Debt bomb threatens nation
Wednesday, October 8, 2008 Letters to the editor Debt bomb threatens nation Expanding by $3.08 billion a day, or nearly $2.5 million a minute, the national debt is like a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. That's about $33,321.96 for each man, woman and child in the U.S. Now add to that the blank check just given away in the bank bailout and the number is mind-boggling. Locally Christine Gregoire's policies have turned the $2.5 billion surplus she inherited to a $3.2 billion deficit. How long do we have before this nation simply implodes from this massive overspending? As a nation are left with two choices: cut spending or experience the economy of 1920s pre-Hitler Germany. To implement the first choice means voting in and/or retaining people who are strong advocates of fiscal responsibility with the guts to make the hard choices. Such candidates are Matt Shea, Mike Novak, Dino Rossi and Cathy McMorris Rodgers (who voted against the bailout twice). To implement the second choice is easy; retain Gregoire and elect Mark Mays, who advocated the bailout. Remember, almost every republic in history fell to a despot from within. It can happen here if we're not diligent. "Freedom incurs responsibility; that is why so many men fear it." – George Bernard Shaw Steven Neill Spokane

10/8/2008 8:10:21 PM
 

District 3 deserves Novak
Tuesday, October 7, 2008 Letters to the editor District 3 deserves Novak Now is the time for the 3rd Legislative District to finally transform into a prosperous place where anyone would be excited to live. We currently have the worst economy of any legislative district in the entire state, and year after year we face the same failed ideas and policies supported by our current representatives. This year we have a strong candidate in Michael Novak. He will bring fresh ideas to the state Legislature and policies that will benefit all the people in our district. One such idea is his college student loan repayment program, which will encourage college students to work harder and stay around the area to support our economy after completing their education. The 3rd District deserves better than its current representative. We need and deserve Michael Novak. Please visit michaelanovak.org for more details. Michael Cathcart

10/8/2008 11:33:06 AM
 

Brown challenges 'supermajority' rule for taxes
Brown challenges 'supermajority' rule for taxes Richard Roesler Staff writer August 24, 2008 OLYMPIA – Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown is doing something that would make many a politician squirm: going to court to make it easier to raise taxes. A 15-year-old law declaring that a tax increase requires a two-thirds vote of the Legislature is unconstitutional, she argues. Her fast-track lawsuit will be heard by the state Supreme Court on Sept. 9. Defenders of the two-thirds requirement – including national anti-tax groups, small businesses and farmers – say Brown's setting the state up for big tax increases. Others call the lawsuit an act of political courage. "Lisa, when she fundamentally feels that something's the right thing to do, she's willing to go out on a limb a little bit," said Marilyn Watkins, acting executive director of the Economic Opportunity Institute. "Leaders have to be willing to take risks." Politically, the lawsuit's probably of little risk to Brown. She's one of the state's most powerful lawmakers, has been in the Legislature since the early 1990s and is sitting on about $140,000 in campaign cash. She got 77 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary. But the case has drawn flak for months. "Why are you displaying such an arrogant elitist's attitude?" wrote Gary Lollis, of Mukilteo. "You work for the people of the state of Washington, not the Senate in Olympia. Remember where you came from."

8/24/2008 5:43:39 PM
 

Forces of Secrecy in Olympia!!!
I just had to laugh when I read this article below. I believe in open government myself. Seeing that the politicians in Olympia still like their closed door rooms and back room deals answers a lot of questions for me......... But one major question still remains for me and others...... What is there to hide?........ Forces of secrecy........... Our View:............. Officials objecting to open meetings bill alarming........ February 26, 2008................. A bill in Olympia that would have required government officials to record closed-door meetings has succumbed to behind-the-scenes lobbying on behalf of the very people who would have been held accountable. The culprits are nameless. The full legislative body did not have to go on the record with a vote. While the forces of secrecy – that would be just about every governmental body in the state – can congratulate themselves on a clean kill with few fingerprints, voters might want to ask them what was so objectionable in the first place. The Open Public Meetings Act lists numerous reasons why officials can call executive sessions, which moves discussions out of the public's earshot. We agree that some personnel matters are better discussed in private. We agree that it doesn't serve the public to openly discuss legal strategy or divulge details of prospective land deals. House Bill 3292 would not have eliminated or altered any exceptions; it would merely have required that officials make audio recordings of the meetings and keep them on file for two years. Then if a person provided a judge with credible evidence that a closed-door session violated the open-meetings law, the judge could listen to the recording in chambers and make a determination. If the judge ruled the complaint had merit, only that portion of the meeting in violation could be made public. As it is, it's almost impossible to prove a violation because of the secrecy of the meetings. The bill was not built on unfounded suspicions. State Auditor Brian Sonntag found more than 400 violations of the open-meetings law over a four-year period, which is why he and Attorney General Rob McKenna testified on the bill's behalf. Opponents of the bill worry that recordings will stifle their candid private discussions (as opposed to the kind they have in public?). More likely, they want to shield inappropriate and irrelevant comments that could hurt them or others. We're confident that officials can be both frank and professional. Those who can't help themselves hardly merit protection.

