair Bypass project
$350,000 for safety improvements at US 101 and Lynch Road
$1.5 million for seismic retrofits of the Mud Bay bridges along Highway 8

Compromise deal brokered for state worker’s compensation system

Both the state House and Senate were able to agree, in the last days of the special session, on a compromise deal to reform our state's worker's compensation system. It will help bring down costs, stabilize premium rates for employers, and improve the claims process for workers.

Worker's compensation was an issue that threatened to stall passage of a final budget. On the one hand, we must ensure that our system will remain solvent into the future, and that our state's employers don't find themselves hit with steep premium increases that threaten economic recovery. On the other hand, we also need to take care of our injured workers, and ensure that the system is fair to those who face a long-term or lifelong disability as a result of a job-related injury.

I supported the compromise deal, which I think is fair to both workers and employers. I also felt it was important not to let this single issue derail our efforts to wrap up the special session on time and pass an operating budget for the state.

The worker's compensation deal was a fitting end to a session that began with bipartisan passage of a measure to reform Washington's unemployment insurance system. As I mentioned in a previous newsletter, the Legislature passed a bill in February that cut unemployment insurance premiums for 90 percent of businesses in our state. The same bill also included a boost in weekly benefits for workers who become unemployed in 2011. Our unemployment insurance system is one of the most stable in the entire nation, and by cutting rates for businesses while also helping those who are looking for work we were able to help both business and labor.

Keeping in touch

Although our state has a part-time Legislature, I'm available year-round to answer your questions and respond to your comments and concerns about legislative issues. Feel free to send me an email directly to my office at Finn.Fred@leg.wa.gov or call my office at 360-786-7902.

Occasionally, I will send you email updates about my legislative work or important issues in our community. Another great way to stay informed is to read the House Democrats blog, The Advance.

It’s always an honor and privilege to represent you. This year, I did not miss a single floor vote in the House, and am committed to continuing to work hard for you - and our entire community - even when the Legislature is not in session.

Sincerely,

Fred Finn

State Representative

35th Legislative District

Mod B-101

Finn.fred@leg.wa.gov

360-786-7902

To subscribe or unsubscribe for Rep. Finn's E-Memos, click here: http://apps.leg.wa.gov/subscriptions/member.aspx?chamber=h&member=finn

Senator Sheldon reflects on 2011 legislative session

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:36:00 +0000

With the swing of a gavel, President of the Senate Brad Owen and House Speaker Frank Chopp adjourned sine die the special session of the 2011 Legislature. The long-anticipated event was made possible by recent breakthroughs between parties and chambers just days ago.

Among the largest hang-up was the Operating Budget for the 2011-13 biennium. One Senator, Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, voted against the proposal.

Asked to list some of his reasons why, Sheldon first pointed to the deep cuts borne by the state's education system.

"As lawmakers, we have a Constitutional duty to fully fund basic education for our children," Said Sheldon. "This budget slashes well over a billion dollars to K-12 education alone. While I appreciate the inclusive nature of budget discussions over the past few months, the values represented by this budget cut simply did not mirror the values of my district."

Sheldon went on to say he would have preferred to see tightened levels of prioritization and success in capturing efficiencies in state government as opposed to the deep cuts.

"Since day one, we’ve been talking about how this recession has presented state government with an opportunity to create the kind of fiscal reform that would not be possible in other years," Said Sheldon. "But what we see instead is over-reliance on news fees, short-sighted budget tricks and a failure to reduce the size of state government through consolidation."

Sheldon, however, did note a few positive measures to emerge from the 2011 session.

"What we did see a lot of this year is positive government reform measures," Said Sheldon. Asked to cite an example, Sheldon looked to recent reforms of the state’s worker's compensation system. "For over 100 years, our state has utilized the same methods for helping workers and families get back on their feet. Today, we make a thoughtful change to modernize that system in a way that boosts the quality of care for injured workers, returning them to work as soon as possible, while reinforcing the system's long-term sustainability," said Sheldon.

Lawmakers now leave Olympia until next year's legislative session, to begin early January of 2012.

Reprinted with permission from the Senate Democrats Blog.

Special Session Update from Representative Fred Finn

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Tue, 10 May 2011 17:14:00 +0000

Dear Neighbor,

I will send you a complete session wrap-up - with details of the final state budget - once the Legislature adjourns. In the meantime, here is a quick update on the special session, and highlights of some bills currently being signed into law.

