Bills behind closed doors

Washington state Legislative session is over. What passed? Are you aware of any of the bills that affect you personally?

Majority Democrats passed I-1000: This initiative overturns Washington’s 20-year-old, voter-approved restriction on affirmative action in state contracting, education and hiring. Majority Democrats waited until the dead of night on the last day of the 105-day session to vote on the measure.

I thought the will of the majority of Washington voted to repeal affirmative action?

Majority Democrats have continued gutting three-strikes-you’re-out, citing racial disparities in sentencing. The Majority Democrats voted to remove second-degree robbery from the list of “three strikes” crimes. But not fixing the problem.

Majority Democrats passed the “governor request” legislation, which also requires the phase out of coal-fire electricity by 2025. Opponents noted that most of Washington’s electricity already comes from hydro power.

Majority Democrats passed taxes, taxes and more taxes. The state is currently running a surplus, but Majority Democrats and the governor love taxes of any kind. So along with screwing up the state’s Supreme Court McCleary decision, now most school districts are already forecasting multimillion-dollar shortfalls for years to come. So lawmakers compensated by increased the amount of money school districts can levy (tax).

So, the Majority Democrats and governor; behind closed doors, without voters’ input, and very little transparency to the taxpayer continue to take your money.

Why do you keep voting for them?

John Van Dalen

Everett, Wash.