Capitol Kibbles
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Good news is relative in this town. The latest state tax-collection report says state tax receipts are down $2 million below the already awful projection adopted last month. But that's virtually no change in a $30 billion budget and shows "the free-fall phase is over" and that Washington's battered economy is getting some respite before it slowly recovers, the state's chief economist, Arun Raha said. The Gov says "We are by no means out of the woods."- More glass-half full. People are relieved that the state's unemployment rate grew only a little worse, to 9.3 percent. Raha noted that new jobless claims are trending downward, and the employment picture should gradually improve starting in six months.
- What's this about ballot secrecy? The state Elections Division has a quick read online about this that you need to check out.
- Nix on income tax? Tim Eyman's initiative factory has rolled out another potential ballot measure, this time taking aim at that scourge called the state income tax. Eyman and partners Jack and Mike Fagan filed a measure titled "We Don't Want an Income Tax." It would declare such a tax illegal, bar the Legislature from ever passing one, and asserts that voter approval of the ban "will put the final nail in the coffin" of the perennial debate. Two things: A) If the Legislature ever gets a mind to put an income tax measure on the ballot, it takes a two-thirds vote in both houses, and that could easily override the initiative. And B) The public has shown an unwavering opposition to the income tax, failing by monster margins every time it's been on the ballot in modern times.
- Queen of King? Susan Hutchison, a former television anchor who is widely viewed as a Republican, is leading in the polls in a five-person pack for next month's August 18 primary for King County Executive. King County Councilman Dow Constantine leads the four Democratic men seeking a runoff spot for November. For political newcomer Hutchison, the General Election could be far tougher, since King is heavily Democratic, most recently electing Gary Locke, who went on to two terms as governor and now the Obama Cabinet, and three-term Executive Ron Sims, who has also joined the Administration.
- Microsoftie steps aside in DC. Jack Krumholtz, described by Politico, as "a groundbreaking leader in government affairs" as Microsoft's federal government relations expert for the past 14 years, is leaving to become a managing director in the governmental relations practice at Glover Park Group in Washington, D.C.
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Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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