2011 regular session concludes, special session begins

The Legislature concluded the 2011 regular legislative session on April 22, 2011. We were able to pass a new two-year transportation budget for the state before adjourning, but the House and Senate are still working on finalizing the state operating and construction budgets. The Governor called a special session which began on Tuesday, April 26, and we are now working on finalizing these last two budgets.

To read a summary of the three state budgets, what they pay for and how they are funded, read my previous e-newsletter.

In order to help keep the costs of the special session down, House lawmakers are not required to come to Olympia unless we are specifically caucusing or voting on legislation. Otherwise, only those legislators directly involved in the budget negotiations are at the state capitol. Additionally, many legislators, myself included, are opting not to receive per diem pay during the special session.

As budgets negotiations continue, bills are being signed into law

Bills that passed the Legislature during the regular session have been sent to the Governor's office for signature. I wanted to let you know about several bills that have already been signed:

Foreclosure Fairness Act goes into effect July 13 (House Bill 1362) - Foreclosure mediation programs have been shown to make a positive difference in reducing the number of people who lose their homes. I co-sponsored a measure that will soon give new hope to families across the state facing the possibility of foreclosure. Modeled after a successful Nevada law, this bill gives struggling homeowners better access to housing counselors and third-party mediation, which lenders must agree to if the homeowner requests it. A consumer protection remedy is also included, in case a lender does not comply with the new rules.

Closing a safety loophole to protect law enforcement officers (House Bill 1933) - The idea for this bill was brought to my attention by someone who works for the Washington State Patrol. It concerns vehicle data for collector cars and license plate fraud. There are about 111,000 "collector vehicles" in our state. Until now, law enforcement could not run a "wants and warrants" search if such a vehicle was involved in a traffic stop. The officer would also have no way of knowing if the vehicle's plate was legal or not. I'm pleased to say that the governor signed my bill, which directs the state Department of Licensing to make collector vehicle data readily accessible to law enforcement. It also makes the use of fake collector plates a misdemeanor.

Protecting our correctional officers (House Bill 1041) - Our district is home to the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton. Many of us have friends, neighbors, or family members who are correctional employees, and we want to make sure they are safe both on and off duty. That's why I voted in favor of this bill, which allows correctional personnel and community corrections officers who have completed government-sponsored firearms training to be exempt from certain firearms restrictions.

Keeping both lawns and waterways healthy (House Bill 1489) - Our state is now the third in the nation (following Minnesota and Michigan) to pass legislation limiting phosphorous in lawn fertilizer. The reason is that algae need phosphorous to grow, and studies have shown a link between the phosphorous in lawn fertilizer, and toxic algae blooms in rivers, lakes and other bodies of water. I'm proud to have co-sponsored this bill, which still allows phosphorous to be used when seeding a new lawn or for agricultural purposes. Everyone else won't notice a difference - lawns will still be healthy, but so will our waterways.

Sign up to receive my e-newsletter

In order to save money, I am opting not to send any printed newsletters via postal mail this year. Instead, I will send occasional updates via email.

Please feel free to share these updates with your family members, neighbors, and friends who live in the 35th district. If they would like to receive my updates directly, they can sign up at this link.

Contact Representative Fred Finn
BY MAIL
MOD B 101
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600

BY PHONE
(360) 786-7902
1 (800) 562.6000 toll free
1 (800) 635-9993 TTY-TDD (hearing impaired)

BY EMAIL
finn.fred@leg.wa.gov

WEBSITE
My home page

2011 State Budget Update - State Representative Fred Finn

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 22:25:00 +0000

This week, the House of Representatives introduced a two-year budget proposal for the state. The House Capital Budget committee also released its state construction budget proposal. And last week, the House passed its Transportation Budget.

Unless you follow the legislature very closely, all these different budgets may seem a bit confusing. I have been asked: "Why, if we are cutting 'X' program, can we find money for 'Y' program?" The answer is the money comes from different sources and is subject to different requirements. I thought this would be a good time for me to give you an update on each budget, and explain where the money for each comes from.

