Curbing Runaway Government in WA State

So Governor Gregoire wants to raise taxes.  Again. With our current state legislature, she will probably get her wish because they could nullify the 2/3 majority vote to raise taxes. Do you have the uncomfortable feeling that government is seizing more control of your life? In 2009, Tax Freedom Day came on August 17, according to Evergreen Freedom Foundation’s calculations. That means that the money you made from January 1 to August 16 was taken by the government, through various forms of taxation and fees.  This was a full month longer than in 2008, so if you’ve been feeling the pinch, you’re not imagining things.  While our state officials claim that they did not raise taxes in 2009, the truth is that in the 2009 legislative session, they raised taxes and fees by $590,000,000 for the next two years.  And now they want to increase it even more. This is why we are struggling to pay our bills, businesses are closing, and people are losing their jobs. Our elected officials are sucking us dry. 

It is time for Citizen Legislators to stand up and say, loudly and firmly, “Enough!”  From 2004 to 2008, Olympia saw an increase of 20% in revenue (your money); but in the same four years, Olympia increased their spending by 32%!  You and I don’t run our household budgets that way; we know it’s a recipe for disaster. How is it that Olympia can find money for new touch-screen kiosks at a museum...but then cut funding to teachers and librarians? This mismanagement must come to an end. It requires resolve, real-world private-sector experience, and a solid understanding of the proper role of government.

We must return to a Priorities of Government model (POGs). Set aside 2% of the projected revenue, like a rainy-day fund; look at the tasks under State Government’s jurisdiction, according to our State Constitution (ten areas: Education, Transportation, etc.) and give each area its slice of the rest of the financial pie. Within each area, officials need to ask themselves, “Can any of this be done equally or better by the private sector?” After all, Government’s job is simply to do that which cannot be done better or cheaper by private citizens or enterprise. Otherwise there is no moral justification for confiscating someone else's hard-earned money. 

 

If Governor Gregoire and our State Legislature will return to the POG model, and consider the legitimate role of government (recognizing that government has only the money it takes from its citizens' pockets), they will not need to raise taxes. They will cut taxes to spur growth. But I am not incognizant of the truth. This isn't about money...it's about power over you, the electorate.  It's time to elect legislators who will stand up to this bullying, put a stop to this nonsense...and return power to the People.  

That Pesky "General Welfare" Clause

Here's my audience last night for the following speech: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcOntgnvYu4&feature=related.    

Does our United States Constitution allow for government health care? Many people are carelessly --or disingenuously-- using the phrase “promote the general welfare” to justify confiscating taxpayers’ hard-earned money, while claiming that opponents of government takeover of health care are greedy or uncompassionate. If the authors of the Constitution intended to collect taxes for health care, it’s odd that this was not undertaken by the first five Presidents, who were all considered Founding Fathers. It’s odd that Benjamin Franklin, who helped found the first hospital on this side of the Atlantic and was one of its primary fundraisers, did not advocate using federal tax dollars for health care. Our third president, Thomas Jefferson had this to say about the general welfare clause: “...Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but were to those specially enumerated and that, as it was never meant they should raise money for purposes which the enumeration did not place under their action,...consequently that the specification of powers is a limitation of the purposes for which they may raise money.” (letter from Thomas Jefferson to Albert Gallatin, June 16, 1817, 30 years after the signing of the Constitution.) Our fourth president James Madison, the “Father of the Constitution,” wrote in a letter to Edmund Pendleton in 1792, “If Congress can do whatever in their discretion can be done for money, and will promote the general welfare, the government is no longer a limited one, possessing enumerated powers...” 

So what are these “enumerated powers”? What does our Constitution say is the US government’s job? Army. Navy. Immigration laws. Regulation of international trade. Protection against pirates. And only about fifteen other jobs, listed in Article I, Section 8. Then, just to make certain that there was no confusion, the 10th Amendment states, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively or to the people.” That’s us. We the People. Government works best when its closest to the people it represents. Nationalized health care puts medical decisions in the hands of bureacrats in DC, moving power from the people directly to the executive branch who will appoint said bureacrats.

