The sheer, unadulterated idiocy of unions: Vancouver steel workers strike? Are you KIDDING me?

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Imagine having a full time job. Imagine having that full time job in a county with almost 15% unemployment (closer to 22% in real terms) and then, imagine a group of morons who go on strike in the midst of a horrific recession... and that's what you've got here.

I can't speak for the folks who own this mill.... but I would shut it down before I would give into their demands.

These morons turned down a pay raise because there were benefit cuts.

One has to wonder: if they lose their jobs altogether, how would THOSE benefit cuts look?

I sincerely hope that this company hires strike breakers immediately. These people obviously lack the common sense of a board fence and are to dangerous to have around heavy equipment.
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The latest on the illegal alien front, and how unions make it worse

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Fascinating article about the amateurish steps taken by the Obama Administration to address the growing illegal alien problem.

Seems the administration is taking the stealth approach to doing the same thing Bush did... Bush was just a lot louder about it.

Now, I don't fault the Obama effort to actually address this issue: the effort itself is part of a strategy I actually support, which is to hold employers accountable for holding up their end of the illegal alien destination resort equation. I DO fault them for failing to round these scum up and deport them, but half a loaf is better than none.

And I also fault the efforts of both this administration's, and the last's, efforts to avoid checking out the union membership the same way.

Unions should undergo the same types of audits that employers face. And if unions have illegal aliens on their membership roles, then they, too, should face the same penalties.

They don't, of course. Here's the money quote:

Service Employees International Union Local 6, which represents about 280 of Seattle Building's workers, said as many as 150 of them might be undocumented.

So, if the clown running this union KNOWS that,,, then why isn't the union held accountable for aiding and abetting these illegal aliens? How is it that these scum can HELP these people break the law with impunity?

Sergio Salinas, SEIU Local 6's president, said the union has filed grievances against Seattle Building over the firings but admitted there's nothing it can do to stop them.

So, this union KNOWS that these scum are here illegally; knows they've been HIRED illegally, knows they've been FIRED legally, but filed grievances ANYWAY?

He said unlike other immigration investigations elsewhere, Seattle Building used E-Verify to ferret out those on its payroll who might be illegal — something a spokeswoman for the Homeland Security, which administers the program, call an "inappropriate" use of E-Verify. The system is intended to be used for new hires — not to check existing employees.

So, using a tool provided by the government to ferret out illegal hires is "inappropriate?" WHY can't "existing employees" be checked? In fact, why shouldn't the unions use the same thing to check THEIR MEMBERSHIP?

So, you truly do learn something new every day: you learn that, in part, unions break the law much like they did in the days of Hoffa.

And no one is doing anything about it.
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Sometimes, teachers and government employees simply don't get it. It's the RECESSION, stupid.

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We are in a massive recession. Our president is burying us in debt that generations will not be able to pay... and government employees frequently act like they should be immune to the reality that the rest of us must contend with.

My business is down roughly 10%, with the possibility of further cuts looming. I do not complain because I understand that I WILL be feeling my client's pain. Unemployment in this county is over 9% and climbing, as it is statewide. In Oregon (to our immediate south) unemployment exceeds 12%, with more, perhaps much more, to go.

Yet the vast majority (Not all, certainly, but most) of the government employees and their unions seem to feel they should not have to suffer in the midst of any of that.

Governor Gregoire took pay raises off the table in the face of this state's roughly $10 BILLION deficit. What was the result?

She was sued by at least 4 different unions, because they don't happen to believe that the sacrifices must be shared by all. Oddly, President Obama relies heavily on the shared sacrifice model when it comes to jacking our taxes up, but unions don't seem to believe that a concept like that should extend to them.

The latest case in point?

Last night, one of the most "victimized" group of government employees that you can imagine, namely, teachers of the Vancouver School District, are whining, screaming and bitching like cut cats because the Superintendent, who had taken a 4.5% voluntary tax cut, asked the rank and file to take a ONE PERCENT pay cut.

As poster children, they used Carrissa Brown, described thus:

Carissa Brown, a music teacher with 10 years under her belt, said she takes home $2,400 a month — hardly enough to cover mortgage, health insurance payments and some child support, she said. With the 1 percent pay cut, she said she'd be left with $150 a month for extras.

Well, the Washington State Teacher's Data Base of 2007 (The latest I can get) indicates that Ms. Brown received $37,758 in salary and $13,931 in benefits for the 182 days she worked for us that year. Add in step increases and mandatory pay raises and there's no telling how much she's paid... but it's at least $52,000 in pay and benefits.

But does $2,400 monthly in take-home seem likely? And how much would she be impacted by a ONE PERCENT REDUCTION?

I'm, struck by how little teachers seem to know about their salaries BEFORE they take the job... OR who pays them.

Next up was April Stenger:

April Stenger, a 13-year kindergarten teacher at Minnehaha, burst into tears as she described how her husband doesn't have health insurance because she can't afford to put him on her plan and also pay for her student loans and child care.

"I have to avoid phone calls (from student loan lenders) because I'm already paying on my house and day care and food for my kids to eat," Stenger said.

The Data Base indicates she was paid $42,249 in salary and $14,629 in benefits... again, before the pay raises of last year are added. That's almost $57,000 a year in pay and benefits.

Marian Larson, described as a "36-year veteran," received $59,157 in salary and $16, 243 in benefits. She complained about her daughter's challenges as she "struggle to pays for ongoing schooling required of her by the state."

Besides the obvious (Is there some reason YOU can't help with those costs, Ms. Larson?) this goes back to the underlying fact of the matter: ALL of these teachers are college graduates. Were they not made aware, sometime during the process, as to what their salary and benefits were going to be? Did they somehow not understand that continuing education requirements were a part of the job BEFORE they became teachers?

Now, before people blow a gasket about me putting this information up, remember, it is ALL public information, as are the salaries and benefits of ANY government employee... including teachers.