The Transportation Budget

Our state's Transportation Budget funds our highways, ferry system, transit, bike and pedestrian projects, as well as most of the Washington State Patrol. It is funded primarily through the state gas tax, which consumers pay at the pump. Our state constitution requires gas taxes to only be used for transportation, so this money never goes into the state's general fund.

Last week, the House passed a two-year, $8.9 billion Transportation Budget on a strong 89-6 bipartisan vote. This budget funds important projects all over the state which generate more than 43,000 direct and indirect jobs. Several projects in the 35th District are funded in the House proposal. These include:

$4 million for widening and safety improvements along State Route 3 in the Belfair area
$435,000 to complete environmental work for the Belfair Bypass project
$350,000 for safety improvements at US 101 and Lynch Road

The Capital Budget

Funding for our public buildings comes from the state Capital Budget, also known as the construction budget. While there is some cash in this budget, most of the money comes from the state's sale of bonds. Capital Budget projects include the construction and repair of public schools and universities, and vital community infrastructure projects like sewer and water systems. These are all projects that generate jobs in communities around the state. Additionally, nonprofit and community organizations sometimes receive grants through the Capital Budget to fund construction and renovation projects.

This year's House Capital Budget proposal is $3.1 billion, and includes the following for the 35th District:

$2 million for a water main project along SR 3 in Belfair
$1.36 million for the North Mason Senior Center
$1.25 million for the YMCA of Pierce and Kitsap Counties
$305,000 for West Sound Teen Center (Boys & Girls Clubs)
$1.25 million for the Silverdale YMCA (Hazelwood Family YMCA)

The Operating Budget

The largest budget is the state Operating Budget, which is what most people think of when they hear about "the state budget." This is what funds most state government operations, from education to social services to prisons to parks and natural resource programs. About half of the revenue for this budget comes from the state sales tax. The state Business & Occupation Tax and the state's portion of property taxes also go to the Operating Budget.

This budget is giving lawmakers the most concern this year, because the recent state revenue forecast indicates we are facing about a $5.1 billion shortfall in our upcoming two-year operating budget.

Our state constitution requires us to have a balanced budget, so unlike the federal government we cannot run a deficit. Additionally, voters passed Initiative 1053 last fall, which requires a 2/3 majority of legislators in both the state House and Senate to vote in favor of any new revenue. Because this 2/3 majority doesn’t exist in the Legislature at this time, we must balance the budget through cuts alone.

One of the biggest challenges to an all-cuts budget is the amount of the budget that is "off-limits." Basic education is protected by our state constitution, as well as our debt service payments. That leaves less than half of the budget actually available to cut, and of course the cuts fall harder on this smaller share.

The proposal put forth by the House this week makes some tough cuts, but is overall the most responsible budget that we could draft given the circumstances. It speaks to the values of Washingtonians, which are that we don't turn our backs on the most vulnerable among us. Along those lines, here are some things House budget writers were able to save:

Health care coverage for 25,000 low-income children
Levy equalization funding for property-poor school districts
College aid for foster kids
Basic Health Plan coverage for the working poor
Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program (ECEAP)
Medical and housing assistance for 20,000 adults who are unable to work because of a severe disability

But make no mistake: an all-cuts budget comes at a price. Some of the cuts that were inevitable in order to balance the budget include:

$482 million cut from higher education (which will be partially made up by higher tuition fees at our state colleges and universities)
$362 million cut by forgoing automatic cost-of-living increases for Plan 1 state retirees
$216 million cut from class-size enhancement funding for grades K-4
$177 million cut from state employee salaries
$100 million in reduced Disability Lifeline grants
$97 million in reduced personal care hours for long-term care and developmentally disabled clients

Although the House proposal is just that - a proposal - it serves as a starting point in the upcoming budget negotiations. The House and Senate must both pass a final budget, which will then go to the governor's desk for signature. I remain hopeful that we will be able to finalize the budget by the end of the regular legislative session, which is scheduled to end on April 24. In the event that we cannot pass a final budget by that date, we would have to go into a special session to finish our work.

If you would like to respond or offer comments you can email me at Fred.Finn@leg.wa.gov.

Minutes from the February 19th Meeting Now Online

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 17:47:00 +0000

Minutes from the February 19, 2011 meeting of the Washington 35th Legislative District Democrats are now online.

Highlights include reports on the State Democratic reorganization and appointments of 35th LD members to various committees within the Washington Democrats.