According to Lenin, socialism is a transitional stage between capitalism and communism. Reagan warned in the 1960’s that socialized government health care would allow socialism to gain a foothold; find the Youtube clip under “Reagan health care.” And then reread your Constitution. It’s time to remember that ours is a constitutionally-limited government of the people, by the people, and for the people. If general welfare is provided, rather than promoted, we might well be asked to provide subsidized cabbage, heat, and clothing for all. It’s been done. But mountains of cheap cabbage in the streets of China stink; Mao suits are ugly and oppressive, and so is socialism. Thanks, but no thanks; however well-intentioned ‘progressives’ may be, we the people prefer liberty.

High Taxes Means Lost Jobs for Snohomish County

Boeing announced today that they will be building their second 787 production line in South Carolina.  Governor Gregoire's 'no more concessions for Boeing' strategy was the height of foolishness and conjures up images of the proverbial ostrich. While some of our elected representatives were holding fake townhalls (ticketed only) on Initiative 1033 and Referendum 71, South Carolina's governor called a special session and their legislature hammered out additional tax incentives to lure Boeing to their state. Why? That famous "three-letter word" that now-VP Joe Biden told us was the top issue: "J-O-B-S."  In Snohomish County, 14% of the jobs are directly related to Boeing, another 2.5 jobs are created by each of those Boeing jobs, and 22% of the total salary in the county comes from Boeing. Snohomish County is struggling: 67,000 of us are out of work, and 6000 more homes are about to get their foreclosure notices. Seems like our Governor and State Legislature would be doing everything possible to promote job-creation here.  Boeing seems an obvious place to start, but apparently special interests control not only the pursestrings but the legislative process.  The Republicans in the Washington State Legislature proposed bill after bill to try to answer Boeing's requests but these bills never got the chance to be voted on; they were buried in committee, by the Powers That Be.  

It's not as if Boeing hasn't been patient. In the 1960s Boeing told the state to lower taxes or they would leave.  Warnings were given each decade and in 2003 Boeing asked for and was promised four things: workforce training, infrastructure improvement, unemployment insurance reform, and reform of workers' compensation insurance.  Workforce training means education; has it improved to acceptable levels? We have a high school graduation rate of 70.9% in Snohomish County; NEAP test results show 38% of Washington State 8th grade students score above proficiency in math.  Do your own experiment: ask recent high school grads what the tax is on $200 at 8%.  Most of them can't do it, as my husband found in 'mock interviews' he conducted last week. Would you want to hire these kids to build an airplane?

 Infrastructure improvement: are you spending less time in traffic than you did six years ago? Neither is Boeing--and shipping time is money.  Reform of workers' comp: why does it take three times longer to recover from a leg injury here than in another state? Go figure. Let's ask the business owner who filmed one of his employees on workers comp carrying a bathtub into a house and putting a roof on a house. Labor and Industries threatened the employer with a lawsuit if he released the video. Your tax-dollars at work.  Perhaps this begins to explain why Washington residents finally reached Tax Freedom Day on August 17 this year, a full month later than last year, according to Evergreen Freedom Foundation.  Yes, that's the day you got to begin earning money for your budget...instead of government's budget for their wish list.  Unemployment insurance reform: ours is sixth-highest cost in U.S, over double the SC cost. 

It doesn't have to be this way.  When your elected representatives' wish list doesn't bear any resemblance to yours, it's time for a change. If a job is at the top of your list, or a good education for Washington's kids, or lower health care costs, it's time to back legislative candidates who will make it happen. Do your State Representatives really represent you?

Smaller Government = More Liberty and Prosperity

Hello, I’m Elizabeth Scott and I’m running for State Representative, for the 21st Legislative District which includes all of Mukilteo, and parts of Edmonds, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace and south Everett, roughly from I-5 to the water, and from the Edmonds ferry to the northern edge of Mukilteo.