I used the Googled result of "Washington State Teacher Salaries".

So, I ask teachers this: Why should we be any more concerned about YOUR salary then anyone elses? Why didn't you think about this stuff BEFORE you took the job? And with the rest of us paying for you in the midst of this huge recession, why is it that YOU think YOU shouldn't feel OUR pain?



Teachers make heartfelt plea
Vancouver school board may have to cut as many as 140

Tuesday, April 14 11:33 p.m.

BY ISOLDE RAFTERY
COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

Music teacher Carissa Brown is comforted by first-grade teacher Heidi Merritt as she describes her financial situation to the Vancouver School Board on Tuesday evening. Brown said that with a 1 percent pay cut proposed by the superintendent, she’d be left with $150 a month in discretionary income. (Zachary Kaufman/The Columbian)

More than 300 teachers and staff members filled the Vancouver Public Schools board meeting Tuesday night to share personal stories of financial hardship in light of the superintendent's suggestion that all employees take a 1 percent pay cut.

Later in the meeting, Vancouver officials unveiled potential cuts to aid a budget that has been slammed by the recession. It'll be the eighth year district administrators have had to trim the increasingly bare schools budget.

Carissa Brown, a music teacher with 10 years under her belt, said she takes home $2,400 a month — hardly enough to cover mortgage, health insurance payments and some child support, she said. With the 1 percent pay cut, she said she'd be left with $150 a month for extras.

April Stenger, a 13-year kindergarten teacher at Minnehaha, burst into tears as she described how her husband doesn't have health insurance because she can't afford to put him on her plan and also pay for her student loans and child care.

"I have to avoid phone calls (from student loan lenders) because I'm already paying on my house and day care and food for my kids to eat," Stenger said.

Some teachers spoke through friends because they worried about retaliation, teachers union president Ann Giles said. Younger teachers said their student loans make up 10 percent of their take-home pay, and others said they have part-time jobs to make ends meet.

Marian Larson, a 36-year veteran at Fort Vancouver High School, lamented that her daughter, a Columbia River High School teacher, is struggling to pay for ongoing schooling required of her by the state.

"I totally understand why they might want to leave," Larson said of younger teachers. "They're running teachers out of education — and that's their love."

Webb's pay cut

Superintendent Steven Webb announced in an e-mail last week that he would take a 4.5 percent pay cut to his total compensation of $214,000. He asked that teachers consider a 1 percent reduction as part of an overall sacrifice that could save $1.3 million. Giles said teachers already are losing pay, as they will likely pay more in health premiums, not get a state pay raise of 4.2 percent and also lose one or two days in pay.

After hearing from teachers, the school board told Webb to move forward with balancing the budget.

More:

More on the democrat and labor union corruption here in Washington State...

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Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I completely disagree with the idea that no criminal act took place here.

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As I pointed our here, I believe that plenty of evidence exists to make an arrest. The law is fairly straigh forward; the offending email did, in fact, "offer... a pecuniary benefit..." not only to one person, but an entire GROUP of people, the democrat caucuses of the Washington State Legislature "pursuant to... an understanding that such other person will offer or confer a benefit upon a public servant or procure another to do so with intent thereby to secure or attempt to secure a particular result in a particular matter..."

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As a matter of fact, there is an argument that each democrat member of both caucuses represents a single count EACH of a violation of this law (RCW 9A.68.050) and that, therefore, the author and sender of the email in question may be guilty of over 70 counts of violating this law.

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That said, here is a snap of a Machievellian moment designed to get a group of "uncomfortable" democrat House members off the hook.

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Political kabuki theater at it's finest.

Political Buzz

Wednesday, March 18, 2009 - Tacoma, WA

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Wednesday, March 18th, 2009

Worker Privacy: Killing the bill let reluctant votes off the hook

Posted by Joe Turner @ 12:28:38 pm

First, I have to acknowledge the valuable contribution by Curt Woodward, Associated Press reporter, who requested the exchange of e-mails between the governor's office and others about the Worker Privacy bill, which was killed by Gov. Chris Gregoire, House Speaker Frank Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown.

The rest of the press corps merely piggybacked on Curt's request. I singled out this particular e-mail because the Boeing lobbyist was telling the governor's main Boeing liaison that the Worker Privacy Bill, which was being pushed by Labor, was on the verge of winning approval by the Legislature. That was gonna be bad news for Boeing.

UPDATE: A reader suggests that I point out what could have happened if Brown and Chopp had NOT killed the bill. If they passed it and the Labor Council e-mail came out later, they would have been open to criticism that they caved in to threats from Labor and they just passed the bill to keep the campaign contributions flowing from Labor into Democratic political action committees warchests. Consequently, they were justified in killing it because THAT would have looked bad. (Fair enough?)

This e-mail shows part of the head count that Boeing had done. Some of the "yes" votes were reluctant, according to Boeing. He's also saying the governor has to get off her butt and do something.

"The Governor cannot sit by and wait for this stuff to go away on it's
own. It will not," Boeing lobbyist Trent House said.

Lucky for House, a copy of a Labor Council strategy e-mail was CC'ed to four legislators and that provided the cover for Brown, Chopp and Gregoire to kill the bill.

Here is cast of characters:
The part of the Boeing lobbyist is played by Trent House.
The governor's advisor on all things Boeing: Bill McSherry

Two more notes: The bill would have let employees walk out of management meetings that bad-mouthed labor unions or hit workers up for United Way contributions, etc.

All the last names listed in House's head count are state Representatives.

-----Original Message-----
From: House, Trent M ">.M.House@boeing.com>
To: Bill McSherry
Sent: Fri Mar 06 23:29:15 2009
Subject: Vote count on HB 1528 - Worker Privacy

Bill,

I have been counting votes and the reality is grim.