Chair Mark Biggs presented a draft of the 35th LD Democrats 2011 Strategic Plan.

Two meeting dates for the 35th LD were established, May 7th in Belfair and a holiday party to be held on December 3rd. The location of the holiday party has yet to be determined.

The Summer Picnic is scheduled for August 13 at the Allyn Waterfront Park.

Treasurer Larry Frank presented the current budget for approval.

There's much more in the two pages of Minutes. Click here to view a copy.

Benefit Champagne Brunch and 35th LD Meeting, May 7

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 22:32:00 +0000

You are invited to a Champagne Brunch to benefit the Washington 35th Legislative District Democrats.
May 7, 2011
11:00 AM
Bremerton Airport Diner
8830 State Hwy 3 S.W.
Port Orchard, WA 98367

Brunch includes omelette bar, fresh fruit, home fries, biscuits and gravy, breakfast meats and muffins, assorted desserts and non-alcoholic beverages.

$40 per person for the brunch and two champagne coupons.

There will be a raffle, and a prize for the member who brings the most guests.

Join us for a champagne brunch, then stick around for our meeting at 1 PM.

2011 Mid-Session Legislative Report from State Representative Fred Finn

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Sat, 05 Mar 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Although economists are saying the national recession is officially "over," our economy is recovering very slowly. Washington is one of 46 states - governed by both Democrats and Republicans - currently facing a budget shortfall. Responsible solutions come from working together. So far this session, I think the Legislature is working together better than it has in many past years.

When I ran a business, I had to cut back on inventory and staffing during tough times. I did, and our business survived and ultimately thrived. Our state is finding itself in a similar situation today. We must make sensible, though painful cuts. Our state will make these cuts, yet preserve as much of our safety net as possible. We will emerge from this recession with a slimmed-down government.

I came to the Legislature as a former school board member who was frustrated with many aspects of our system of education. The current financial situation is a setback, but it doesn't mean we sit back and do nothing. We're working on proposals to curb dropout rates and better serve our student populations. We're fighting to protect children's health care, because children can't learn when they're not healthy. We're also pursuing alternative approaches for principal certification so we can attract the best and brightest leaders.

And we're eliminating waste and abuse where we find it in all of government, so that we maximize the dollars we have for the sake of students.

In short, we're making responsible decisions in tough times.

Here are some actions the Legislature has taken in the first half of the 2011 Session:

Budget update

The first order of business was the supplemental budget that the Governor recently signed. This balances the state's books through the end of the current fiscal year, which ends June 30, 2011. We had to cut $22.9 million from K-12 education programs and $25 million from higher education. We also limited enrollment in the state Basic Health Plan to those eligible for federal matching funds.

We were able to save some programs from being eliminated entirely, such as the Apple Health for Kids plan, and the Disability Lifeline grant for those unable to work because of a disability, albeit with a reduced amount.

Bipartisan unemployment insurance

Legislators on both sides of the aisle agreed to cut unemployment insurance premiums for 90 percent of businesses in our state. Small business owners can instead use that money to reinvest in their business. The bill includes more access to job training programs for unemployed workers, who will also qualify for the federal unemployment extension passed by Congress. Those who are laid off in 2011 will get a temporary boost in unemployment benefits of $25 per week, which means an extra $100 a month for many struggling families. While 30 other states are facing insolvency in their unemployment insurance systems, ours is so financially sound we were able to help both businesses and workers.

National Guard education bill advances

I have sponsored a bill that cleared the House unanimously and is now working its way through the Senate. House Bill 1221 will allow National Guard and military reservists who are called to duty for periods under 30 days the option of putting their higher education studies on hold without penalty. Those who have volunteered for service shouldn’t have to face unnecessary obstacles in their pursuit of higher education.

Preventing Foreclosures

Thousands of families across the state are losing their homes to foreclosure, which hurts neighborhoods, communities, and of course the families themselves. The Legislature is working on ways to help prevent people from losing their homes to foreclosure. This includes a measure, modeled after a Nevada law, that requires mediation between lenders and homeowners. There is also a consumer protection remedy in case lenders don’t properly comply with the foreclosure process. The bill passed the House this week.

