Morning Fizz
Fall Disproportionately On the Poor
1) State Sen. David Frockt (D-46) has proposed legislation to address one major concern of activists who opposed Seattle and King County's $20 vehicle license fees: That flat fees like the VLF are regressive and fall disproportionately on the poor. Frockt's proposal
would allow local jurisdictions like Seattle to provide rebates to low-income people who have to pay the license fee (or any future taxes or fees imposed by cities or counties).
The legislation does not specify who would qualify as "low-income," and Frockt has not yet returned a call for comment.
2) Although we've given state senate budget leader Joseph Zarelli (R-18) credit in the past for his willingness to compromise and work with the Democrats to solve the state's budget crisis, we couldn't help but notice that his name pops up on a (very short) list of state legislators who've signed anti-tax conservative leader Grover Norquist's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," a promise to oppose and vote against any tax increases. Democrats and many Republicans agree that the state will have to come up with some combination of efficiencies, budget cuts, and new revenues to close a $2 billion budget gap.
Three senators and 13 house members have signed the pledge. All are Republicans.
Zarelli has not returned a call seeking comment.
3) The Seattle Times dug in to the huge costs of the state's civil commitment laws and sexual predator commitment center on McNeil Island over the weekend:
The legislation does not specify who would qualify as "low-income," and Frockt has not yet returned a call for comment.
2) Although we've given state senate budget leader Joseph Zarelli (R-18) credit in the past for his willingness to compromise and work with the Democrats to solve the state's budget crisis, we couldn't help but notice that his name pops up on a (very short) list of state legislators who've signed anti-tax conservative leader Grover Norquist's "Taxpayer Protection Pledge," a promise to oppose and vote against any tax increases. Democrats and many Republicans agree that the state will have to come up with some combination of efficiencies, budget cuts, and new revenues to close a $2 billion budget gap.
Three senators and 13 house members have signed the pledge. All are Republicans.
Zarelli has not returned a call seeking comment.
3) The Seattle Times dug in to the huge costs of the state's civil commitment laws and sexual predator commitment center on McNeil Island over the weekend:
[S]ex offenders like Williams routinely postpone their trials for years, driving up costs and wasting money.
Their defense lawyers seek multiple continuances and file challenges to Washington's civil-commitment law, which allows the state to lock up the most dangerous sex offenders after they complete their prison sentences. Scheduling conflicts among lawyers, far-flung forensic experts and judges also contribute to delays.
Taxpayers foot the bill, paying for both sides of the case, including state attorneys, defense lawyers, paralegals, investigators and psychologists. Last year, the Special Commitment Center spent $12 million — almost a quarter of its budget — on legal bills.
King County has the distinction of having the slowest and most expensive civil-commitment trials in the state, with recent cases taking on average 3.5 years to reach a jury verdict, records show. One current case has been delayed for 10 years, so far.