[More:]

Legislator's overwhelmingly want this bill just to go away and not have a vote.
However, if a vote is required, most would reluctantly vote with the
Labor community despite the known legal and symbolic flaws. This bill
must not come up for a vote or it will pass with a large margin and
compel the Senate to act as well. I don't believe that Senate and House
Leadership can make this call on their own. I think they need and
expect the Governor to share the responsibility necessary to do the
right thing on these issues.

So far here is what I have...

No
Ericks
Hunter
Clibborn
Pedersen

Yes
Pettigrew
Probst
O'Brien
Jacks
Sullivan

Against but will vote Yes on the floor if a vote is taken
Blake
Kelley
Kessler
Springer
Takko
White
Carlyle
Eddy
Hurst
Finn
Maxwell

I have not yet had a chance to speak with Rep Morris. My best guess
would be that the rest of the D's would say yes during a vote count and
yes on the floor.

The Senate is running the Diversion bill (SSB 5809) tomorrow. We can't
get into a position where the Senate and the House split the bad stuff
up and we can stop anything because both sides have to do a little for
Labor. We still have Ex-Parte to deal with and the Budget and we
haven't even begin to address the competitiveness issues that we began
this session with.

The Governor cannot sit by and wait for this stuff to go away on it's
own. It will not.

Regards, Trent

Now the Washington State Patrol is covering up corruption:

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So, Seattle's remaining newspaper does a story explaining how labor union corruption is not, in fact, corruption.

The money quote?

"We looked carefully at the e-mail and at the law," said State Patrol Chief John Batiste. "We could not find a specific criminal statute that was violated."

While it's positively frightening that the Chief of the Washington State Patrol was unable to find a law that I found rather easily, I'm only too happy to help the Chief in his search for justice:

RCW 9A.68.050

Trading in special influence.

(1) A person is guilty of trading in special influence if:

(a) He offers, confers, or agrees to confer any pecuniary benefit upon another person pursuant to an agreement or understanding that such other person will offer or confer a benefit upon a public servant or procure another to do so with intent thereby to secure or attempt to secure a particular result in a particular matter; or

(b) He requests, accepts, or agrees to accept any pecuniary benefit pursuant to an agreement or understanding that he will offer or confer a benefit upon a public servant or procure another to do so with intent thereby to secure or attempt to secure a particular result in a particular matter.

(2) Trading in special influence is a class C felony.

[1975 1st ex.s. c 260 § 9A.68.050.

The paragraph that breaks this specific law is in bold and italicized, below.

Now, then, Chief... I expect to hear of Mr. Bender's arrest in the morning.

Otherwise, you're going to have to explain your lame efforts to cover this up. And I don't think you're gonna want to do that.

March 17, 2009 1:05 PM

State Patrol says labor e-mail did not break the law

Posted by Andrew Garber

The Washington State Patrol says no crime was committed when a state labor group recently sent several lawmakers an e-mail linking campaign donations to contentious worker-rights legislation.

Legislative leaders killed the bill last week after being made aware of the e-mail, and requested an investigation by law enforcement.

"We looked carefully at the e-mail and at the law," said State Patrol Chief John Batiste. "We could not find a specific criminal statute that was violated."

A news release sent out by the Patrol also said: "Because detectives were quickly able to determine the e-mail did not violate criminal statutes, no investigation beyond the initial review was necessary."

The e-mail was an update on labor efforts to pass a bill called the Worker Privacy Act. It would prohibit companies from requiring employees to attend meetings or participate in activities related to political or religious matters, including labor issues. It was sent to several members of labor organizations as well as a handful of state lawmakers.

One part of the e-mail said, "Union leaders would send a message to the State Democratic party and to the Truman and Roosevelt funds from the House and Senate that 'not another dime from labor' until the Governor signs the Worker Privacy Act."

The Worker Privacy Act is vigorously supported by organized labor and equally opposed by business, including Boeing and the Washington Round Table, an organization of corporate executives.

UPDATE

The Washington State Labor Council just sent out a news release saying the Legislature overreacted to the e-mail.

Washington State Labor Council President Rick Bender said today that it was a "gross overreaction" for legislative leaders to refer an internal email among labor leaders to the Washington State Patrol for a criminal investigation. The WSP today announced that it "quickly" determined no laws had been broken.

More:

Washington State Labor Council e-mail

Here is the e-mail from a staff member at the Washington State Labor Council that prompted Democratic leaders to kill a labor-backed bill and turn the e-mail over to authorities for investigation.

The Seattle Times redacted a list of phone numbers contained in the e-mail before posting it online.

Subject: RE: Strategy Call on Worker Privacy Act Legislation

Brothers and Sisters,

Just a quick update on where we are on the Worker Privacy Act:

* Great leadership call yesterday where folks agreed that we would push for passage in the House this week and then call for a union president meeting with the Governor and the Majority Leader of the Senate to move the bill through the rest of the process

* Union leaders would send a message to the State Democratic party and to the Truman and Roosevelt funds from the House and Senate that "not another dime from labor" until the Governor signs the Worker Privacy Act.

* To date the Governor has received 2,247 contacts on the bill; the Speaker of the House has received 236 contacts from his constituents; and the Majority Leader has received 275 contacts from her constituents; [all of these numbers are minimums - there are a number of contacts that we have not been able to log, e.g., the State Democratic party did a 100,000 piece e-mail last Friday and we know that over 11,000 folks downloaded the piece but they have no way of knowing how many followed through with contacts].

* The Governor, the Speaker and the Majority Leader met this morning. While we don't have a report back yet we do have a meeting with the Speaker at 4:00 pm this afternoon. It is our hope that the Speaker will run the bill as the last bill on the floor tonight or tomorrow night.

* See attached letter from Scott Carson of Boeing dated March 9 to the Governor, Speaker and Majority Leader. He is now dubbing the bill the "neutrality bill". Just another move to try and conflate our bill with the Cedilla bill which was struck down by the US Supreme Court last June.

