Advertisement

Eastside residents invited to January 7 Town Hall with local legislators

By on December 29, 2009 in Archived, Events, Government

Washington State Legislature
Sen. Rodney Tom, Rep. Ross Hunter and Rep. Deb Eddy

48th Legislative District

CALENDAR ANNOUNCEMENT

Eastside residents invited to January 7 Town Hall with local legislators

December 29, 2009

State Sen. Rodney Tom (D-Bellevue) and Reps. Ross Hunter (D-Medina) and Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland) invite Eastside residents to a Town Hall on January 7 for a preview of the upcoming 2010 legislative session.

The legislators will provide updates on the state’s budget situation, the education reforms passed last year in HB 2261 and changes to graduation standards, and the SR 520 project. Residents are encouraged to come with questions or ideas about other issues of interest.

When: Thursday, January 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Kirkland City Hall (123 5th Avenue, Kirkland)

For more information, contact Rep. Hunter’s Legislative Assistant Marilyn Pedersen at (425) 453-3064 or vog.aw.gelnull@nyliram.nesredep.

# # #

Contacts:                   Sen. Rodney Tom - (360) 786-7694 or vog.aw.gelnull@yendor.mot

Rep. Ross Hunter – (425) 453-3064 or vog.aw.gelnull@ssor.retnuh

Rep. Deb Eddy – (360) 786-7848 or vog.aw.gelnull@bed.ydde

About Rob Butcher

Editor and Scribbler of Kirkland Views.
View all posts by Rob Butcher →
  • Jim Hitter

    These folks have pretty secure seats these days. During the “fat times” when tax revenues were rolling in none of them stepped up to the plate with ideas for reforming our primitive and regressive tax system. Whenever i sent them emails on the subject I always got the reply that this was the “third rail of WA politics.” Touch it and you end your career in politics.

    Recently, a Senator, had an editorial printed in the Seattle Times urging the legislative branch to consider tax reform. I took the opportunity and sent emails to my 2 Reps. (Eddy and and hunter) and my Senator (Tom) asking for their commentary on tax reform. I challenged them to speak up publicly.

    None of them answered or acknowledged receipt of my emails.

    Here is a cut and paste of the message I sent them—–

    Through the years I have advocated a re-structuring of our basic tax system including an income tax. Your response has always been the claim that this is the third rail of Washington politics. Touch it and you’re done.

    Today I read a Seattle Times editorial by Senator Rosa Franklin which advocates just such a revised tax plan. Senator Franklin has taken a good and public stand. Now, instead of putting your head in the sand, why not come out in favor of this plan? A good, healthy, public debate on this subject is just what the state needs. As Senator Franklin says, “It’s time to adopt a tax structure designed for 2010 instead of 1910.”

    As someone who has supported you with votes and money I’d like to see you take a chance and stand up for what’s right.

    Sincerely, Jim Hitter

    Of course, there are plenty of arguments pro and con, but it does bug me that our legislative branch can’t even have a public discussion of important issues such as this.

    • Bill Henkens

      Jim,
      We agree on this issue. Why can’t our elected representatives even broach this subject? Everyone knows our taxing system in this state is broken. However, no one seems to have the strength or fortitude to fix any of it. Now the idea is to tax candy and soda pop? Is that the best that they can do?

  • Jim Hitter

    These folks have pretty secure seats these days. During the “fat times” when tax revenues were rolling in none of them stepped up to the plate with ideas for reforming our primitive and regressive tax system. Whenever i sent them emails on the subject I always got the reply that this was the “third rail of WA politics.” Touch it and you end your career in politics.

    Recently, a Senator, had an editorial printed in the Seattle Times urging the legislative branch to consider tax reform. I took the opportunity and sent emails to my 2 Reps. (Eddy and and hunter) and my Senator (Tom) asking for their commentary on tax reform. I challenged them to speak up publicly.

    None of them answered or acknowledged receipt of my emails.

    Here is a cut and paste of the message I sent them—–

    Through the years I have advocated a re-structuring of our basic tax system including an income tax. Your response has always been the claim that this is the third rail of Washington politics. Touch it and you’re done.

    Today I read a Seattle Times editorial by Senator Rosa Franklin which advocates just such a revised tax plan. Senator Franklin has taken a good and public stand. Now, instead of putting your head in the sand, why not come out in favor of this plan? A good, healthy, public debate on this subject is just what the state needs. As Senator Franklin says, “It’s time to adopt a tax structure designed for 2010 instead of 1910.”

    As someone who has supported you with votes and money I’d like to see you take a chance and stand up for what’s right.

    Sincerely, Jim Hitter

    Of course, there are plenty of arguments pro and con, but it does bug me that our legislative branch can’t even have a public discussion of important issues such as this.

    • Bill Henkens

      Jim,
      We agree on this issue. Why can’t our elected representatives even broach this subject? Everyone knows our taxing system in this state is broken. However, no one seems to have the strength or fortitude to fix any of it. Now the idea is to tax candy and soda pop? Is that the best that they can do?