Protecting vulnerable adults

There are several thousand licensed adult family homes (AFHs) in our state, which serve as alternatives to assisted living or nursing homes. The focus on these homes increased after a series of articles in the Seattle Times regarding the quality of care in these facilities, and the lack of adequate oversight by the state. The Legislature is considering increasing licensing fees for AFHs to fund better oversight, as current fees only cover about six percent of oversight costs. In these tight budget times we can’t afford to subsidize the regulation of AFHs to such a high degree. It's worth noting that under the current proposal, AFHs caring for Medicaid clients would have the cost of increasing their licensing fees added to their Medicaid rate, so that the homes will be reimbursed for the proportion of the increased cost based upon the percentage of Medicaid clients they are caring for in their home.

More accountability in our ferry system

The Legislature is considering several proposals to improve the oversight and accountability of our state ferry system. How to fund our ferries now and into the future is also something that lawmakers must consider. In the current budget climate, solutions that require more funding by the state aren't likely to happen. One proposal that has been rejected is the Governor's idea to create a regional taxing district among several counties to fund ferry operations. Many legislators, myself included, believe this is an unworkable idea that does not secure stable funding for our ferries. I will continue to keep you informed of ferry-related legislation, and you are always welcome to contact my office if you have questions or feedback.

Keep in touch

I hope that you have found this Legislative update useful both for what we are doing as well as how I view many of the issues facing our state. Thank you for electing me to represent you during these challenging times. I promise that I will continue to work hard to justify the trust you have placed in me. Please feel free to visit, email or write me on any matter of concern to you. I am happy to say that during the first two months of this legislative session, hundreds of you have done so. I read everything and try to respond to as many as time will allow. Thank you again.

Are You Ready to Be an Engaged Citizen This Legislative Session?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Mon, 03 Jan 2011 23:15:00 +0000

Engaged Democrats within the 35th Legislative District know their involvement in the process of government does not end at the ballot box. In fact, it only begins there. The next session of the Washington Legislature begins on January 10th - a very short few days away. It's liable to be a bruising session. And, this is a long session - at least 105 days. What are some of the resources we can use to monitor activties and to make our voices heard in Olympia?

If you could use a refresher course on how bills get passed, you might like to read the "Overview of the Legislative Process" at http://www.leg.wa.gov/legislature/Pages/Overview.aspx There are a lot of links on that page, to agendas and calendars that will begin to fill up - and fast! - around the start of the session.

Are you tracking a specific bill? The page at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/BillInfo/ is a good place to start.

Keeping up with the news from Olympia can be tricky. But, with a few web sites and a couple of online tools, you can stay "in the know" as the session proceeds. The Senate Democratic caucus has a web site at http://sdc.leg.wa.gov/ and their blog, named "The Hopper," is at http://blog.senatedemocrats.wa.gov/ and is updated frequently.

The House Democratic caucus is online at http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/

Both Representatives Haigh and Representative Finn have e-mail newsletters to which you can subscribe, from their invidual web sites. Kathy Haigh's site is at http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/haigh/index.asp and Fred Finn's is at http://housedemocrats.wa.gov/members/finn/index.asp

Senator Sheldon's web site is at http://sdc.leg.wa.gov/senators/sheldon/ and, in recent years, he's posted a series of videos, as the session has progressed.

A terrific way to track legislation of interest to you is by watching committee hearings, either live or whenever you have the time, at http://tvw.org/ TVW records all sorts of legislative activity you will find of interest.

How are your representatives voting? Check out WashingtonVotes, at http://www.washingtonvotes.org/

Looking for more news? Go to GoogleNews, at http://news.google.com/news?ned=us and enter a search term of interest to you.

There are a wealth of blogs supplying news and opinion which may be of interest to Democrats in the 35th Legislative Distrct. Among these are:

Correspondent Austin Jenkins' blog, "The Washington Ledge," at http://www.waledge.com/
Northwest Progressive Institute at http://www.nwprogressive.org/weblog/

Find the "35th Legislative District Democrats" on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter, too, at http://twitter.com/35thLD We're following a number of others on Twitter and we regularly "re-tweet" material of interest.

What's the easiest way to follow a whole lot of online news, in one easy place? By subscribing to "news feeds" (sometimes called "RSS" feeds, for "Really Simple Syndication") and using Google Reader. Most of the web sites referenced in this post generate their own RSS feeds and Google Reader can aggregate those feeds so that you can read them all in one place, online through any web browser. Go to http://www.reader.google.com/ for more information and to sign up for a free account.