I will try and send another update later tonight. Keep the calls into the three leaders coming.

I'm confused: The Seattle Times - Budget comes down to unpleasant choices

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And what unpleasant choices might those be?

Based on the article, $5 of the so far $8.5 (heading for $10) BILLION deficit is, essentially, taken care of.

That leaves around $3.5 BILLION to take care of.

What confuses me is this: What are the "unpleasant choices?"

First, we eliminate I-728 and I-732 funding. You remember those two initiatives, don't you? Those were the ones that involved classroom size limits and guaranteed pay raises for teachers.

Teachers are government employees.

Now, the WEA thugs who shilled for these two initiatives solemnly swore that we would not need tax increases if they passed; so to get them passed, neither had a designated revenue stream to support them.

Thus the WEA thugs were just the tiniest bit miffed that their initiatives were not funded for a few years... and, based on the WEA's promises, should never had been funded at all.

So, we repeal those initiatives altogether. If the WEA isn't keen on that idea, then they can feel free to float two more initiatives... this time with the taxes attached in the open, instead of hidden.

Next, we suspend all step increases for all government employees at all levels.

Then, we require all government employees at all levels to take 10% pay cuts.

Then we freeze all hiring and implement layoffs until the $3.5 BILLION deficit is eliminated.

Is it unpleasant? Not for me as a citizen. And not nearly as "unpleasant" as the specter of moronic and greedy tax increases.

It's going to be unpleasant for all of the government employee unions; but rest assured, I care exactly as much for them as they do for me.

Many in the legislature have said that our addiction to spending is unsustainable... and they've been saying it for years.

They've also been ignored for years.

The result? An $8.5 BILLION deficit.

Now, the democrats in charge won't implement any of these particular steps... or at least, they won't implement very many of them.

It's not a matter of "choices." It is, instead, a matter of "politics."

We've already seen the Washington State Labor Council's efforts to strong arm the democrats.

There's little doubt that next time they try and muscle their lackeys, they won't do it in any traceable way... but they WILL do it.

So, realistically, we can expect efforts to fund the favorite union programs while "regrettable" cuts will be made to important core services.

Then, the democrats will "regrettably" put BILLIONS in recession-economy-crippling taxes up for a statewide vote... maybe even the dreaded state income tax... again.

They'll portray it completely differently, of course... but that's essentially what we have to look forward to.

Because taking care of the people of this state takes a far, far second place to taking care of the unions that own them.

State budget comes down to unpleasant choices

When it comes to closing the $8.5 billion shortfall in the state budget, the first $5 billion is pretty easy to solve. But that still leaves the state with some gut-wrenching choices to close the rest of the huge budget gap.

By Andrew Garber

Seattle Times Olympia bureau

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Sen. Rodney Tom

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OLYMPIA — When it comes to closing the $8.5 billion shortfall in the state budget, the first $5 billion is pretty easy to solve.

All the Legislature has to do is drain the state rainy-day fund, spend a few billion dollars in one-time federal money and cut spending in the current fiscal year with some relatively painless moves, at least compared to what's coming, such as a hiring freeze. Those steps alone would shrink the gap to about $3.5 billion.

The problem: It's still the biggest shortfall in state history. The gap continues to grow. And there are no easy fixes left.

Democrats, who control the House, Senate and governor's office, have little choice but to make deep cuts in some of the very programs they've poured money into during the past four years.

"We're getting to stuff that nobody wants to look at," said Sen. Rodney Tom, D-Medina, co-chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Democratic leaders won't discuss their thinking in detail, but Tom gave a few examples the Senate is considering: eliminating 10,000 slots for students at the state's colleges and universities; cutting $700 million from the class-size initiative, I-728; and reducing sentences across the board for state inmates by 50 to 60 days.

All three areas, higher education, public schools and public safety, were touted as priorities for Democrats in the past. Now they're targets for spending cuts.

More:

The People win a tremendous victory: Washington State wins lawsuit over union contracts

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There have been a few unions in that actually get it. Who can forget the local firefighter's decision to at least temporarily fore go pay raises as a result of our doddering economy and reduced government revenues.

Others have been much more moronic in their political tonedeafness and their greed-at-all-cost approach to our state's economic situation.

Among those more self-centered and selfish are the Washington Federation of State Employees. Cementing the idea into the hearts and minds of the people of this state (not to mention their rank and file, who, in the face of forced pay raises would suffer massive layoffs) that those who are SUPPOSED to serve US, instead believe that WE are SUPPOSED to serve THEM is a terrible strategy that is going to cost them in the long run.

Joining with the WFSE in the Gang of the Moron Four, are the SEIU and two of its locals, SEIU Local 1199 and SEIU 925.

These groups have a brain-damaged strategic view. It's a nightmare for the rank and file to see their jobs put at risk in this economy over the issue of pay raises.

The question for the union worker is this: Is it better for SOME to get huge payraises? Or is it better to keep a job with NO pay raise?

Seems simple to me, but unions have never been about the worker as much as they've been about power and thuggery.

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Adam Wilson expounds on Washington state government, workers and politics. Wilson began covering those issues for the Olympian in 2004. He can be reached at: awilson@theolympian.com.

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Judge: Gregoire errs, but union lawsuit falters (UPDATED)

• Published February 11, 2009

Gov. Chris Gregoire should have done things differently in negotiating with state employee unions, but her decision to cancel their contracts stands, said Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch.

Gregoire clearly muddied the process when she had her budget director serve both as negotiator and the person who later declared contracts for raises and health benefits financially unreasonable, the judge said today.

But the governor does have the power to back out of contracts after the Oct. 1 deadline to finish talks, Hirsch said, noting the law requires them to be certified by the budget office as feasible.

"The judge punted; we're appealing; stand by," said Greg Devereux, executive director of the Washington Federation of State Employees.

See background here.

