Amboy resident Thomas Schenk says it’s hard to believe we got along for 135 years without the kind of laws, rules and taxation to which ‘one-party’ rule has led us
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and may not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com
I am commenting today on the Washington State 69th Legislative session and specifically the second portion of this session currently in progress.
Last session (2025), thanks to “one-party” rule by Democrats, the largest taxing bill in the history of Washington state was imposed on ALL citizens residing in our borders.
Earlier this year, Gov. Ferguson touted last session’s historic taxing legislation and, apparently, thought it was a good thing.
Addressing this year’s current session, Gov. Ferguson is now bragging about a proposed supplemental tax bill that will be the largest ever enacted, closing a two-plus billion dollar deficit.
The projected two billion deficit was known last session, so one can only assume the almost $10 billion dollar package passed by Democrats (“one-party” rule) last session was so large they didn’t want to push the envelope any further and thus created a built-in excuse for taxing Washingtonians even more with this supplemental bill in this current session.
And lest you think I’m being political, I guess in a sense I am. “One-party” rule by Democrats resulted in a change to the rules governing the House that had been in effect for years, thus, effectively preventing Republicans from being able to influence any of the proposed taxing bills.
I am fairly certain a majority of residents of Washington state – Democrat, Republican and Independent – will be incensed about the legislature passing an almost $10 billion dollar increase in taxes, fees and other charges, only to have the current legislative session introducing approximately one thousand bills to be considered before the session ends on March 12, or thereabouts and slapping ALL citizens with $2 billion dollars more of taxation in all forms.
In 137 years since statehood and, subsequently 69 legislative sessions, the current crop of Democrats think we need one thousand more laws this session, affecting the lives of all Washingtonians, monetarily, in the most negative way … and that’s on top of the, I believe, 600-plus bills passed last session.
Let me do the math … after 135 (since statehood in 1889 and the start of the 2025-2026 biennium) “one-party” rule has determined Washingtonians need/needed, for this biennium session, 1,600 new laws or rules … hard to believe we got along for 135 years without the kind of laws, rules and taxation to which “one-party” rule has led us.
We are ALL being shafted … Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike…how long will we allow this tyranny to fester?
Thomas Schenk
Amboy
Also read:
- Washington governor talks potential return of SuperSonics with NBA commissioner
Gov. Bob Ferguson spoke with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver about the possibility of bringing the Seattle SuperSonics back as the league weighs future expansion decisions. - Opinion: The income tax proposal has arrived
Ryan Frost of the Washington Policy Center argues that a proposed Washington income tax creates a new revenue stream rather than delivering tax reform or relief. - Is it time to lower the legal limit for blood alcohol content to 0.05 in the state of Washington?
Mothers Against Drunk Driving and families affected by impaired driving are urging Washington lawmakers to lower the legal BAC limit to 0.05, citing prevention data and personal testimony from Clark County residents. - Expert in homebuilding has several tips on how to make housing affordable
Veteran homebuilder Tracy Doriot shares his perspective on why regulations, taxes, labor shortages, and permitting delays are driving housing costs higher in Clark County and across Washington. - POLL: If a sub-district is created, what area should it include?
Clark County residents are asked where a potential C-TRAN sub-district should be drawn if voters are asked to fund light rail operations and maintenance costs.
Thomas, you are right. But you are preaching to the choir here. (I, too, am guilty of preaching to the choir here in CCT.)
The folk that actually read and digest that which is written here in CCT already are voting against “one party Democratic rule” here in Washington. Yet, come election time, the Democratic incumbents all get re-elected. This is due to a variety of things, in my opinion, but voter-apathy and lack of serious, meaningful candidates are two of the biggest reasons.
The % of voter turnout is dismal. Look at the last election #’s in which Vancouver Mayor and two Councilors were up for re-election.
Look at the lone candidate that ran against the far-left, Vancouver mayor… really? Forsman was the best that could be found?
So, Thomas, you and I are both preaching to the choir here. What needs to happen is a well-funded campaign by a serious contender who is able to re-train and re-educate voters to ACTUALLY THINK and ask themselves “Am I better off now with this elected official, or is it time for a change?”
Elections do have consequences! But most voters have either forgotten this, or just don’t care.
Susan… we’re on the same page. My understanding of Republican turnout in Congressional District 3 in 2024 is approximately seventy thousand Republicans did not vote. The reasons for this cannot be distilled down to a particular reason. There are thoughts that some voters think mail-in ballots are wrong and therefore won’t participate. Some believe our votes don’t matter, so why participate. Until voters, all voters, get hit in the pocketbook and folks realize they’re being “shafted” not much will change. The “one-party” Democrats are feasting at the trough…we can only hope they have gone too far this time.