John P. Evans 515 Lake Street South, #305 Kirkland, Washington 98033 (C) (206) 914-2435 (e-mail) lp842@comcast.net October 25, 2006
An Open Letter to My Neighbors and Friends
Dear Neighbor and/or Friend:
Vote as you please, but PLEASE VOTE Tuesday, November 7. Based on my research, I am sharing how I have decided to vote and have included some discussion. I have not included uncontested races. I live in Kirkland and have included everything on my ballot plus one other race I don’t get to vote on at the end. I’m late and busy, so candidate discussion is limited.
Initiative Measure 920 – This measure would repeal Washington’s state laws imposing tax, currently dedicated for the education legacy trust fund, on transfers of estates of persons dying on or after the effective date of this measure.
YES – Voters abolished Washington State’s death tax in 1981 by a 2/3rds majority, but in 2005 the legislature re-imposed it to “fund education”. The tax is easy to avoid with some planning (pay an attorney to set up a trust or foundation) so my guess is over time the proceeds from the tax are over-estimated and they’ll keep tightening the rules. Who really gets hurt by this tax are those too busy running their business to plan ahead then meet an untimely death. Anyone with really big assets is likely to have paid an attorney to avoid the tax. There is something unfair about paying 35% of your income for income taxes, managing to retain part of the remaining 65%, then dying and getting whacked by the tax man again on money you already paid tax on. My business which I had for 27 years prior to establishing a trust upon its sale would have been subject to the tax, but growing businesses need cash to grow and the owners are often cash poor. If the main assets are an active business, heirs must deal with the death, taking over the business and coming up with a bundle of cash to pay the tax man. The big contributors to the NO on I-920 campaign are unions (primarily the NEA and WEA) and Bill Gates, but you can bet that the wealthiest man in the world would in fact pay no Washington death tax due to planning with trusts and foundations. Death should not be a taxable event.
Initiative Measure 933 – This measure would require compensation when government regulation damages the use or value of private property, would forbid regulations that prohibit existing legal uses of private property, and would provide exceptions or payments.
YES – Washington’s constitution says, “No private property shall be taken or damaged…without just compensation.” But in fact regulation after regulation limits the use of private property or damages its value without compensation to the owner, which owner already pays annual rent to the gummit in the form of property taxes. If the gummit harms me, they should compensate me. In fact, the result of this Initiative will be to reduce the volume of harmful takings. Contrary to the impression created by the No on I-933, 98% of farmers support I-933 as evidenced by Public Disclosure Commission contributions pro and con. The No on I-933 has collected over $2,000,000 mainly in large contributions from Seattle while the Yes on I-933 has collected about $650,000 mainly in small contributions from throughout the state. I-933 is endorsed by the Libertarian Party and virtually all farm organizations.
Initiative Measure 937 – This measure would require certain electric utilities with 25,000 or more customers to meet certain targets for energy conservation and use of renewable energy resources, as defined, including energy credits, or pay penalties.
NO – If passed, your electricity bill will go up. I-912 does not count hydro power as a renewable energy source, but California does. Our hydro power would go to California to meet their quota rules while we are left with windmills and solar panels. Supporters have collected $1,000,000, opponents $82,000. Enough with the rules already.
House Joint Resolution 4223 – This amendment would authorize the legislature to increase the personal property tax exemption for taxable personal property owned by each “head of a family” from three thousand ($3,000) to fifteen thousand ($15,000) dollars.
YES – On one voted against this in the Senate or House. I don’t know much about this tax, but the measure has the effect of reducing the number of persons to whom the tax applies and that seems good.
King County Proposition No. 1 – Authorization to sell or exchange certain real property.
YES – The County bought property in 1911 and 1912, paid off the bonds in 1931, but never developed the properties. It makes sense to liquidate and use the funds elsewhere.
King County Proposition No. 2 – Public transportation system sales and use tax.
NO – Do we need more taxes?
United States Senator – Big dollars in this race and I hate the ads from the D’s and R’s. 1. Bruce Guthrie - Libertarian – Philosophically sound. I’ve contributed to his campaign. The poorest of the millionaires in the debate. 2. Mike McGavick – Republican – a change. I made a modest contribution to his campaign. 3. Robin Adair – Independent – Has trouble composing sentences but thinks outside the box and I believe has a good background and some good ideas. 4. Maria Cantwell – Democrat – Incumbent 5. Aaron Dixon – Green – Philosophically unsound. Is proud of some bad ideas.
United States Representative, Congressional District 1 - 1. Larry Ishmael – Republican. 2. Jay Inslee – Democrat - incumbent.
State of Washington Leg. Dist. No. 48 - 1. Luke Esser – Republican – incumbent. Clearly the better of the two options. 2. Rodney Tom - Democrat – Is a Republican legislator, but switched parties and is running as a Democrat for senate.
State of Washington Representative, Position No. 1 - 1. Nancy Potts - Republican. 2. Ross Hunter – Democrat – Incumbent. This guy is intelligent, but to my way of thinking, philosophically unsound.
State of Washington Representative, Position No. 2 - 1. Bret Olson - Republican. 2. Deborah Eddy – Democrat.
State Supreme Court - 1. Stephen Johnson. Very good. 2. Susan Owens – incumbent and I’m not impressed.
District Court Northeast Electoral District - 1. Frank LaSalata – I don’t know what happened here. I voted for Frank in the primary. He came in 3rd, but the incumbent went away and Frank made it to the general election. I presume the incumbent withdrew. 2. Richard Pope. A perennial candidate and not the best choice.
Below is a candidate race I do not get to vote on but I know and care about:
State Senator, 45th Legislative District - 1. Toby Nixon - Republican – I know Toby. He’d make an excellent Senator and is philosophically sound. I’ve contributed to his campaign. 2. Eric Oemig - Democrat.