Author Archives: Laudan

Update from Olympia – Holding Government Accountable

Greetings Friends,

Although the Legislature is not in session, I’m still working hard for you. I’ve been hearing a lot from constituents asking what we as legislators are doing to push back on the governor’s executive actions. That has been challenging – because we are not in session, we can’t introduce legislation in response. So far all we’ve able to do is write letters to the governor voicing our frustration and concerns about decisions he’s made (or hasn’t made). I liken this to writing letters to Santa: I don’t get a response from Santa, and I don’t get a response from the governor.

That is why I have been working to gain bipartisan support for something that would be historic: to have legislators call themselves into a “special session”. Under Washington’s constitution, the governor can call a special session at any time for any reason. The Legislature is also allowed to call itself back to Olympia, as long as it’s for a specific purpose. In this case, the purpose would be to respond to the governor’s proclamations and address the major budget issues caused by the governor’s shutdown of most of our state economy.

I represent you – and you need to have your voices and concerns heard in a meaningful way. We need to have legislative oversight and put forth ideas that reflect your values, keep families safe and reopen our economy. Calling ourselves into a special session would check all those boxes.

The most important question we have to ask is: Is the emergency over? The proclamation powers of the governor take effect when there is a declared emergency. At the outset of the COVID-19 outbreak, many of us believed there was an emergency. As time went on, we have been able to establish protocols to reduce the number of deaths and infection rates (“flatten the curve”) so as not to overwhelm our health care system, yet these onerous restrictions continue. If there is no emergency, there is no authority for the governor to continue these dictates.

I’ve been vocal about the need for the Legislature to do more to protect your rights and ensure your state government is accountable. Just as much as we are fighting to stop the spread of COVID-19, we need to fight to save our economy. It’s possible to do both. Businesses have demonstrated that with safety protocols in place we can do our shopping and contain the spread of the virus.

My biggest objection is to the governor unilateral picking of winners and losers. It seems that every time we see some progress, he moves the goal posts – to use an expression – about when to allow certain businesses to reopen, while denying others.

For instance, I’m not against big, chain retailers, but if they get to remain open because their merchandise includes (but isn’t limited to) food, that hardly seems fair to our smaller hometown businesses that offer similar merchandise with the exception of food. If you can go shopping at a big-box store with 300 other people, you certainly can go shopping at your local business with 4 or 5 people in the store.

Also, the governor’s lengthy shutdown of residential and commercial construction while allowing construction on government low-income housing, Sound Transit and the Key Arena was inconsistent and wreaked havoc on our economy. A new estimate this week projects a shortfall of nearly $7 billion in the state’s four-year budget outlook. That needs to be addressed before the next legislative session in January. Calling ourselves into a special session would allow us to get started on that.

To top it off, Washington was the only state in the nation to completely shut down outdoor-recreation activities like fishing and golf, even though those can certainly be done with physical distancing.

We need consistent and thoughtful approaches that are missing from the governor’s new four-phase plan. The bottom line is that while some point to these extreme actions as saving lives from COVID-19, the same actions are taking an extreme toll on the mental and physical health of Washingtonians. The suicide rate has increased, as have reports of domestic violence and child abuse; these tragic facts aren’t likely to change as long as the economic challenges continue.

This will be the last e-news update you’ll receive from me due to election-year restrictions. I can still be available to help with your state government if you reach out to me. I’ll continue to be a voice for accountability where I can and push state leaders to think more broadly about the implications of keeping Washington shut down for another month.


Salute to Health Care Workers!

A wing of the U.S. Air Force from Joint Base Lewis McChord  will be doing flyovers throughout western Washington tomorrow (May 8) as a thank-you to health-care workers. I also extend my gratitude to those on the front lines, caring for patients during this challenging time.

 

 

 

It is an honor to serve you and my office is here to help you with any questions you may have about your state government.

Sincerely,

Phil Fortunato,

Your 31st District State Senator

Living by the Constitution

As a Senator, I can produce some materials that help inform my constituents. One thing I’ve done is print some pocket constitutions that folks can take with them when they visit my office in Olympia. I wrote a forward and have uploaded it here for your to read. I take the Constitution seriously and work on your behalf to uphold the rights promised in these foundational documents. Click on the image below.

Fortunato makes second call for Special Session

Since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, I’ve had serious concerns about how the governor was implementing our state’s response. Initially, we did the right thing and came together to stop the spread of the virus. However, I took exception when the administration started picking economic winners and losers with a totally inconsistent policy. You could build tax-payer funded housing, but private construction was stopped.