UPDATE: Here's an update from Glenn Kuper, of the Office of Financial Management:

It is important to note that the statute on collective bargaining establishes the Labor Relations Office in the Office of Financial Management (41.80.140) and also establishes that the OFM director certifies whether the contracts are financially feasible (41.80.010), so it is misleading to say the Governor “erred” in how she conducted the negotiation process. She simply followed what is dictated in law.

More government idiocy: Panel urges 50% jump in gas taxes to pay for highways

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So, on one hand, government wants us to drive less. The moronic insistence on light rail, for example; expending hundreds of millions of dollars on total and complete waste for a replacement bridge that will accomplish absolutely nothing except to blow a huge hole in transportation budgets in the area... a $4 billion hole, to be precise.

So.... now what do we get? Another "commission" voicing a pre-ordained conclusion... not unlike the clowns at our own CRC... blowing $90+ million to arrive at the pre-ordained, only possibly-acceptable outcome of replacing a bridge that doesn't need replacement so they can bring light rail into Vancouver.

Well, guess what? This state has an astoundingly high gas tax. We even voted on THE LAST 9.5 cents of it. Of course, the state lied to us about what the gas tax would get us; within a few days of the gas tax vote, they whacked the project list a good 30%... and the biggest lie government told... that the Alaska Way Viaduct would fall down and kill millions... well, look what they've done to fix THAT problem since the gas tax vote?

WE DON'T EVEN HAVE A PLAN TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, YET, LET ALONE DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

So now, we get yet another commission that thinks that, once again, more money will fix all the problems.

Bull. Anyone even remotely reviewing this commission's work would know what the outcome would be in advance.

I didn't see anything about, for example, getting rid of that moronic, union-enriching, wasteful screw-the-taxpayer prevailing wage requirement.

Raising taxes and fees should be the LAST resort... not the first. I would look at such an increase once EVERY other step, including the removal of prevailing wage rules, has been achieved.

Otherwise.... byte me.


Originally published Friday, January 2, 2009 at 12:00 AM
Comments (6) E-mail article Print view
Panel urges 50% jump in gas taxes to pay for highways
A 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel-fuel taxes is being urged by a federal commission to pay for highway construction and repair until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads.

By JOAN LOWY
The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — A 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel-fuel taxes is being urged by a federal commission to pay for highway construction and repair until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads.

The National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing, a 15-member panel created by Congress, is the second group in a year to call for higher fuel taxes.

With motorists driving less and buying less fuel, the current 18.4-cent-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4-cent-a-gallon diesel tax fail to raise enough to keep pace with the cost of road and transit programs.

In a report expected in late January, members of the infrastructure-financing commission said they will urge Congress to raise the gas tax by 10 cents a gallon and the diesel fuel tax by 12 to 15 cents a gallon. At the same time, the commission will recommend tying the fuel-tax rates to inflation.

The commission also will recommend that states raise fuel taxes and make greater use of toll roads and fees for rush-hour driving

More:
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Well Done, County Commissioners: Several issues moved to next year.

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I had heard that, based on yesterdays story, County’s new rule gives nod to unions; the unions had managed to squeak in under the wire to hose the taxpayers once again.

But then what to my wandering eyes appears THIS morning?

An article entitled "County commissioners opt to let next board decide how to move on several issues"

Intrigued, I looked it over... and buried in the article was the observation that forced apprenticeship programs (which have no more place in this day and age than "prevailing wage" rules) were among those issues punted into oblivion... that is, pushed into next year.

There is, I would venture to say, no chance this union pay-off bill will ever see another sun rise.

While our own Vancouver Firefighters Union show they're understanding of the economic realities confronting us, other unions at the state and national levels have shown a new definition for "clueless."

Arrogance is usually a problem in the political arena. Jim Moeller, who epitomizes the trait, is the exception to the rule, but his re-elections go to another issue involving the sheepfulness of the people of the 49th District. Erstwhile megacasino developer David Barnett has spent $200,000 in his efforts to buy 2 local politicians as he continues in his efforts to ram a harmful, unwanted, massive casino down our throats here in Clark County using threats and intimidation against all wise enough to oppose his efforts. These two epitomize the type of arrogance that so many with the aura of entitlement... such as these state employ unions... bring to the table.

This is not the time for entitlement. This is not the time to put a cherry on top of sweetheart deals that used to be the order of the day. The unions must realize what's happening here... and they must act accordingly.

They can be a part of the problem, as so many have positioned themselves to become; or they can become part of the solution, as the Vancouver Fire Department has proven themselves to be.

County commissioners opt to let next board decide how to move on several issues
Tuesday, December 30 10:54 p.m.
BY MICHAEL ANDERSEN COLUMBIAN STAFF WRITER

For Clark County’s outgoing board of commissioners, this looked like finals week. On their final day of service, they were scheduled to hand a favor to organized labor, hike fees for builders and landowners, and throw down a legal gauntlet to state government.

But in the end, the departing trio decided to give themselves an extension on all of it. The decisions will push all these issues into next year — and into the arms of next year’s more conservative board.

Storm runoff

* The plan: Defy a state order to tighten storm-runoff standards for new construction.* What it would mean: A likely string of lawsuits against the county.

* For it: Developers. They say the new state order is impractical and would add thousands of dollars to the cost of a new house.

* Skeptical: Environmentalists. Last month, the county’s clean water commission advised commissioners not to do this.

* The bottom line: Developers might have a point. But how much money does the county want to spend to prove it?

Labor standards

* The plan: Require apprentice workers on county projects costing more than $1 million.

* What it would mean: Want to do business with the county? Create an apprenticeship program.

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Vancouver Firefighters astound: They waive pay raises to help budget.

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Firefighters are amazing people. These men and woman actually charge INTO burning structures that I want to get the hell out of. Every call may put their life at risk. Every call.

I've had some harsh things to say about unions... but based on their moronic stupidity lately... the sniveling of the UAW... the despicable law suits filed by state employee unions... who can blame me?

