Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Questions for all candidates in the 18th Legislative District and Clark County

As a prospective constituent, I believe we should all know where the candidates stand on the issues WE want to know about.

So, I'm putting together a list of questions.  I will be sending them to all local candidates who are running to govern me.  None of these questions involve rocket science; each of these issues are items these candidates should be completely familiar with, all should have positions on each of them.

My guess is that arrogance and/or fear will keep many of them from responding.

Those receiving this will include all Clark County Commissioner candidates and all legislative candidates.  Their responses (or lack thereof) will be published here, in their entirety, unedited by me.

Question One:

Do you support replacing the I-5 Bridge in the same location?  If yes, why... if not, why not?

Question Two:

Do you support light rail?  If yes, why... if no, why not?

Question Three:

Do you support tolls?  If yes, why... if no, why not?

Question Four:
If you support any of these issues, what would it take for you to oppose them?

Question Five:

Are you aware of the Oregon Supreme Court ruling delineating the true motivations for this project?

Question Six:

Please describe the impacts on the 65,000 or so families who would have to pay these tolls.

Question Seven:

Please describe the impacts on the numerous small businesses who depend on this disposbale income to survive who will not be receiving it if this project is built.

Question Eight:

Describe what you intend to do about the CRC.  That is, what steps will you take legislatively if you support the project and what steps will you take if you oppose this project?  (Hint: attempting to con us by telling us there's nothing you can do one way or the other insults the intelligence of the average voter and is an unacceptable answer.  Further, if you cannot answer this question, then you're unfit for elective office anyway.)

Question Nine:

What are you intentions concerning public employee pay and benefits?  Are they too high, or too low?  Support your answer with an explanation as to the basis of your position.

Question Ten:

Do you support CTran's efforts to limit voter input to their tax increases?  Do you support the CTran tax district or support a county-wide vote since we all have to pay their taxes... even though we are frequently not allowed to vote?  If you support CTrans taxation efforts, please explain why.  If you oppose, please explain why as well and what you intend to do to address those policies.

Question Eleven:

Do you support the Cowlitz/Paskenta/Mohegan/Barnett megacasino?  If so, why.... if not, why not?

Question Twelve:

Do you support increasing taxes and/or fees?  If so, why... if not, why not?

Question Thirteen:

What Tim Eyman initiaitives have you supported?  Which have you opposed?  Why?

Question Fourteen:

Do you support or oppose the people's right to initiative and referendum?  Why?

Question Fifteen:

Do you support Jim Moeller and seven other democrat legislators suing the people to overturn their will at the polls?  If so, why... if not, why not?

Question Sixteen (Legislative candidates)

Do you support any version of a state income tax?  If yes, why?  If no, why not?

If there are any other questions you might want asked, feel free to add in comments.

I am not asking these questions on behalf of any other campaign or client.

Those candidates failing to answer, regardless of party, will forever be disqualified from my support... or vote.

I would urge the reader to ask their own candidates the same questions or types of questions.

As prospective constituents, we have a right to know... and we want to do all we can to weed out the Leavitts.

I will be sending these out on Friday.  Please provide any additional questions you may want before then.  I will keep you appraised of any responses I get.

But you know what?

I'm not holding my breath.

4 comments:

  1. I'm assuming this post is a bit of artistic license but I'll bite...

    Sales taxes are regressive since they discourage consumption, put the burden of collection on business, give out-of-state businesses an advantage, and require a gigantic bureaucracy. Dump Sales tax and go to an Income tax.

    A“Third Bridge” could be tolled. (No tolling existing bridges.)

    I’d support Light Rail if it was supported by a vote of the people. (Whether the vote is county-wide or only a district is a matter of political gamesmanship.)

    I don’t normally support Initiatives but I did the “Death With Dignity” and “Legalize Marijuana” ones.

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  2. Income tax has been rejected on ten separate occasions by the people here. How many are enough?

    Further, can you name one state which "dumped sales tax" for income tax? Or one that even "reduced" their sales tax as part of an income tax package that later, like Calikfornia, for example, didn't then proceed BOTH taxes up through the roof?

    I shared your support of the DWD initiative; you get a different perspective when you've seen it up close and personal... and you can apply that rule to yourself.

    I oppose the pot initiatives because, until federal law is changed, they're a waste of time, money and effort.

    I COMPLETELY agree with our initiative system, although the signature requirement should be halved and the "emergency" dodge the legislature tags many of their laws with to make the initiatives even MORE difficult to achieve should be halved, and I believe that initiatives that promise something like, say, transportation projects, should have those projects made a part of the law instead of an easily-changed addendum... like the last gas tax scam where the project list magically was cut in half... AFTER the election.

    The word for that is fraud. And that our government uses fraud as an inducement?

    I've got problems with that.

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  3. Discussing taxation is no-win but I took your questionnaire as sincere and answered honestly: Sales Tax is inherently "bad," Income Tax is economically sound but I wouldn't waste my time politically trying to change it.

    Initiatives are good even when they fail.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lew, I emailed you my answers. Good straight forward questions.

    ReplyDelete

If I cannot identify you, then your post will be deleted.

No threats (Death or otherwise) allowed towards me or anyone else. If you have allegations of misconduct, they must be verifiable before I will publish them in comments.

Enjoy!