It is clear that the Legislature needs to step in and provide oversight to the litany of executive orders issued by the governor. It is our responsibility to our constituents to make sure that their voice is heard and that executive power is in check. We can’t do that unless we are in session. This is my second attempt to convince my colleagues that we need to act and call ourselves into session. You can read my email to them below or click here.

 

Fortunato calls on Governor to keep firearms businesses open – closure violates Constitution

March 27, 2020

 

Jay Inslee

Office of the Governor

PO Box 40002

Olympia, WA 985004-0002

 

Governor Inslee,

I call on you to immediately amend your March 23, 2020, “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order to include firearm-related businesses and shooting ranges in the list of businesses and industries in the “Essential Workforce Critical Workers” list.

The order allows businesses that provide services “necessary to maintain the safety and sanitation of residences,” as well as “all facilities used by law enforcement personnel,” to remain open. If breweries, wineries, and cannabis stores are considered “essential” to the daily lives of Washingtonians during the COVID-19 crisis, then surely firearms-related businesses and shooting ranges must rank at an even higher level of importance.

Firearms-related businesses and shooting ranges provide critical supplies to law enforcement and security, not to mention ensuring that hard-working Washingtonians have access to products and training needed to defend themselves and their families. Washington residents that are currently authorized to lawfully purchase a firearm are guaranteed that “access” by the Washington State Constitution. (Article I, Section 24 of the Washington State Constitution, which states: “the right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state, shall not be impaired.”).

I implore you to respect a fundamental tenant of the state constitution, and reconsider your decision.

Sincerely,

Senator Phil Fortunato

31st Legislative District

 

Stay Home, Stay Healthy

Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

I hope that you are doing well and staying safe and healthy. I have urgent news to share regarding the state’s response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

While most Washingtonians have been doing their part to take personal precautions, the spread and severity of this virus is still a significant threat. That’s why Governor Inslee issued a new order called “Stay Home, Stay Healthy.”

It went into effect immediately and implements a ban on all public and private gatherings – even weddings and funerals. In addition, the order requires the closure of all non-essential businesses within 48 hours, which means this evening. Here is a link to the businesses and industries considered essential. You can click here to read the order itself.

This is no time for politics, but I do have some concerns about the government determining what’s essential and what isn’t. If a business or service isn’t on that list but think they may be essential, they can email business@mil.wa.gov to get clarification, or to petition to be added.

It’s drastic, but to use a phrase that has become common, these are unprecedented times.

Stay Home

Here are some additional resources for those affected by the COVID-19 response.

This won’t be easy – it will have a huge impact on our state’s economy and lives of our citizens. However, I’m confident that we can come together and emerge from this stronger.

It is an honor to serve you and my office is here to help you with any questions you may have about your state government.

Sincerely,

Fortunato Signature

Phil Fortunato,

Your 31st District State Senator

Fortunato introduces property tax constitutional amendment

Recent changes in the state’s property tax, added pressures from local tax levies and rising home values mean more people are struggling to pay their property taxes. That is why state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, and the Senate Republican Caucus are pushing to amend the state’s constitution to restructure Washington’s property tax aimed at relief for homeowners.

Modeled after California’s successful Proposition 13, Senate Joint Resolution 8219 would freeze property valuations as of Jan. 1, 2020, and not be recalculated until there is a change of ownership.

“The state has seen record growth in its budget at the expense of taxpayers around the state. We’ve reached a point now that is unsustainable for the very people that fund government and they need relief,” said Fortunato. “Not only are people unable to afford getting into a home, they’re quickly being taxed out of them. During my time in the Senate, the state has raked in billions more than we expected and spent it all on everything but what Washingtonians are clamoring for – tax relief.”

Fortunato’s proposal is aimed at helping people stay in their homes by capping the growth of property taxes paid to the state to a more affordable point when the home is purchased.

“By changing our constitution this way, we are giving homeowners certainty they deserve. It will put a check on out-of-control spending and do what the Legislature has been unwilling or unable to do,” Fortunato said. “The sad thing is that some decision makers in Olympia can’t be trusted. I voted for historic funding changes to our schools that gave over 70% of property owners a tax cut, only to have the majority betray that and fling the door wide-open to additional tax increases. That’s unacceptable. We should enshrine this principle of fiscal restraint in our state’s constitution.”

Nearing the end of the 2020 session

Greetings from Olympia,

It’s been awhile since I last sent out an update but have tried to keep folks apprised of what’s happening in Olympia via my legislative Facebook. You may have noticed that in our first round of voting in the Senate, I was marked ‘excused.’ A couple of weeks back, I was admitted to the hospital with some abdominal pain. It turned out to be nothing serious, but I was out for just over a week. The good news is that I’ve been back and have hit the ground running.