What are your favorite sources of local news and opinion? Leave your comments or join our Facebook Group to tell us.

District PCOs Elect New Executive Board

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 01:42:00 +0000

Precinct Committee Officers from across the legislative district convened for the district's reorganization meeting this last Saturday. Join us in congratulating the members of the new Executive Board:

Mark Biggs, Chair
Ginny Duff, Vice Chair
Linda Amar, Secretary
Larry Frank, Treasurer
Cathi Bright, State Committeeperson
Dale Bright, State Committeeperson

Thank you for your service to the Washington 35th Legislative District Democrats!

Do the Ends Ever Justify the Means?

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 16:02:00 +0000

When my Dean asked me to teach Business and Society that semester, he incentivized the deal by adding, parenthetically, that I could teach it just about any way I wanted because this was the last term it would be a required course for a business degree from SUNY-Albany.

Without knowing the processes that led to the decision to drop B&S, the only course that addressed moral and ethical issues created by the interactions between business and society as a whole, I can't help but wonder whether the present climate, in both business and society as a whole, of bypassing moral considerations in decisions, exempted from these limitations by the belief that the ends or ultimate objectives are so important or crucial (at least to the person or groups making the decision) that any means or methods may be employed in pursuit of these ends, emanates from similar devaluations of our culture's moral compass?

But, I'm getting ahead of myself. First, let's think about why and how we make decisions. Mind boggling as it might seem, everything we do is the result of a decision. Granted, most routine decisions come from habits or subconscious processes. For example, I habitually put my foot on the brake when approaching a stop sign.

However, I instinctively brake if I see brake lights on the car in front of me. The important question is why we decide the way we decide. "Of course," I hear you respond, "wherever possible, I determine the facts and based on the facts, I make a rational decision."

I would agree that assembling facts is a rational process, but does that really mean that the decision was rational? What is the connection between facts, your decisions, and the potential final outcome? A growing body of research finds that the connection between facts, decisions, and potential outcomes, is our feeling about whether the outcomes would be good or bad for us.

The decision making process goes like this:

1. We gather information

We assess whether the outcome of the decision, based on that information, would be good or bad for us.

We make the decision based on our feelings, or our emotional reaction, to the possible outcome.

"White lies" perfectly demonstrate that we consciously decide to lie because it serves a social good.

So, if our decisions are based on our perception of what the outcomes mean to us, you can see that it is a very slippery slope toward using any means toward those ends. It is interesting indeed that many of the very people who believe strongly in rules--the rule of law, the Constitution, the Ten Commandments, the Bible--conveniently bend those rules whenever the importance of their desired ends overrides their loyalty to their rules. On a political level, "the end justifies the ends" excuses lie after lie if those lies help a political group fulfill their ultimate agenda. And unfortunately, parties differ only in the degree to which they overlook integrity in pursuit if their own agenda.

So finally, back to the Business & Society course. The last required B&S course in the School of Business, SUNY-Albany was in 1994, sixteen years ago. Sixteen years where future managers and business leaders completed entire four-year degree programs without a single course urging them to weigh their actions from the view of society as a whole, not just from the narrower Corporate Golden Rule, which is "To Maximize Shareholder Wealth. " Not that one single course is going to change the moral path of any given student, but if we generalize the SUNY faculty's indifference to ethical dilemmas, and if we extrapolate SUNY's decision to drop their business ethics course to attitudes in the rest of the country, the last sixteen years have shown us the results of such decisions. Whether those results were intentional or unintended consequences, can we ever restore our business culture's moral compass? Compasses point us along a path toward our outcomes. If we follow that path with integrity, perhaps eventually, the means also will be the end.

-- Nancy Frank, Chair, Washington 35th Legislative District Democrats

If They Vote and We Don't, They Win

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:57:00 +0000

One thing is certain: Someone will be elected to represent YOU. When you fail to vote, you give away your power to those who do.

We have the best qualified candidates by far. But without determined support, they could become casualties of confused groups misled by clever propagandists with questionable motives.

Oil billionaires like the Koch brothers want to replace our democracy with totalitarian rule by the wealthiest. Their strategy includes bankrolling right-wing think tanks that churn out anti-Obama lies, networks of phony "grassroots" movements and disinformation campaigns based on fear and hate.