These are exciting times. Citizens are becoming informed and involved, because they see that government spending is unsustainable. Tax Freedom Day this year came on August 17, a full month later than last year; this is the day when you got to start earning money for your budget, not the government’s.  I am running because I want to be part of the solution: smaller government will solve our state’s problems with the economy, education, and health care. My District is in Snohomish County, where 14% of the jobs and 22% of the salary are directly related to Boeing, and 2.5 jobs are lost for every Boeing job lost; you would think that the State Legislature would be scrambling to find ways to make Washington a good home for Boeing, but Chief Executive magazine ranked us the 40th-best state for business, due to our high taxes. I will fight for lower taxes, starting with restructuring the B&O tax and L&I. I’ll propose a Blue Ribbon Commission of business leaders to recommend how we can simplify regulation and red tape. Texas, due to their lower taxes, created more jobs in 2008 than the other 49 states combined. Washington can thrive again with smaller government, which history proves will create jobs and bring in higher tax revenue.

Speaking of the future, did you know that the high school graduation rate in Snohomish County is 70.9%, according to the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction?  Worse, many of those who graduate and go on to community college find that they must take remedial math or English classes, or both. So the taxpayers are paying for it twice. Our state constitution says education is of ‘paramount’ importance, but after several decades of good intentions but broken promises, it’s clear that government’s incessant meddling isn’t working.   This is because government works best when it’s closest to the people it represents.  I will fight to give principals more freedom to make personnel decisions and to control their budgets and curriculum. Parents know what they want: they want their kids to learn reading, writing, and math, but this Legislature is failing to help kids learn these basics and instead brings up more extras for schools to be burdened with, without funding for the new requirements.  I have a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as Second Language; I taught college ESL for ten years in China, the Middle East, and three states, including at Edmonds Community College and three others in this area. I know what works in diverse classrooms; I sometimes had over a dozen languages represented in one class. Our teachers and principals want to see our students succeed. Let’s give them the freedom to use their creativity to make that happen.  

We also need patient-centered health care reform that lowers costs and increases privacy.  We should attach health care to the person, not the job, because many people are falling through the cracks when between jobs or starting a new one; a combination of health savings accounts and catastrophic insurance coverage would facilitate this change.   We can lower costs by allowing purchase of health care across state lines, greatly increasing competition; by a lawsuit abuse reform plan which would lower costs for doctors so they can charge less; and by allowing different levels of coverage, as we have with car insurance, and smorgasbord plans so people can choose what they want covered. For five years, I worked in countries that had government-run medicine and I do not want that experience again.  I will fight to increase health care options, because I believe that YOU are the best judge of what you need, and government has no business standing between you and your doctor. 

I have a record of teaching people how to fish, instead of handing them a fish.  We’ve heard enough of these career politicians’ empty promises. Only 23% of our elected representatives in Olympia have even held a job that wasn’t funded by taxpayers, but I’ve worked long hours in jobs ranging from farming, to fast food, to childcare, to researcher, so I know that money doesn’t grow on trees or in taxpayers’ pockets. It’s time for a return to responsible spending, lower taxes, individual responsibility, and a prosperous America. Our state constitution says ‘all political power is inherent in the people.’   We the People demand that government be returned to us. 

I’m Elizabeth Scott and I’m asking you to hire me to represent you in Olympia. I'll bring your kind of common sense. 

www.elizabeth4state.com

Seniors Provide Answer to "What's Next?"

When over a million protesters angry about government spending under Bush and Obama showed up at hundreds of Tea Parties on Tax Day 2009, the big question seemed to be, "What's next?"    Thursday night I had the pleasure of speaking to Shoreline Caucus, a meetup group that began last spring as a handful of seniors meeting in a home to serve as moral support and share info about current legislation, upcoming protests, how to contact lawmakers, etc.  The group has grown exponentially; they filled a large hall at the Shoreline Senior Center, and next month's meeting (Oct. 22, 6:00-9:00) is scheduled to meet at the Edmonds Yacht Club.  Susan Hutchison, running for King County Executive, was the main speaker Thursday night and called for a return to common sense budgeting, which she proved capable of when she whipped the Seattle Symphony's budget into shape.   I will be the main speaker at the October meeting; all are welcome. 

