Author Archives: Laudan

Session Opening Prayers

It is my honor to sponsor local religious leaders in my district to provide the opening prayer for during the legislative session at the start of our day’s proceedings. We hit a roadblock when the Lieutenant Governor’s Office rejected prayers because they mentioned Jesus’ name. As it was turned out the Lt. Gov himself was unaware of this practice. I am pleased that a local pastor in our district pushed back and brought this to my attention.

You can watch the various opening ceremony invocations at the links below.

Father Otto Kultenberg

Virtual Town Hall Tonight!

Please join me for a virtual town hall this evening starting at 7PM. It’s not too late to register. I’m looking forward to giving 31st District residents an update on the 2021 legislative session and get your feedback on what I’m working on.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Senate unanimously approves Fortunato’s ‘Welcome to Washington,’ litter control bill

On the final day to pass bills that originated in the state Senate, lawmakers gave unanimous approval to a bill sponsored by state Sen. Phil Fortunato to clean up Washington’s littered highways.

Known as the “Welcome to Washington Act,” the bipartisan measure, Senate Bill 5040, would prioritize litter control on state highways and require coordination between the various state agencies overseeing cleanup, including the Department of Ecology, Department of Transportation and the Washington State Patrol.

“Traveling a lot for work, I notice our roadways are a mess,” said Fortunato. “There are bumpers and tires, sometimes even couches on the side of our highways. Heck, you could almost furnish a house with what you find. When you come into Washington from Oregon, there is big, beautiful sign that says, ‘Welcome to Washington,’ and you’re greeted with trash on the highway.”

The cleanup utilizes the little-known litter tax that exists on products considered proximate to the litter problem, such a beer cans, household paper products or glass containers. Fortunato’s bill would direct the state Department of Ecology, which manages distribution of the litter-tax funds, to prioritize them for state highway cleanup.

The increased coordination under the proposal means the agencies would step up anti-litter public awareness campaigns and emphasize enforcement against litterbugs by the State Patrol. In addition, the measure would permit inter-agency cooperation during road work or maintenance to conduct debris pickups.

Local governments would also be eligible for financial help under Fortunato’s legislation for doing their part. Senate Bill 5040 would allow jurisdictions to apply for reimbursement related to litter control activities on state highway ramps in their localities.

“This simple proposal gets these agencies to communicate with each other and use their resources to keep our highways beautiful and protect our environment,” Fortunato said.

Fortunato pushes taxpayer fairness amendments on Democrat income tax legislation

As majority Democrats sought to impose a state income tax with Senate Bill 5096, state Sen. Phil Fortunato fought to ensure taxpayer fairness by offering four amendments to slow the bills progression through the Legislature and ensure any new revenue collected would benefit working families in Washington.

“Let’s be clear, no matter what the proponents of this tax want to call it – excise, capital gains, billionaire, millionaire tax – it’s an income tax. Every state in the country calls it that, the IRS calls it that. Let’s get out of the alternative reality and gaslighting that’s going on,” said Fortunato. “The overwhelming majority of people that I represent know that and are opposed to this new type of income tax. My amendments present the best of both worlds by making this voluntary, preventing local jurisdictions from imposing a similar tax, getting rid of the sales tax on food and clothes, and incentivizing assistance for vulnerable Washingtonians.”

Amendment 405 would make the new capital gains tax voluntary. Fortunato argues that a small group of hyper-progressive billionaires have been lobbying for this new tax so he wants to ensure they can contribute as much as they want while protecting his constituents from the Olympia money-grab.

“Those that feel like they aren’t paying enough taxes can simply write the state a check that will go into this taxpayer fairness dedicated account,” said Fortunato. “Instead of wasting money on growing government, we’re going to get rid of the sales tax on food and clothes for working families.”

Amendment 406 would use new revenue collected from the income tax that is deposited into the Taxpayer Fairness Account to offset the sale and use tax exemption for food and clothing to the state’s General Fund.

Amendment 407 would create a state preemption on local jurisdictions implementing their own income taxes.

