Washblog

I'm very alarmed over the flow of money into politics in WA.  

For, example, the retrospective rebate for Worker's Comp that funnels $millions into BIAW and WS Farm Bureau coffers -- straight from the workers' pockets into the pockets of people who work against the interests of the people who are fooled into voting for them on ideological grounds.

So BIAW & Co. will be pouring $ into the Supreme Court race of Steve Johnson this season.  He's my Senator here in the 47th, and my observation is that he represents the plutocrats.  This is not the kind of person I want in a high judicial office.  This is alarming to me.

So we're in real danger of getting a court making more decisions that harm the day-to-day interests of the people who voted that court in  -- and it's the $.  People are swayed by advertising and other campaigning paid for with tainted money.  We're   being duped and our democracy is suffering.

WS Farm Bureau is running I-933, probably in large part on this Worker's Comp $ -- if this developer's loophole initiative passes, we'll see profound environmental impacts and an acceleration of loss of farmland, and endless litigation.

The fact this $ is available like this leads me to distrust the Dems. as well as the Repubs.  Lack of trust of politicians is a central issue.  My assessment is that we're in a state of political dysfunction.  And a major symptom of that is Bush & Co.  On a local level, we must restore trust.  

Thanks for listening,

Noemie

by noemie maxwell on Sat Apr 08, 2006 at 07:05:21 PM PST

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California is moving on this--the Levin report estimates savings in the billions that can be used to care for the uninsured.  This can't happen at the national level for a long time--let's go for it at the state level.

Also, we need an auditing system for vote tallying, and to get rid of proprietary vote tabulation software.  There should be no aspect of voting whatsoever that is outsourced to private entities.

by eridani on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:17:37 AM PST

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Last year the WA Court of Appeals invalidiated the part of our campaign practices code which had stated candidates for office cannot lie.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2002479741_pdc08m.html

Unfortunately, voters do not always have the time or knowledge as to how to check out what candidates say and just believe whatever they are told.  I have talked with many voters who believe there is a law in WA which mandates truthful campaigning.

There must be a way to re-write the campaign practices code so that it will pass muster of the courts, require that candidates tell the truth about themselves and their opponents, and be enforceable by the Public Disclosure Commission.

by Cherisse on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 08:10:54 AM PST

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seriously addresses the need for universal health care in this state.

And for furtherance along the road to really doing something for all troops who live in Washington and come home disabled and/or exposed to Depleted Uranium.

Pooh-poohing this issue could well-nigh be secondary only to ignoring the long term impact of failing to take measures to reverse global warning.

Set this issue aside because no one has yet laid a deformed child on your desk or wheeled a DU-exposed veteran into your office and we will one day accuse you of not taking your job and the job of the elected official you represent seriously.

Arthur, contributor: Dying to Preserve the Lies Lietta Ruger's blog.

Arthur
You sure you ain't staking too much on yer theories? Not enough common sense?

by Arthur Ruger on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 09:05:49 AM PST

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Should help with your money concerns.

Also:
--Boost renewable energy sources more. I dunno how much encouragement we have, but we need more. Whether tax incentives for homeowners, funding to put demo solar or wind for people to see, funding the equivilent of "Master Gardners" -- whatever

--Second the single payer insurance. I've been without insurance for 19 years. It's no joke.

by Allison In Seattle on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 01:51:56 PM PST

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Initiatives serve a valuable purpose in giving the people a voice when the legislature has failed us.  Unfortunately, it also gives schmucks like Tim Eyman the ability to just wrangle enough votes over 50% to overturn good, rational legislation by using distortions and completely undermining the legislative process.  I'd love to see the bar raised on intitiatives to 2/3 of votes cast.  

The reality is, we spend a lot of time and money choosing and supporting legislators so they will pass laws for the betterment of the state.  The bar to overturn laws passed by our democratically elected representatives should be high, and it should be high enough to scare off frivolous intiative filings.  How many Eyman initiatives would have failed under this stricture?  Would he even still be trying his games every year?  

That's my $.02

Switzerblog'll knock you out!

by switzerblog on Sun Apr 09, 2006 at 09:55:26 PM PST

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I've been hestitant to ask for stuff, because I might ask for the wrong things.  Laws of unintented consequences, and all that.

This is my personal list.  Our group doesn't have any official positions as of yet.  Maybe soon.  Though I would expect most Dems and progressives to more or less support the following.

1. King County Auditor is an elected position.  Directly responsible for elections.  Like all our other counties.  I've heard arguments both ways about partisan vs non-partisan position.  I don't have a strong opinion, but would probably lean towards partisan, mostly because I don't believe anyone is non-partisan and would rather have it out in the open.

2. All software used in elections is open for inspection by the public, on demand.  We have a current rule (vs law) that vendor supplied software be held in escrow, which is ignored.

3. No conflict of interest between election officials and political campaigns, a la Ken Blackwell and Kathleen Harris.  I don't know how to phrase this; hopefully someone can chime in.

4. Public financing of all campaigns.  Like the proposals floated by fairelections.us and Washington Public Campaigns.  Public finance is optional for candidates.  Rules in place to prevent abuse.

5. Publicly "owned" campaign debates.  Open to all parties.

6. No corporate contributions to campaigns, a la Texas (those pesky laws Tom Delay violated).

7. Open up the ballot to third party candidates.

8. Eliminate "first past the post" elections.  

8a) Replace with IRV for executive races.  Alternately, I'd support Fusion Voting.

8b) Replace with IRV + proportional representation for city councils, House delegation, and other multi-seat positions.  Alternately, I'd support "fair redistricting" to eliminate gerrymandering and incumbency.  (British Columbia is experimenting with citizen designed districts which maximize competitiveness.)

9. Re-enfranchise ex-felons.  I favor the Vermont model, where felons retain their voting rights, even while incarcerated.  But would settle for Oregon model, where felons have their rights automatically restored on release from incarceration.

10. Restore fairness doctrine, where all candidates and issues have equal time on our media.

Okay.  That's a good start.  I'm at work and will probably think of a few more as soon as I hit "post". (haha)

by zappini on Mon Apr 10, 2006 at 12:28:05 PM PST

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Let anyone with a printer collect signatures, not just folks that can cut a check for printing costs.

https://printerdemocracy.wordpress.com

Also, I think it would be a good idea to continue this conversation in a more directed way (maybe an entire subjection of washblog?) along the lines of http://www.sinceslicedbread.com

We can present the best ideas to the legislatures as the "Netroots Washington Agenda"

________________
I blog here.

by emmettoconnell on Thu Apr 13, 2006 at 09:59:24 PM PST

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