Voters are angry about the slow pace of economic recovery. Democrats are being targeted because they did not quickly undo the mess caused by Wall Street and its Republican operatives. With Republicans blocking every effort to fix our economy, it will take far longer to clean up after the predators who made obscene fortunes wrecking it. Yet, contrary to all logic and common sense, voters are being persuaded that the solution is to hand our government over to the same gang that wrecked our economy in the first place.

Republicans have made it unmistakably clear they plan to undo any progress we have made toward getting our economy back on track and creating good jobs here in America. They fight to keep tax breaks for the very rich, promote giveaways to companies that ship our jobs overseas, and block every effort to rein in Wall Street abuse.

We can't let a few power-driven billionaires buy our election. We need to respond to their Party of "NO" with a resounding "NO WAY."

Democracy is not a spectator sport. Those who retreat to the sidelines are aiding the other side. Send a message to your friends and neighbors by getting actively involved. Work for candidates who will work for all of us, and not just for their wealthy campaign contributors.

-- Gene Bullock

Dunning-Kruger Effect

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:52:00 +0000

You will love this! If you, like me, are frustrated with attempts to understand and communicate with folks to our right, you will be excited to hear about the the Dunning-Kruger Effect. Finally, an explanation for their total lack of logic! You will love this!

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

The Dunning-Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which an unskilled person makes poor decisions and reaches erroneous conclusions, but their incompetence denies them the metacognitive ability to realize their mistakes. The unskilled therefore suffer from illusory superiority, rating their own ability as above average, much higher than it actually is, while the highly skilled underrate their abilities, suffering from illusory inferiority. This leads to the situation in which less competent people rate their own ability higher than more competent people. It also explains why actual competence may weaken self-confidence: because competent individuals falsely assume that others have an equivalent understanding. "Thus, the miscalibration of the incompetent stems from an error about the self, whereas the miscalibration of the highly competent stems from an error about others."

The Dunning-Kruger effect was put forward by Justin Kruger and David Dunning. Similar notions have been expressed - albeit less scientifically - for some time. Dunning and Kruger themselves quote Charles Darwin ("Ignorance more frequently begets confidence than does knowledge") and Bertrand Russell ("One of the painful things about our time is that those who feel certainty are stupid, and those with any imagination and understanding are filled with doubt and indecision."). W.B. Yeats put it concisely thus: "the best lack all conviction while the worst are filled with passionate intensity." The Dunning-Kruger effect is not, however, concerned narrowly with high-order cognitive skills (much less their application in the political realm during a particular era, which is what Russell was talking about.) Nor is it specifically limited to the observation that ignorance of a topic is conducive to overconfident assertions about it, which is what Darwin was saying. Indeed, Dunning et al. cite a study saying that 94% of college professors rank their work as "above average" (relative to their peers), to underscore that the highly intelligent and informed are hardly exempt. Rather, the effect is about paradoxical defects in perception of skill, in oneself and others, regardless of the particular skill and its intellectual demands, whether it is chess, playing golf or driving a car.

-- Nancy Frank, Chair, Washington 35th Legislative District Democrats

The Key to Success

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:50:00 +0000

This election season has been very busy. This is my 9th election for the Legislature and I have never seen so many candidate forums and signs.

With an unprecedented number of initiatives on the ballot and the Murray/Rossi race topping the ticket, the TV market will be saturated.

The key to success in November is turnout -- pure and simple. Democrats need to be energized and make sure their friends vote. Without big turnout by the democrats, the face of Olympia and Washington, D.C. will be very, very different.

-- Senator Tim Sheldon

Make Your Vote Count!

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:47:00 +0000

I am one of the official election observers for MCDCC in Mason County. One of the duties of that position is observing the process involved in referring disputed ballots to the Canvassing Board. In the most recent primary election I watched as a stack of ballots possibly two to three inches thick went uncounted because the postmarks on the envelopes were after the deadline. I want to urge everyone who mails their ballot via the post office to get that ballot in the mail before the stated deadline. In the upcoming General Election the deadline in November 2nd. I would urge people to get their ballots in the mail no later than November 1st.