“The bottom line is that we don’t need more taxes, especially an unconstitutional form of income tax, but since the majority is hell-bent on it, we ought to have some other provisions to protect taxpayers,” Fortunato stated. “We’ve seen some local jurisdictions attempt to go down this road, but this should be under state control. We can’t have a patchwork of different income taxes throughout the state depending on your zip code.”

Finally, Fortunato wants to incentivize support of the disabled community. Amendment 404 would provide a deduction against a capital gains income tax for contributions specifically to nonprofits serving those with disabilities.

“Despite record revenues coming to the state and having one of the most stable tax structures, vulnerable Washingtonians are continually left behind,” added Fortunato. “Before all this money is taken out of the state’s economy to grow government, I want to incentivize supporting organizations serving the disabled community and reduce people’s tax burden.”

Fortunato’s amendments to the underlying income tax legislation were not adopted. The Democratic majority approved the bill, which was amended to remove the emergency clause, by a vote of 28 to 21. It now heads to the state House of Representatives.

Fortunato opposes impractical Capitol campus gun-ban

Designating the Capitol as an insane asylum would have the same effect

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, a strong supporter of protecting Washingtonians’ right to bear arms, voiced his opposition to a measure that would crack down on protests by constitutional activists peacefully holding rallies on the steps of the Legislative Building while openly carrying firearms.

Fortunato noted that instead of adopting the convoluted and impractical proposal, Senate Bill 5038, Democrats could just designate the Campus an insane asylum to have the same effect, referring to existing state law that prohibits firearms in a mental institution.

“There are a ridiculous number of provisions, such as being within 75 feet of a demonstration, permitted or an unpermitted gathering of 15 or more people,” said Fortunato. “So, are you going to require people to have someone else measure the distance from the Capitol steps?”

Anti-Second Amendment legislators in the Senate approved the measure Thursday night. The proposal would essentially ban open carry of firearms on the Capitol campus and other “legislative locations” and make the violation of the law a gross misdemeanor.

“This bill turns legal gun owners into criminals and will criminalize a legal protest and activity protected under the state constitution. We are an open carry state,” Fortunato exclaimed.

Fortunato pointed to existing state laws concerning threatening behavior or brandishing a firearm that should be sufficient to address concerns of the bill’s proponents. Simply banning citizens from carrying a firearm in a particular location violates the spirit of both state and federal constitutional protections.

“Washington’s constitution has stronger protections for gun owners than the Second Amendment,” Fortunato added. “It says it shall not be impaired.”

You can watch Fortunato’s speech by clicking here.

Freedom Caucus delivers sustainable, taxpayer-friendly transportation plan

In a Wednesday news conference, members of the Senate Freedom Caucus unveiled their new transportation-funding proposal, pushing back on a package recently put forth by the Democratic Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and building on the plan from the ranking Republican on the committee. Senators Phil Fortunato, Doug Ericksen, Mike Padden, and Jim McCune are pushing for a comprehensive shift in how the state pays for transportation altogether by utilizing the existing sales tax on motor vehicles and ending the state’s reliance on the gas tax. A nonpartisan analysis done in 2019 shows that the plan would result in more than $10 billion in funding over the next decade, create tens of thousands of jobs and yield tens of billions of dollars in economic benefit for the state.

“As cars become more fuel efficient, commuting patterns change and new technology comes online, existing methods to fund the state’s transportation infrastructure are failing,” said Fortunato, R-Auburn. “Proposals being discussed in Olympia continue an unsustainable cycle of project lists and taxes, including a new cap and tax proposal, carbon taxes and an intrusive mileage tax. All these approaches fail to address underlying cost-drivers for transportation projects – inflation.”

Portions of the plan have received hearings over the years and even the Democratic chair of the Senate Transportation Committee noted that it was “probably the right thing to do…”

“Voters are tired of paying more taxes just to be stuck in traffic,” Ericksen, R-Ferndale said. “It’s time to do the right thing by taxpayers and ensure their money is being spent on what it’s intended. We can get more resources for roads and bridges without new taxes under our proposal. It’s the responsible and sustainable policy for our state’s transportation needs.”

