OLYMPIA… Today the Senate Transportation Committee held a public hearing on legislation that would allow voters to affirm or cancel Sound Transit projects that are more than 20 percent over budget after two years.

“This is a simple bill that gives the power back to the taxpayer,” said Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, who introduced Senate Bill 5892. “Sound Transit already builds a budget with a 20 percent cushion, which means a project would be 40 percent over budget for this law to kick in.”

It was recently reported that the Sound Transit Eastlink project, connecting Seattle and Bellevue, is already $225 million over budget. The project would extend light-rail service across the Interstate-90 floating bridge and is scheduled to be completed in 2023.

“Someone has to look out for the taxpayer,” Fortunato added, “and it certainly is not Sound Transit. We should give the citizens the opportunity to decide if they want to continue to fund an agency that has repeatedly shown it cannot deliver a project on time or on budget.”

SB 5892 joins several other pieces of legislation Fortunato has supported this session to bring accountability to Sound Transit:

• SB 5001- Requiring the Sound Transit board to be directly elected, not appointed as members are currently.
• SB 5851- Replaces current vehicle valuation method used by Sound Transit with Kelley Blue Book or National Automobile Dealer Association values.
• SB 5893 – Prohibits the Department of Licensing from collecting car-tab fees on valuation made using methods other than Kelley Blue Book or the National Automobile Dealers Association.

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OLYMPIA…The Democrat minority in the state Senate today voted against a proposed constitutional amendment that would ban a tax on individual incomes.

Senate Joint Resolution 8204 needed a two-thirds majority to pass – meaning 33 votes from the 49-member Senate. All 25 members of the Senate majority supported the measure, but only two members of the Democrat minority went along. Had the measure passed and also been approved by the state House of Representatives, it would have been submitted to the voters in November for their approval.

“I have heard many Democrats deny supporting an income tax. So, if they don’t support it why not vote for this amendment?” said SJR 8204’s sponsor, Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn. “Actions speak louder than words. A vote against this amendment was a clear vote in favor of an income tax. Maybe not today, but someday.”

SJR 8204 was introduced because of concerns surrounding the growing conversation surrounding income-tax proposals as a method to increase tax revenues for state and local governments.

The amendment would have banned state, city and county governments from taxing individual incomes. This ban would have included taxes on capital gains, wages and investments.

In 1933 the Washington Supreme Court ruled that a graduated income tax is unconstitutional. Since that ruling, Washington voters have rejected an income tax nine times, most recently in 2010.

Recently, municipal income taxes have been proposed. Last November, voters in Olympia rejected a municipal income tax. This week, advocates in Seattle proposed a 2.5 percent municipal income tax. Fortunato believes such a tax, if approved, is certain to face a legal challenge.

Today, he added, income-tax advocates seem convinced that if the high court has a chance to revisit the issue it will reverse its 1933 decision.

Washington would not be the first state to ban an income tax through a constitutional amendment. Voters in Tennessee voted strongly in favor of a similar constitutional amendment in 2014, passing it with more than 66 percent of the vote.

Fortunato added, “An income tax threatens our economy, especially in King County. Many CEOs, who employ a lot of people, bring jobs to our state because we are one of the few states left without an income tax. Implement one now and watch how long it takes for these companies to find a new home.”

For those who favor an income tax, Fortunato has a suggestion. 

“There is nothing stopping proponents of an income tax from voluntarily sending their money to the state. Individuals can come up with their own tax rates and deductions. They can then compute how much money they owe and send the money into the state treasurer’s office,” he said. “I suggest that they put a note in the memo field as to where the money should go. That way it is a win-win. Those of us that don’t want an income tax will be protected and those that do can pay more.”

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https://www.tvw.org/watch/?clientID=9375922947&eventID=2017031044&eventID=2017031044&startStreamAt=5291&stopStreamAt=5443&autoStartStream=true

OLYMPIA… Sen. Phil Fortunato has introduced legislation that would provide older senior citizens with much-needed property-tax relief.

“Seniors are being taxed out of their homes,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn. “They have worked hard for the homes they own; at some point in time seniors have paid enough taxes.”

Senate Bill 5535 would provide seniors over the age of 80 an exemption from property taxes on their homes.

Fortunato added, “the goal here is to allow seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible. They should not have to choose between paying a property tax or meeting their basic needs.”

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OLYMPIA…Sen. Phil Fortunato has introduced legislation that would give school districts the authority to seek waivers from burdensome state regulation.

“We keep giving schools more money, but a lot of that money never makes it to the classroom,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn. “Instead, schools spend too many tax dollars complying with rules that don’t enhance the educational experience for our kids.”

Since 1978, there have been 1,477 permanent rules and regulations placed on public schools in the state. That is an average of 39 new rules every year.

Senate Bill 5562 would allow school boards to apply for waivers from state regulations that they felt did not provide an education benefit. Principals would have the ability to seek waivers directly from the school district for their respective schools.  The school board would then be required to submit to the state a list of waivers that were requested.

“Right now nobody can tell me what rules work for our schools and which ones don’t.  I want to fix that,” Fortunato said. “Teachers and principals are on the ground; they know what works in their schools, and this gives them an opportunity to tell us if something doesn’t work.”

Schools could not be granted waivers for rules and regulations that involve the health and safety of students or have to do with parents’ rights.

Fortunato added, “I fully expect we will learn that some rules are beneficial in urban areas but aren’t beneficial in rural areas, and vice versa. That is very valuable information. This simple idea will go a long way to reduce the cost of education and increasing the educational experience for Washington students.”

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OLYMPIA…Sen. Phil Fortunato has introduced a bill that would provide housing assistance to educators in school districts with high housing costs.

“Seventeen years ago I proposed a similar housing allowance to address the inequity of teacher salaries in higher cost-of-housing areas, and nothing has changed,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn.  “I want to do more to recruit and retain the best teachers in these school districts. If teachers cannot afford to live near their districts how can we expect them to stick around?”

Senate Bill 5534 would give teachers and administrators, in districts with above-average housing costs, an annual-income supplement of up to $10,000. The stipend would begin in the 2017-2019 school year and would be adjusted for regional differences in housing costs.

Fortunato’s proposal is part of the broader effort he and other Republican senators are making to recruit and retain teachers and eliminate inequalities in Washington’s public-education system.. The centerpiece of their work is the Education Equality Act, a student-centered, teacher friendly plan just introduced by the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus. More about the plan can be found at: fullyfundeducation.org.

“Housing costs take up a significant portion of teacher salaries,” Fortunato said. “This should help ease that burden. Teachers should be able to focus on educating our students, not worry about making their mortgage payments.”

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OLYMPIA… Sen. Phil Fortunato today introduced legislation that would repeal a host of state laws he sees as unnecessary, redundant, or wasteful. When Fortunato was appointed to the Senate on Jan. 7 he listed his top legislative priority as protecting both the taxpayer and the American worker. This is the first in a series of bills Fortunato will sponsor aimed at eliminating unnecessary laws and regulations.

“The most common statement my constituents make is ‘we just have too many laws’, and I agree” said Fortunato, R-Auburn. “While other legislators talk about how many laws they pass, I am focused on repealing the unnecessary and wasteful laws that already exist.”

SB 5316 will repeal specific statutory tasks that have been completed or statutory authority that has not been used. The bill also would remove unnecessary language from the state code, making the laws that already exist easier for the public to understand.

“My top priority this session is protecting the Washington taxpayer,” Fortunato said. “Repealing costly and unnecessary state laws is a good first step.”