And to those among us who use the ballot drop boxes, get those ballots into the box before 8 PM November 2nd. Just because you can drop your ballot in the next morning does not mean it will be counted. The drop boxes are locked at 8:01 P.M. on election night and the ballots are picked up.

-- Adrienne Amar

Our Guys are Tops!

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:45:00 +0000

The date for ballot drop rapidly approaches. In case you didn't recognize the technical term, "ballot drop" is political jargon for the date the mail-in ballots hit the post office. Our LD, especially the Mason county volunteers, seem to have found an antidote to the political malaise supposedly plaguing the rest of the county. They consistently rank at the top of state postings in voter ID calls and canvassing. Great work everybody! But don't stop yet, in fact join them as we transition from these last weeks of pre-ballot drop to the intense days of Get Out the Vote efforts. We have some of the best candidates in the state, and with our support and hard work, experience will win out in the long run!

-- Nancy Frank, Chair, Washington 35th Legislative District Democrats

Fred Finn Campaign Update

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:43:00 +0000

We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for all their time and support. One weekend we doorbelled in Bremerton, where with the help of over 30 volunteers we passed out lit to nearly 800 doors. What an impressive number! It's this kind of support that will make the difference come Election Day.

The following weekend, we had a great time with over 20 volunteers who came out to canvass Elma and McCleary. We canvassed nearly 450 doors, and passed out over 500 pieces of literature. Very successful day!

On another note, Fred is attending many community functions and candidates forums expressing his vision to keep moving the 35th forward. We had a lovely meet and greet at the home of Judy Mastick, with the help of her co-hostesses, Marcia Hamilton and Diane O Neal.

The support has been overwhelming, and again thank you to all who have helped, rather it is making phone calls, sign waving, or canvassing, it all counts and makes a huge difference!

-- Representative Fred Finn

Click here for more information on the campaign to re-elect Fred Finn, Washington State House of Representatives.

Kathy Haigh

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 15:38:00 +0000

A lobbyist was once overheard saying that the trouble with donating money to Rep. Kathy Haigh is that it "doesn't buy you anything." What he meant, of course, is that Kathy Haigh is one of those independent legislators who votes her conscience, and that campaign contributions have little influence on the way she votes.

Kathy Haigh is one of the most admired and respected legislators we have in Olympia. She gets high marks from all who know her for unflinching honesty and devotion to doing the right thing for families. She is known for straight answers. You may not agree with every decision, but you always know she has well-thought-out reasons that rise above politics and lazy short-term accommodation.

He was right about not being able to influence her vote, but wrong when he said that campaign contributions to Kathy don't buy us anything. Contributions to Kathy are an investment in good government, our educational system and the future of our children.

I don't even live in Kathy's district, but if I did, I would vote for her in a heartbeat.

-- Gene Bullock

Don't Ask, Don't Tell

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 07:40:00 +0000

Commissioner's Note from Peter J Goldmark

noreply@blogger.com (Mark Messinger) — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 07:11:00 +0000

Dear Friends & Supporters,

If we are going to restore Puget Sound by 2020, we all know it is going to take making some tough choices.

But that is not all - it will also take a lot of people, doing a lot of hard work. Which is why, this legislative session, I'll be requesting legislation to Put People to Work, Cleaning up Puget Sound.

I've proposed the establishment of a Puget "SoundCorps," a program that would hire young people and returning veterans to put them to work doing Puget Sound restoration projects.

You may not know that over 40% of the land in the Puget Sound basin is managed, owned or regulated by the Department of Natural Resources. That is a lot of responsibility - a responsibility I take very seriously. I believe that with this bill, we can harness federal grant funding that would provide more hands to do tough jobs like removing bulkheads, restoring habitat at toxic-sediment clean-up sites, assisting with the removal of forest roads that pollute streams, and more.

As a scientist, I am also excited to announce that we would be able to recruit young people and veterans with training in fields like biology, hydrology, and geology, using some SoundCorps teams as a training ground for the next generation of northwest natural resource scientists.

Unemployment in Washington is at a nearly unprecedented high, and young people and returning veterans are bearing more than their fair share of the burden. This is why, in the coming year, I look forward to working with you to put more boots on the ground, and more waders in the water to clean-up Puget Sound.

Sincerely,

Peter J Goldmark
Commissioner of Public Lands

Click here for more information regarding Peter Goldmark, Washington's Commissioner of Public Lands.