Just when I thought all hope was lost... along comes the Vancouver Fire Department, Local 452.

The story speaks for itself. It shows the kind of common sense, understanding and empathy that we would like to think that all government unions should show during these trying financial times.

Regardless of union issues, Firefighters have always had my respect and admiration. But today, those traits have deepened and widened for me and several thousand others.

Thank you for all you do.

And thank you for showing the courage of your convictions. I won't forget it.

Comments 10 Recommend 2
Vancouver firefighters waive pay raises to help city budget
04:20 PM PST on Tuesday, December 30, 2008
By KGW Staff

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- As the economy continues to flounder Vancouver firefighters made a surprising decision Tuesday to forego salary increases.

The firefighter’s union overwhelmingly agreed to waive a 4 percent pay raise scheduled to take effect in 2009.

The vote passed by 91 percent.

Vancouver's mayor thanked firefighters, saying that on top of saving lives, they were saving city government some $700,000.

“I don't know of any time in the history of the city that any union or guild has done this,” Mayor Royce Pollard said. “It is truly a recognition of the needs of the community and I have nothing but respect and admiration for the Vancouver Firefighters Union.”

Pollard said the money will be used to make sure public safety is maintained at the same level for 2009.

The Broken Clock Syndrome (III) - In our view Dec. 26: Ill-Timed Greed

I may have mentioned on occasion my disdain for unions generally and the state employee unions particularly.

That disdain does not and never has extended to the rank and file.

But unions buy and sell politicians like I do tee-shirts. They take money from their members and use it to pay union salaries... and to support primarily democrats... particularly those democrats that widen, lengthen and deepen the public trough.

PAC 48's involvement in our county's recent election was purely an effort to buy a commissioner who they believed would do two things extremely important to local unions: build an unwanted, unneeded and massively expensive I-5 Bridge replacement loot rail portal; and to build an equally unwanted, unneeded and massively expensive megacasino where the developer guaranteed union support with his labor agreement. For me, these two particular landmarks of "screw-the-community" have helped cement the union concept of one of greed, political corruption and disdain for the communities that pay the bills.

An even more recent example is the unbridled greed of the United Auto Workers, who would rather see the Big Three go under then to even consider wage and benefit cuts to help this struggling industry survive to some level of profitability. True, the executives of the Big 3 took political tone-deafness to a level not seen since the first single digit popularity polls of our democrat-controlled Congress with their private jet arrivals to beg for billions. But that does not now excuse the UAW from acting responsibly while every effort is made to keep the American economy from going under.

And now, that economy and hundreds of thousands of people in this state are suffering pain. Genuine, every-waking-moment pain. We have a government that exists to serve US. And part of that painful reality is that this state's Legislative budgets have skyrocketed since the advent of the collective-bargaining pay-back for the state-employee unions infesting us. Now is the tyime for a reality-check.

WE now face a budget deficit, warned of by Republicans in past legislatures, of $6 Billion.

Stunningly enough, Gov. Gregoire's budget, on the surface at least; addresses this humongous fiscal hole primarily with cuts to various programs, pretty much across the board. I have some nigglies with her transportation projects locally (No, Governor, we do not need to waste $53 million on the St. John's intersection, just like we didn't need to waste $93 million on a bogus study with a pre-ordained outcome for the I-5 Bridge (Everyone alive knew 2 things: the entire purpose of this bizarre project is nothing more nor less than to get loot rail into the county and that the ONLY reason to replace the I-5 Bridge instead of building a 3rd Bridge is to accomplish that purpose... thus, negating the need, and the wasted expenditures... to take us to a place we all knew, ultimately we would achieve: The Downtown Mafia wants loot rail; they will waste absolutely any amount of OPM (Other People's Money) to get it, and we will wind up with a new bridge, loot rail, and absolutely no improvement in congestion or freight mobility.)) but I am emboldened by her decision to provide no further waste for the bridge project.

That said, Gov. Gregoire seems to have shown at least a basic understanding of that most obvious of fiscal tenets: No society has ever taxed itself into prosperity. Most people get this.

State unions, showing a tone-deafness not out of place with Helen Keller, do not. They are actually suing the Governor to FORCE her to get them their pay raises.

This would be a PERFECT time to run a campaign to make Washington's government union free. We could stand as a shining light to every OTHER state who will not allow their unions, who, after all, are there to serve the people; to engage in political extortion at the expense of the millions forced to finance their greed and avarice.

Sue and be damned, I say. The question is this: will the Governor cave to these people like she did the Tribes, since she owes them at least as much of a political debt? Is the budget eyewash? Or does she mean it? Time will tell.

The Columbian deserves some credit for stating the obvious in this editorial, even if a few days late.. The leftists that commented under the editorial show a basic inability to understand either the role of state employee unions or our role as taxpayers in funding their efforts. Some write as if we face no fiscal difficulty of any kind, and therefore the unions shouldn't "suffer."

Of course they should. At a time when all are in pain, government employees deserve no special cache' in pain avoidance. When the people suffer... they must suffer as well.

To believe otherwise is to show a level of ignorance and cluelessness that would astound even the most casual observer, and the unions and the idjits commenting on the Columbian editorial addressing this matter manage to pull it off brilliantly.

But cluelessness is an essential element of becoming a leftist... or one would avoid that particular malady.

Editorials
In our view Dec. 26: Ill-Timed Greed
Message from state workers’ union: ‘Give us our money; never mind your problems
Friday, December 26 1:00 a.m.

Labor unions have improved the American way of life in many ways for more than 130 years. Working conditions, wages and benefits all are better because of unions.

But in a modern America, sooner or later unions must decide to become part of the solution or continue to be part of the problem. To date, the latter seems to be the case, as evidenced in this state by the Washington Federation of State Employees suing Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday. In the budget that Gregoire released last week, she proposed dropping raises of about 2 percent for the union’s 40,000 workers in state agencies and colleges.