2/26/2008 12:02:07 PM
 

Political Insiders Sometimes Forget Those They Serve
This article was in the Spokesman Review newspaper. One thing that really bothered me is the fact on how they tried to keep this information from the public. Once again everybody can now read and understand why I have chosen to run against Rep. Timm Ormsby.......... Our View: Spokane Valley mischief shakes public's trust............. Political insiders can get so caught up in winning and losing, they sometimes forget those they serve..... For instance, state Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, thought it would be nice to have a conversation about whether it would be best for Spokane Valley to elect council members by districts or wards, rather than at large. So at the behest of a former council candidate, he initiated that chat in – Olympia?........ Yep, he bypassed the Spokane Valley Council and introduced a bill last spring that would entertain the possibility. The bill died in committee after surprised council members quietly lobbied against it...... Valley residents are forgiven if they knew nothing about this. They might never have known if Spokesman-Review reporter Peter Barnes hadn't submitted a public records request that unearthed the behind-the-scenes machinations...... Should council members be elected by wards, considering that five of the seven live within about a mile of each other? It's worth having the discussion, but proponents chose to try an end run around the community's leaders, and opponents didn't even want the public to know that it was being considered. The item was deleted from the Spokane Valley Council's list of legislative priorities at the behest of its lobbyist...... "Please delete this section, but do the work. Since this is a defensive action on our part, we think it best not to alert the opposition of our proactive approach," wrote lobbyist Tim Schellberg in a confidential e-mail........ So it was deleted, and at least three council members e-mailed area legislators. In keeping the opposition in the dark, the council also kept this information from the public........ The arguments for maintaining at-large elections are hardly surprising or controversial. But like so many governmental leaders, council members felt it necessary to control the information. After all, if the public caught wind, that could complicate matters........ It bears repeating that democracies are messy – and necessarily so. Public input should be encouraged, because civic engagement doesn't end at the ballot box....... As it stands, the council members look more interested in self-preservation, even though they may be right that at-large elections are best for the young city. Had they trusted the public to hear the rationales in a timely fashion, they'd be on much firmer footing. Similarly, those who wanted to change the system should have been upfront about it, instead of trying to stack the deck before springing the idea........ Episodes like this have become depressingly familiar and they only add to the erosion of public trust.

11/12/2007 9:41:14 PM
 

Once Again Washington Voters Have Been Ignored and Their Voice Ruled Against
I am really concerned when we live in a state that ignores what the voters vote for. This is not the first time that Olympia has said that the voters did not understand what they voted for. Of course Olympia never decides on issues like this unless it means more taxes on the people and more money for the state....... BREAKING NEWS..... High court throws out Eyman tax limit....... By Richard Roesler....... Staff writer ...... November 8, 2007...... OLYMPIA _ In a split decision, Washington's highest court minutes ago ruled that a property tax cap approved by voters in 2001 is unconstitutional. "The text of the initiative misled voters about the substantive impact of the initiative on existing law," Justice Bobbe Bridge wrote for the court's 5-4 majority. Initiative 747, approved by 58 percent of voters, generally capped total property tax increases at 1 percent a year, unless voters approved more. Today's state Supreme Court decision means that limit reverts to its 1997 level: 6 percent more per year.

11/8/2007 11:47:36 AM
 

Crisis Looming For City's Homeless Population
This article from KXLY is 100% correct. We have a lot of low income families that have suddenly lost their apartments. The unfortunate part is that nobody thought about the fact that there is no place they can go on a low income salary. This is an issue that demands attention. Below is the article from KXLY. Crisis looming for city's homeless population Karina Shagren / KXLY4 Reporter Last updated: Thursday, September 06th, 2007 08:43:28 PM SPOKANE -- Usually homeless shelters in our area are packed during the winter but this summer one of Spokane's largest shelters is experiencing a surge in the number of people it helps, which means a crisis for everyone, even if you have nothing to do with the homeless. The House of Charity at 1st and Browne in downtown Spokane, has been close to or at capacity for much of June, July and August. It's an influx the shelter hadn't expected. This is the first time the shelter stayed open during the summer months; it didn't know what to expect, but the capacity crowd certainly came as a surprise. Some say this surge serves as yet another warning that the city of Spokane is facing an emergency situation when it comes to low income housing. "You feel like the odds are against you," Jay Savage said. Jay was one of many people who call the Otis Hotel home who were handed eviction notices Wednesday. "Progress. You can't stand in the way of progress," Savage added. With the Otis Hotel evictions come 80 low income renters who are starting their desperate search for affordable homes. "With the closure of these extremely low income apartments it's ... I don't think its an exaggeration to say its a social emergency, it's a social crisis that the city of Spokane has never seen," Michael Cain of the House of Charity said. Cain said the House of Charity is seeing the effects. He says on average this summer 104 men have been using the shelter's sleeping porch; the capacity is 108. He says some were displaced from the Commercial Building and the new Madison Apartments which closed earlier this summer. Others are new to town. "It strains us," Cain said. "We're limited with our resources in many ways." The strain Cain says will only get worse. Many at the Otis Hotel are convicted felons or Level III sex offenders and it will be incredibly difficult to find a landlord willing to rent to them. Cain says the House of Charity is one of the few places willing to accept them. "We'll serve 108 people every night. Beyond that we're limited by the restrictions placed upon us by the fire marshal, by the city," he said. With winter approaching the shelter, already full, Cain believes more and more men women and children will spend cold, freezing nights on the street... "Oh I say we can count on it. Yes, we can count on it," he said. The city will decide Friday whether to put its crisis team together to help those living in the Otis find alternative housing. In the meantime with winter approaching Cain says he could certainly use the community's help to try to keep the homeless warm. The shelter continues to need donations of socks and underwear.