Perhaps you have noticed the large percentage of senior citizens showing up at townhalls and protests. They are very concerned, and with good reason. For decades, they have paid into the system through their taxes, trusting that one day they would be able to get that money back through Social Security and Medicare to supplement their savings.  Many of them served America in our armed forces; many lost friends and family members in wars and police actions fighting for freedom.  They have given countless hours of community service to their churches, schools, and philanthropic clubs, and continue to do so. And now the freedom they sacrificed for is under assault. The money that they responsibly saved and invested over decades has vanished into thin air due to government meddling with the banking and housing industries. Medicaid is bankrupt. Medicare faces threats from proposed health care bills that will reduce funding and care, as the Congressional Budget Office affirmed again last week. Worse, seniors see their children and grandchildren struggling to make ends meet; according to Evergreen Freedom Foundation, Tax Freedom Day this year came on August 17, a full month later than last year. In other words, if you still have a job, on August 17 you got to start spending your income on your own budget instead of the government's. And for the first time in our nation's history, the older generation is better educated than the young adults, who are dropping out of school at the tragic national rate of 32%. 

It's no wonder our grandmas and grandpas are upset.  At a property rights meeting I attended last Tuesday, an elderly farmer with roughened hands swore in frustration and demanded of another candidate, "I want to know what you are going to DO!"  

I'm partial to seniors. My Granddad is 90 and is one of my biggest encouragers. I had the good fortune to know three of my great-grandmothers, one of whom lived to 100 and the other two well into their 90s, long enough to leave me with many stories of my family's role in creating a prosperous America, through farming, teaching, engineering (the Locks at Sioux Falls), and soldiering (Revolutionary on up, including fighting in the Civil War to free Blacks from slavery).   I spent five years teaching overseas in countries that had relatively few seniors, due to tough living conditions; I choked up when I came back to the States and saw seniors enjoying their morning coffee at McDonald's.  We need to learn from their wisdom and experience, and I am encouraged by their strong role fighting to preserve our freedoms. 

If elected, I will take office in January 2011.  I  already have a list of bills I will propose or co-sponsor to curb spending, limit federal intrusion on states' rights, increase accountability, improve education, etc.  But at the current rate of drastic change, January 2011 seems light-years away, so here's the plan:  THE ANSWER IS IN THE FOURTH AND MOST POWERFUL BRANCH OF GOVERNMENT.  YOU.  By writing, blogging, posting (Facebook and blogs are the new 'pamphlets' a la Thomas Paine), emailing, calling, sending letters and faxes to legislators and newspaper editors, peacefully protesting en masse, and educating ourselves about the local candidates on the ballot this fall and supporting those who advocate smaller government, We the People are sending a very strong message to the incumbents:  Get with the program, or you will get your pink slip shortly before your term is up.  All across the country, candidates like me are rising up, and we are backed by a veritable army of supporters, including our intensely patriotic seniors who are not about to sit back and quietly watch America slide into socialism.  

And a word of encouragement: all legislation is just legislation. It can be overturned. 

Elizabeth Scott

Those 'Who Know' Oppose Single-Payer Healthcare

A majority of voters who are already covered by government health insurance are opposed to a "single-payer system" where the federal government provides healthcare for all Americans, a new poll reveals.

In the Zogby International/O'Leary Report survey of more than 4,420 likely voters covered under Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare — which provides health benefits to military personnel, retirees, and their families — a  full 44 percent said they strongly oppose a single-payer system, and  10 percent somewhat oppose it.

Only 37 percent said they strongly or somewhat support a single-payer system, and 7 percent said they are not sure.

The poll results are significant because this group is arguably in the best position to opine on government-provided healthcare, since they already receive it.

Half of all respondents in the poll said they strongly or somewhat oppose a "public option," a government health insurance plan that would compete with private health insurance plans, and 33 percent strongly support it.

And half of respondents said they agree with the statement: "Expanding government's role in healthcare will do more harm than good." -----from Newsmax.com

ERW Speech last night a hit!