In so doing, Gregoire essentially declared that times are tough for everyone, including union workers. That’s not persuasive enough for union officials. Their lawsuit accuses Gregoire of unfair labor practices. How can that be, when Gregoire wants union workers to be treated like everyone else? Everyone else, that is, lucky enough to have a job.

She’s also accused of breach of contract, an argument that loses steam when union spokesman Tim Welch says his group simply wants the issue taken to the Legislature. “If they vote it down, then we go back to negotiations. We don’t understand why the governor couldn’t do that,” he said.

The union is looking for kinder treatment from legislators than they’re receiving from Gregoire. She promised not to raise taxes, and she kept that promise, by proposing tough cuts in programs, salaries and virtually all other aspects of state government.

When union officials squawk about pay during the worst economic crisis in memory, it only fuels the suspicion that all they care about is the union. They can attach euphemistic words to their title (the teachers union is the Washington Education Association) but repeatedly union leaders and members embrace their selfish sole priority. That’s their job, of course, but it does nothing to solve the economic problem.

State workers are being laid off left and right. A hiring freeze has been imposed, to the detriment of many citizens who rely on vital state agencies and services. Overall, Gregoire has proposed more than $3 billion in spending cuts over the next 2 years. More than 2,000 state workers could be laid off. Classrooms likely will become more crowded. Highway projects will be postponed. Yet what do we hear from the state employees’ union? “Give us our money. Never mind your problems.”

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State union thugs: now SUING the Gov for their pay raises.

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The people of this country generally and this state particularly are hurting. We're hurting big time in a wide variety of areas. On December 18th, I wrote about Gov. Gregoire's stunning effort to balance the budget without raising taxes, and mentioned my belief that the unions don't give a damn about anyone but themselves.

So, what do the union scum do?

They sue the Governor. Here's the Seattle Times' take on it... and here's the PI's effort.

These selfish clowns are actually suing the Governor as outlined here:

The lawsuit asks Thurston County Superior Court to compel the governor to submit a request to the Legislature to fund the pay raises and other economic parts of the five contracts negotiated by the Federation. The pacts cover 30,000 General Government workers and 10,000 employees at 12 community colleges and all four-year universities and The Evergreen State College.

"Pay raise?" They need to be forced to take a substantial PAY CUT. Or do they find the idea of unemployment intriguing?

Apparently, these thugs, including those employed at our universities, lack the ability to grasp the impacts of our troubled economy.

Or, alternately, they simply don't care because they're greedy pigs.

Remember the good old days, before the dems paid these scum off with collective bargaining?

Were it up to me, I'd fire off a bill to decertify the state employee unions. I would hammer them like nails, since they clearly don't give a damn about those they allegedly serve.... that is, us.
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The Broken Clock Syndrome (II) - In our view, Dec. 21: A Bad Bailout

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As I mentioned here, here and here, the bailout was and is a bad idea generally, and the UAW bailout a terrible idea specifically. This massive fraud perpetrated on the taxpayers re-enforces a moronic business model while keeping the mortal enemies of this country alive.

Economically and politically, it's the equivalent of sending troops to KEEP Saddam in power while sending cash to the al Qaida.

Unions generally and the UAW specifically, as shown by their whining and sniveling about Bush's nonsensical "goals as opposed to requirements" statement that they would maybe want to become wage-competitive in an effort to keep their jobs; are a carbuncle on the butt of American capitalism.

That said, on those infrequent occasions when the phantom editorialist at the Columbian falls and hits their collective head, thereby showing something approaching common sense (In the midst of their lying, bogus "The people support a 3rd bridge and loot rail system" articles) they again illustrate the Broken Clock Syndrome by nailing President Bush for his violation of free-market principles, if nothing else.

In our view, Dec. 21: A Bad Bailout
GM, Chrysler get a big boost from Bush, but the plan is packed with potential for failure

Sunday, December 21 1:00 a.m.

Now Americans understand why the Big Three automakers — though desperate when appearing before Congress last month — were not more yielding in those discussions. They knew that President Bush likely would come to their rescue. That’s what happened on Friday when Bush presented $17.4 billion in rescue loans to General Motors and Chrysler. (Ford doesn’t need emergency assistance … yet.)

Although this plan offers hope for survival of domestic automakers, there remain numerous areas of skepticism that should cause Americans great concern:

One of the conditions this relief plan forces upon GM and Chrysler is mystifying, if not absurd. Here’s how The Associated Press explains it: “If the carmakers fail to prove viability by March 31, they will be required to repay the loans, which they would find all but impossible. A firm will be deemed viable only if it can show positive cash flow and can fully repay the government loans.

”Say what? Imagine your bank threatening you with this laughable scenario: “If you can’t come up with any money, we’ll force you to pay back this loan!” Only in this case, it’s billions of public dollars.

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Nope, it was too much to hope for: Bush caves in to the UAW.

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Just yesterday, there were hopeful signs that Mr. Bush was going to use his head and let the auto manufacturers go under.


I'm sitting here watching the President put a foot-thick layer of lipstick on the UAW pig.

The American people do NOT want ADDITIONAL BILLIONS wasted. And the UAW deserves to collapse.

True colors, Mr. President. You're showing them.
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But not by me: Frugal state budget hated by almost everybody

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I've publicly stated in the past, though not on this blog, that there was no way that Gov. Gregoire would not raise our taxes to balance the gapping maw of a budget deficit.

I stand corrected.

Our taxes will definitely be raised, because as this article points out, many (and unions in particular) are incapable of understand that our economy is a shambles. They could care less that thousands are becoming unemployed every week... they want what they want, no matter how badly the rest of us have to suffer for them to get it.

Unions don't give a damn about anyone or anything but themselves. If they did, there would at least be a spirit of compromise... a pragmatic understanding that our entire state is suffering, and as public servants, unions have to share in that pain.