9/7/2007 10:26:59 AM
 

Gov. Gregoire Signs Bill That Gives Green Light for Local-Option Vehicle Fees

Here is another example of not having proper representation in Olympia from our area.  Rep. Timm Ormsby should have been on the news saying this is not fair or right because the voters said this cannot be done.  So once again we the people do not matter and they impose another tax on us against our will. 
As a representative they are suppose to represent what the people want.  Not what they want.  I am tired of hearing them say we are imposing another tax on top of another tax to fix our roads.  What happened to the gas tax repairing our roads?

This is why I am running for office.  It is time we had a true voice for Eastern Washington demanding a stop to this out of control taxing.

8/4/2007 9:59:09 AM
 

Cost of Children's Health Program Higher than Expected

The cost of the children's health program is higher then expected.  I find this really disturbing because like State Senator Joe Zarelli points out, we are funding illegal immigrants with our own poor citizens money.  I really do not see how this is fair to us.
So my question is this: 
1.  Shouldn't we take care of our own first? 
2.  Where is Olympia going to come up with the difference at?  Another tax increase?
This is why we need change in Olympia.
Below is the article from KXLY.

Cost of children's health program higher than expected Associated Press Last updated: Friday, June 22nd, 2007 06:47:16 AM

 

OLYMPIA -- New figures show that the cost of providing health-care insurance for low-income children in Washington is going to be much higher than previously estimated -- and much of the overrun will pay for coverage of illegal immigrants. The higher numbers were disclosed Thursday at a meeting of the Caseload Forecast Council, which learned the state will have to provide coverage to 10,000 more children at a cost of $15 million over two years. The Democrat-dominated Legislature earlier this year passed a law to expand subsidized health-care programs for children. At the time, the increase was estimated to cost about $29 million. Now the estimate is about $45 million. Of that, about $25 million will be spent on non-citizen children. State Senator Joe Zarelli, a Republican from Clark County, criticized the program for helping non-citizens at the expense of poor families who are citizens. Officials in the administration of Governor Chris Gregoire say the cost of the increase from Washington's tax coffers isn't $15 million, but only $6 million, because federal funds pick up part of the tab.

8/4/2007 9:58:06 AM
 

Washington State Ranked 5th Best State to do Business
Imagine my surprise to learn that Forbes Magazine ranked Washington State the 5th best state to do business in. They must be talking about the Seattle area. I have definitely not noticed any of this in the Spokane area. I have to stop and wonder now why our Representatives from Eastern Washington are not funding the Spokane area more. Especially since we have now also been ranked as the second largest city in the state. Since we are now ranked number 5 in Forbes and number 2 in the state, I personally expect to see a major change in funding to Eastern Washington between now and November of 2008. Because now there is no excuse why our Representatives appear to be respresenting Seattle and not us.

8/4/2007 9:55:43 AM
 

Environment Mining

ENVIRONMENTAL MINING

Environment & Jobs for the New Mining of Metals.

Written for Michael A. Novak, Political Warrior

Demolition of industrial sites has recently been associated with Brownfield Remediation projects. 

The separation on the many different metals in these industrial plants is one environmental solution to the problems of mining metals.  Tons of steel, lead, aluminum and copper are a few of the metals that can be salvaged for recycling.  Look at the potential for turning old scrap buildings and bridges into jobs that will improve the environmental for the next generation. 

Asset Recovery instead of spending money & effort to create more landfills full of metal resources. 

OTHER MATERIAL & VALUES:
Surplus Equipment and Material Sales and Purchasing 
Investment Recovery
Scrap Metal Recycling and Removal
Obsolete Equipment Purchasing and Sales
Equipment Salvage and Architectual Salvage
Reclaimed Wood

Research what the current values of recycled material on the following website:
http://demolitionscrapmetalnews.com/

There are many recycling companies in the Pacific Northwest.  Find them.  Use them.

(examples of these values are listed below for various sources as noted)

West Coast
Commodity	Price
1 Heavy Melting Stee/gross ton	$210.00
Plate & Structural Steel/gross ton	$207.00
Unstripped Motor Blocks/gross ton	$190.00
Appliances/Mixed Tin/short ton	$170.00
Crushed Auto Bodies/short ton	$170.00
Aluminum Sheet & Cast/lb	$0.63
Aluminum	$1.70
1 Unstripped Copper Wire/lb	$1.90
1 Copper/lb	$3.30
2 Copper/lb	$2.99
Auto Batteries/lb	$0.08

Thomas E. Sparley,
Environmental Advisor

8/4/2007 9:54:08 AM