 My speech went great tonight at the Evergreen Republican Women's Club! It was so fun. It was a candidates' forum; each candidate had ten minutes to speak and to take questions. Sean Salazar (running against Patty Murray) did a nice job; he has learned a lot since the first few times I saw him speak and now I am excited about him aiming to retire her tennis shoes. Patty Cooper, running for Mukilteo City Council; Dan Swank and Kerri Lonergan running for Lynnwood City Council; Mayor Joe Marine of Mukilteo; Steve Dana running for Lake Stevens City Council, and John Koster, Snohomish County Councilman all spoke.   All of us are Republicans. I was very impressed with all the City Council candidates advocating limited government, Priorities of Government for budgeting, etc. Very encouraging, as I am certain that this is happening all across the country, and all the candidates tonight said that doorbelling is totally different than they've ever seen it before; people are engaged, paying attention, and want to participate. (the silver lining to the awful things going on!) 

 
All three of the female candidates at the forum have roots in the Evergreen Republican Women's Club, a great place to get informed and involved. And yes, men join the club too as associate members, because the club is so fun and informative!

Health Care Mythology

A few questions rolling around in my mind:   

1. If the 'public option' is really about increasing competition, why are we not allowed to purchase health care from companies in all fifty states?  We buy food from all 50. We buy cars from all 50. We order items online from all 50. Why is health insurance limited by state?

2.  If 'health care reform' is really about making sure all Americans have health insurance, why don't we just insure the people who are not on another health plan, and call it good? Why does that take 1000 pages? Why don't we let health care insurance be attached to the person instead of the job? We're a mobile society; it doesn't make sense to have job-based health care.   It would make sense if we kept our own money and put it in tax-deductible Health Savings Accounts under our control, and then had catastrophic insurance as a back-up, competitive across state lines. 

3.  If 'health care' is really about 'health,' why is abortion included? Amendments prohibiting inclusion of abortion were ignored. Not every American wants to pay for abortions; in fact, most don't. Congress needs to respect the will of the American people, instead of shoving this bill down our throats.  

4. Why is it such a rush to pass this bill, when Obama himself says that his plan won't be enacted for another four years?   (You know the answer. He doesn't want the American people to have a chance to experience this plan until AFTER the next election.)

5. If this is really about lowering costs, why is Obama ignoring what the Congressional Budget Office testified would happen...  that costs would actually rise?  Why is tort reform not a part of this plan? Why can we not choose the types of coverage we want, and the level of coverage, similar to what we do with car insurance?  We know these options would lower costs.  We may not be economics professors, but the townhalls and tea parties show that the typical American is growing increasingly frustrated with politicians who seem to have slept through high school economics class.  Monopolies: bad.   Competition: good.  

I think you all know the answer to these questions. Government-run health care is about none of the above claims. It is about increasing control (1/6 of the economy), by grabbing more of citizens' money and adding layers of bureaucratic red tape.  Let's look at the track record: Social services (dot gov. expanding since LBJ's War on Poverty, which has succeeded in lowering the poverty rate from 12.8% in 1968 to ...wow, 12.5% in 2007, for a total of 11 trillion dollars, according to the U.S. Census Bureau);  education (dot gov since Carter, and with what to show for it? A dropout rate of over 30% nationwide);   banking (now .gov.), agriculture (.gov and ever-expanding control through subsidies and regulation), car companies and car dealers (.gov and still failing), health care (soon to be .gov), energy (very soon .gov; Harry Reid said today it was next on his to-do list).  With the increasing costs and regulation that expanded government health care will bring, our small businesses will go under and that crisis will 'necessitate' another 'bailout,' i.e. takeover. Let's face it, business is already well down the road to being a dot gov when the President can fire the C.E.O. of a company, select the board members, and dictate salary requirements on other officers and employees. These government intrusions are smothering production and creativity, stealing liberty, and killing jobs.

So, what can be done to stop the madness? Keep the pressure on, via letters, faxes, telephone calls to Congress.  Work to elect a new crop of officials who understand the proper role of government as laid out in our state and federal Constitutions.  Health care is an issue best handled by the states or the people, according to Article 2, Section 8 of our U.S. Constitution (and the 10th Amendment, in the Bill of Rights).  The State Legislature needs to step up to the plate and protect the health care choices of citizens by setting barriers to federal intrusion and by enacting legislation allowing increased competition.