A Democrat-proposed mileage tax, also known as a road usage charge, is currently in a pilot project phase in Washington. To function as a replacement for the gas-tax, Washington drivers would have to install a GPS tracker in their vehicles, which would then report miles traveled to a third-party. Freedom Caucus members warn this is an unacceptable invasion of privacy by the government and a costly one. As much as 30 percent of the collected mileage tax would go to the third-party vendor.

“Our approach avoids an intrusive and inefficient mileage tax,” explained Padden, R-Spokane Valley. “It’s unconscionable that the state would require a GPS tracker in your car, track your movements through a third-party who in turn charges exorbitant fees to collect the tax. The mileage tax is bad for eastern Washington and will drive up costs for commuters and consumers without any guarantee our roads will be any better. This is the only package that meets the ever-growing transportation needs of Spokane County.”

The Freedom Caucus’ proposal includes protections for the redirected revenues and asks voters to weigh-in with a state constitutional amendment.

“We cannot wait any longer to make these investments and we cannot afford to saddle future Washingtonians with more taxes only to have their investments wasted while they drive on crumbling roads,” said McCune, R-Graham. “That is why part of our plan includes a constitutional provision to protect that money.”

Virtual Town Hall

This coming Wednesday, I’ll be holding a virtual town hall again to discuss what’s happening in the Legislature and ask for your perspective on bills that are moving. You can register for the town hall by clicking here.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Update from Olympia

Friends and Neighbors,

We are nearing the halfway point of the 2021 legislative session. Monday is what is called the policy cutoff. This means that all bills in the Senate must be approved in their respective committee to continue in the process and then we will begin voting on bills to send to the House of Representatives for their consideration. March 9 is the last day to vote on bills that originated in the Senate. If you’re following legislation that is in the House, I won’t get an opportunity to really see it until after then.

Since the Legislature’s business is being conducted remotely, I’ve gathered resources to stay involved in the process. Click here to find more information on how to provide input on bills during the committee hearings, track legislation and more.

Click here to register

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Stark contrasts revealed in approach to state’s transportation needs

Transportation policy leaders have been working to address Washington’s ailing infrastructure since the passage of the last 11.9 cent gat tax increase, known as “Connecting Washington,” in 2015. Despite record increases in the state gas tax and other transportation-related fees and charges, the state’s transportation needs have remained woefully underfunded.

I’m continuing my 20-plus-year push to fund transportation with existing revenue rather than raise taxes and I’m pleased that my proposal has been adopted as part of the recently unveiled Republican budget. What is being discussed right now won’t ensure safe bridges or less congested roads. We are just putting an expensive Band-Aid when the state should be looking at creative ways that address the main cost-driver… Find out more…

Announcing the formation of the ‘Freedom Caucus’

Freedom is the watchword for the new Senate Freedom Caucus. Lawmakers will advocate for lower taxes, responsible state spending, individual liberties and a government that gets out of the people’s way.

Learn more about this effort…

Constitutional amendment expanding protections for citizens’ right to bear arms

While many policies coming from Olympia concerning the right to bear arms focus on restricting Second Amendment protections, I’m pushing to expand them. Senate Joint Resolution 8205 would amend Article 1, Section 24 of the Washington Constitution by adding, “The right of the individual citizen to bear arms in defense of himself, or the state includes the right to possess firearm magazines and firearm loading devices of any size.”

Continuing tax-relief efforts for seniors

Seniors and disabled people are particularly affected by rising property taxes and health-care costs – and that was before the economic uncertainty related to COVID-19. This issue is one that I hear about at almost every town hall. I’ve sponsored a slate of bills that are awaiting hearings in the Senate’s budget committee to provide needed relief.

The focus of my three property tax reduction bills are to help expand access to existing state programs for those most in need. The ‘age wave’ is here and its effects are going to be significant. See what I’m working on…

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

Homelessness crisis requires different kind of action, Fortunato says

As the ranking member on the Senate’s housing committee, state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn has been looking at innovative ways to address the state’s affordable housing and homelessness crisis.

Despite billions of dollars being spent on the problem, homelessness and housing insecurity continue to rise. In a recent hearing on Fortunato’s SHELTER Act, advocates for the “homelessness industrial complex” came out of the woodwork to say why his approach wouldn’t work but offered few solutions aside from the same policies that have left countless people to languish on the streets.