I have yet to see anything that indicates they get it.

The question I have is this: Is this budget political eyewash?

Gov. Gregoire HAS the ability to make sure that this budget, substantially unaltered, becomes the financial plan for this state.

All she has to do is hold a press conference tomorrow and tell the world the following:

"I will veto any budget that doesn't closely match my proposals."

If she FAILS to do that... and soon... then we'll know that this effort was eyewash.

We'll keep a close watch on her. Will she get testicular on Frank and Lisa's buttocks?

Frugal state budget hated by almost everybody

By CHRIS McGANN
P-I CAPITOL CORRESPONDENT

OLYMPIA -- Unacceptable.

That's what advocates for education, health and social programs called the $3 billion in cuts Gov. Chris Gregoire proposes in a no-new taxes plan for bridging a $5.8 billion budget shortfall.

"For low income individuals and families, this is sort of the nightmare before Christmas," said human services lobbyist Nick Federici. "The elimination of the General Assistance- Unemployable program, which is financial assistance for the lowest of the low income -- along with their mental health and health care benefits, elimination of a substantial portion of the basic health plan, cutting housing assistance by one half -- I think this is going to be devastating for not just the low income but working families that rely on a lot of these type of programs particularly in these tough economic times."

The criticism of Gregoire's budget comes as no surprise. Gregoire said of her own budget: "I hate it ...Nothing went untouched, and I've told people whom I respect and admire and who have folks that are going to be dramatically by this budget, 'You're going to hate it.' I've told Legislators, 'You are going to hate my budget. There's something in there for everybody not to like.'"

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Is he finally using his head? Bush may let Detroit go bust.

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I've had a word or two to say about what looked like the utter folly of Mr. Bush bailing out the United Auto Workers, the union equivalent of Iran as the GOP is the equivalent of Israel.

Bailing out the UAW makes absolutely no sense. Toyota sold 9.3 million cars and made $17 billion. As has been pointed out, last calender year, GM sold 9.3 million cars and lost $37 billion.

Bailing out such an organization makes no business sense at all.

Finally, apparently, Mr. Bush has figured it out: there is precisely no percentage; either business or political, in saving this particular political foe from committing fiscal suicide.

Bankruptcy would effectively break the UAW. And that would be best for the automobile makers specifically and the country as a whole.

Bush may let Detroit go bust
President weighs option of 'orderly' auto bankruptcy

By JENNIFER LOVENTHE

ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration is looking at "orderly" bankruptcy as a possible way to deal with the desperately ailing U.S. auto industry, the White House said Thursday as automakers readied more plant closings and a half-million new jobless claims underscored the deteriorating national economy.

With General Motors, Chrysler and the rest of Detroit anxiously awaiting a White House decision on billions of dollars in emergency federal loans, press secretary Dana Perino said it wasn't simply a choice between government rescue and the disastrous collapse of a major industry.

"There's an orderly way to do bankruptcies that provides for more of a soft landing," she said. "I think that's what we would be talking about."

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So, now that the people have spoken by re-electing the governor responsible for our $5 BILLION deficit, what is she going to do about it?

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Hint: Massive tax increases.

The Governor's race was yet another where I didn't vote. On one hand, we could vote for the incumbent; an arguably inept, incompetent frightened little gnome entirely responsible for the deficit (Just like she would be entirely responsible for a surplus... since she took all the credit when the economy was doing well... and none of the blame now that it's tanked) or a "Mainstream Republican" who probably lost the election with his idiotic support of using $75 million to keep the Sonics in Seattle after the huge anti-Sonic vote in King County.

While the governor was right about the fact that this state did not have a $3.2 BILLION deficit that she refused to address during her campaign (following the Obama template) it appears that she was "right" about that subject in the worst possible way: she was off by $1.8 BILLION; for a total deficit, SO FAR, of $5 BILLION.

Now, most folks have a hard time understanding what that much money in a deficit really means. So I have come up with a way to express it that newspapers (still supporting the leftists) refuse to use. I call it the "per-capita" method, or the "per-person" method.

What is that method? it's dividing the number of people in this state (I'll use 2006plus figures of about 6.5 million) into the projected, so far, deficit of $5 billion.

That figure will get us the amount of the deficit for each man, woman and child in this state.

Ready?

$769..... EACH.

For my family of four, well, that's over $3,000.

Does our governor have the guts to face down the unions? She's already bent us over to get the tribes to finance her re-election (money well spent, I'd say) by costing us $140 million per year, cash I'd say we need pretty bad right now; is she going to attempt to ram an income tax down our throats? Will she cut back her own office's outrageous budget increases? Will she force state agencies to make the needed cuts, or will she hurt us all with massive tax increases to keep those who've bought her happy?

Wash revenue drops, budget deficit tops $5B
Thursday, November 20 3:45 a.m.
BY CURT WOODWARD - ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

The deeply troubled economy is sapping Washington's tax collections again, saddling newly re-elected Gov. Chris Gregoire - who pledged not to raise taxes - with a $5.1 billion budget hole.

Gregoire is preparing an austere, no-new-taxes plan to deal with the deficit, which includes about $500 million in needed savings this year and another $4.6 billion for the 2009-2011 state budget, which takes effect in July.

Some savings measures for the current budget already are in motion, including an across-the-board spending cut and hiring freeze. Gregoire's budget director, Victor Moore, said Wednesday the administration hopes to expand those savings for the current fiscal year without calling a special session of the Legislature.

But lawmakers from both parties agreed that once they convene the regularly scheduled session in January, work must begin immediately to bridge the daunting shortfall.

"This will be ugly," said Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, chairman of the House Finance Committee. "It's much larger than I expected it to be."

In a letter to state workers, Gregoire said bridging the budget gap "will require great sacrifice on everybody's part."

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We will see. And if she can get us out of this one, then we need to start calling her "Houdini."