Budget season

There have been a few big-ticket items that I’d like to comment on. First, we had news recently that the state revenue continues to grow. Without doing anything, revenue collections are up $1.5 billion more than anticipated. This is on top of the billion-dollar tax bill (the first bill signed into law of the 2020 session) on everything from nursing homes to health-care providers and mental-health facilities. The majorities have unveiled their budgets for this supplemental year and, unsurprisingly, every penny you send to Olympia has been spent growing government.

My colleagues and I have been pushing for tax relief, whether it’s doing the will of the people and passing my bill to give $30 car tabs, or needed property tax relief. The fact is, the state has the money but is choosing other “priorities.”

Just look at how much state spending has increased since 2013. Granted, we had some needed investments to make in education, but it’s out of control. You pay for the state budget with your taxes and the growth has outpaced any gains you or your family may have seen in wages. That’s even worse if you’re outside of King County. Something has to give.


Time for a Washington Prop 13

Some years back, taxpayers in California revolted because of their skyrocketing property taxes. We are reaching that point here. I’ve received countless emails from people around the district who can’t afford the endless property tax increases. The reality is that the Legislature cannot be trusted. I voted in support of historic education funding reform to satisfy the McCleary decision that also resulted in a property tax reduction for over 70 percent of Washingtonians. Less than a year later, the majority betrayed taxpayers and undid that work. They opened the door to steep increases in property taxes and an overreliance on local levies that create inequity in our schools. We are almost back in the same boat that got us the McCleary case to begin with.

We need and can afford property-tax relief. I’ll be pushing for legislation modeled after the California Proposition 13. It froze property tax assessments at a certain date, limited annual increases to inflation, and froze re-evalutions until after change of ownership.


Just say ‘No’ to kindergarten sex ed

I’ve received overwhelming responses from constituents opposing the bill that would mandate sex education starting in kindergarten. Let’s be clear, this is not about good-touch, bad-touch or having healthy friendships. What’s really happening is an agenda pushed by special interests to sexualize our children. Discussing and normalizing alternative lifestyles or teaching about sexual pleasure is not ‘age appropriate’ for young children. You’ve been clear, and I’m in agreement, we need to get sex entirely out of schools and get back to teaching our students how to read, write and do math. Our state has a persistent opportunity gap and introducing this new requirement will only make matters worse by taking up valuable instructional time on something that is the responsibility of parents and families.


Starving transportation

Democratic leaders on the Senate Transportation Committee unveiled their funding proposal last week to deal with what they’re calling the “I-976 crisis” and to restart delayed transportation projects.

I supported this supplemental budget, but it’s really just a Band-Aid. It is needlessly starving our state’s transportation infrastructure and fails to address long-term solutions that we need to act on now. That is being exacerbated by the ill-advised pausing of critical projects by Gov. Inslee, which has cost taxpayers untold millions of dollars. The overwhelming majority of those projects are funded by the gas tax and have nothing to do with this so-called “I-976 crisis.”

Read more…


homelessWhat about homeless and housing?

Last week, those of us working on housing and homelessness in the Senate Republican Caucus held a news conference to discuss what the Legislature is doing about this critical issue. We outlined where we thought we should be going at the outset of the 2020 legislative session, but with just a couple of weeks left to go, not many of those proposals made it through.

The majority is intent on continuing the same failed policies and practices of just throwing more taxpayer dollars at a broken system with no accountability.Here’s a short article on parts of the Republican proposal.We all agree that this problem needs to be addressed. We just disagree on how to get there. I’ve been vocal about my holistic plan to address this problem. To my disappointment many of these components have been simply ignored by the majority in favor of increased spending on policies that have proven they do not work.


Standing up for your rights

The Senate recently approved SB 6288, creating the Office of Firearm Violence Prevention to push unscientific ‘research’ by special interests. What’s worse, they’ll be handing out your tax dollars to nonprofits already funded by billionaires opposed to the Second Amendment.

The bill even says that as a condition of receiving those grants, organizations must include how they’d “implement evidenced-based firearm reduction.”

It’s not about research, it’s not about safety. It’s about restricting rights of law-abiding citizens and it’s unacceptable. It was even a fight to include language in the bill that directed this new state agency to look at suicide prevention, which is the largest percentage, by far, of firearm-related deaths.


It is an honor serving as your state Senator.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me with any concerns you have about your state government.

Sincerely,

Fortunato Signature

Phil Fortunato,

Your 31st District State Senator