“The recent court decision in Martin v. Boise basically says you cannot remove people from the streets if they do not have a place to go and this bill solves that problem,” said Fortunato. “My proposal provides the homeless on our streets security and services so that we can help them work their way out of homelessness. They can focus on recovery knowing that they and their possessions will be safe while they’re accessing treatments or finding employment. Unless we provide drug and alcohol treatment, we are not breaking the cycle.”

Fortunato offered an amended version of Senate Bill 5107 that removes criminal penalties for camping in public spaces. Under his legislation, cities and counties with a population of at least 50,000 must have an emergency overnight shelter to accommodate the unsheltered homeless equal to the last point-in-time count.

“I’ve worked to improve this legislation, but I’m open to suggestions to make it even better. However, simply saying ‘No’ without addressing the underlying problem for taxpayers and the homeless is unacceptable,” Fortunato said. “I’m working to ensure that families can safely take their kids to parks without finding needles all over the ground by providing a safe and secure place for the homeless to go. To me, it is not compassionate to let people sleep in cardboard boxes, on the side of roads or in public parks. We have to do something different.”

In addition, Fortunato’s bill stipulates that the sites must provide treatment for substance abuse as well as mental health and employment counseling. It would prohibit use of alcohol or other unprescribed drugs and require a police presence for security.

“Much of the opposition to this proposal focused on the requirement for treatment,” Fortunato added, “but I cannot take taxpayer money to fund someone’s continued substance abuse that could be contributing to their struggle with homelessness.”

Stark contrasts revealed in approach to state’s transportation needs

Transportation policy leaders have been working to address Washington’s ailing infrastructure since the passage of the last major package, known as “Connecting Washington,” in 2015. Despite record increases in the state gas tax and other transportation-related fees and charges, the state’s transportation needs have remained woefully underfunded.

State. Sen. Phil Fortunato is continuing his 20-plus-year push for a reset on how transportation projects are funded altogether. This on the heels of a new, massive tax-increase plan, dubbed “Forward Washington” by the Democratically controlled Senate Transportation Committee. The funding proposal, largely crafted to appeal to Democrat legislators, not taxpayers, held a work session on the proposal.

“Everyone testified that they loved the project list without much mention of the tax package to fund it.” said Fortunato, R-Auburn.

“The Legislature has bought into this ‘Project List – Tax Package’ concept as a sales tool for tax increases to the public,” said Fortunato. “Twenty years ago, while on the House Transportation Committee as a 47^th District state representative, I made the observation that in the future people are going to buy more fuel-efficient cars and electric cars, gas tax revenue will flatten out and the cost of right of way and construction will continue to rise with inflation. My solution was to take the then $512 million in sales tax from the sales of motor vehicles and put that into the gas tax account to provide an inflation-linked funding source. While the state sales tax rate has remained the same, 20 years later revenue is now more than $2 billion, keeping up with inflation.”

The package unveiled last Thursday includes projects throughout the state but relies on nearly $16 billion in new taxes, including unpopular proposals to tax carbon and another gas-tax hike, bringing the state’s portion to 55.4 cents per gallon.

“What is being discussed right now won’t ensure safe bridges or less congested roads. We are just putting an expensive Band-Aid when the state should be looking at creative ways that address the main cost-driver of transportation costs – inflation,” Fortunato said. “My proposal includes an inflation-linked funding source and would yield more money for transportation without raising taxes. Telling drivers they’ll have to pay almost a dollar in taxes per gallon at the pump to drive on the same roads is wrong. We must put the brakes on this Forward Washington tax plan and fund it with existing revenue. Every dollar we take from the taxpayer is one less dollar in our economy to create jobs and return sales tax to the General Fund.”

A nonpartisan estimate in 2019 showed that Fortunato’s “Fully Fund Transportation” methodology would result in nearly double the amount of money for projects in the same time frame being proposed now. In addition, Fortunato’s proposal would result in $54.4 billion in economic benefit to the state, while returning almost $4.6 billion is direct sales tax revenue back to the state by keeping more money in taxpayers’ wallets to spend.