http://www.seattle-pi.com/local/ag22.shtml

Politician Gregoire can tell which way the wind is blowing.

Attorney general says I-695 is legal Wednesday, December 22, 1999 By DAVID AMMONS AP POLITICAL WRITER OLYMPIA -- Welcome to the confusing world of post-Initiative 695. Beginning New Year's Day, the new tax-revolt law will require that increases in state and local taxes and fees must go to the ballot for voter approval. Does that mean a vote on every single charge or price increase or user fee, as opponents warned during the campaign? Not according to Attorney General Christine Gregoire. Hoping to clarify the muddled situation, Gregoire on Wednesday sought to narrow the scope of the vote requirement, while hewing to the central theme that the public demanded the right to vote on taxes and to restrain tax increases. Gregoire said a "common-sense, legally sound" interpretation is that state and local taxes, ferry tolls, park fees and similar charges clearly require a public vote. But she said goods and services that governments sell, such as liquor, hospital care, school lunches or tickets to sporting events, should be exempt. The distinction, she said, is whether the tax, fee or charge is for traditional, basic government programs or whether it's charged for a product or service that is sold by government acting in its capacity as a kind of business.

-- Mark Stilson (mark842@hotmail.com), December 22, 1999

Answers

We'll see when we find out how aggressively she defends 695 in court.

-- (zowie@hotmail.com), December 23, 1999.

This has all the meaning as the lawyers for Microsoft issuing a press release stating that they don't believe MS is a monopoly.

Uh, gee, the AG is getting ready to defend 695 in court. When issuing her defense do you THINK that she'll say it's constitutional?

If you think this is some sort of victory surprise then you're just a tad jumpy.

-- Patrick (patrick1142@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.

Oh, but Patrick...

How you would have gloated if she'da come out your way.

Westin

Have you emailed Rep. Fisher (fisher_ru@leg.wa.gov) to resign today?

-- Westin (jimwestin@netscape.net), December 23, 1999.

No Westin, I wouldn't have. In fact, it would have been a gross dereliction of duty for her to come out the other way. Her job is to defend 695 in court whether she likes it or not. Had she issued a statement against it, I would have considered it a very poor decision on her part.

BTW, have you e-mailed Senator Benton lately? He made the comment that he would pay $50 to the first police officer fired because of 695 cutbacks. There have been several police officers who are in the process of receiving their pink slips due to cutbacks. Do YOU think Benton has cut the check yet? Probably not. The guy has about the same character as a warthog.

-- Patrick (patrick1142@yahoo.com), December 23, 1999.

Tell you what, Patrick.

You get me the name and department where a police officer was fired and I'll personally send it to him.

OK?

And speaking of "Character," you have, of course, been equally dilligent in your efforts to get Fisher to resign, right?

(BTW, Patrick... that IS a character question... and the character IN question is YOURS.)

Westin

Have you emailed Rep. Fisher (fisher_ru@leg.wa.gov) to resign today?

-- Westin (jimwestin@netscape.net), December 23, 1999.

"You get me the name and department where a police officer was fired and I'll personally send it to him.

OK?"

The town of Kittitas had to shut down its police department and lay off all the officers when 695 passed.

Will that check be in the mail soon?

-- I'm back (bbquax@hotmail.com), December 23, 1999.

So, quax... that stretch in rehab do you any good?

I said GET ME A NAME and a department.

You know... so it can be verified?

You folks on the "no" side lied so much you wouldn't know the truth if it bit you in the butt.

Westin

Have you emailed Rep. Fisher (fisher_ru@leg.wa.gov) to resign today?

-- Westin (jimwestin@netscape.net), December 23, 1999.

Here you go, Westin. Sorry, I can't find the names, but hopefully this will be enough information for you to send your checks.

The phone number for the Kittitas Police Department is (509)968- 0222. Their address is P.O. Box 719, Kittitas, WA, 98934-0719.

But you'd better hurry, because according to the Seattle Times the Department disbands on December 27th. There are only three police officers in the department, so I guess that's $150.

Let us all know when you send the checks, okay?

-- (bbquax@hotmail.com), December 24, 1999.

First of all, my name is not BENton, it's WESton. I didn't promise to send anyone anything, except to send a message to the Senator with the name and Department.

Second, you make a claim, and fail to provide any substantiation... just give me a town.

In short, if you want this to happen, I will need a name. I will need a department. And no, giving me the name of a town is NOT enough to send THE (that is, one, a, single) check.

So step away from the bong, READ what I write, do what it says, or let it go. Your choice.

Westin

Have you emailed Rep. Fisher (fisher_ru@leg.wa.gov) to resign today?

-- Westin (jimwestin@netscape.net), December 24, 1999.

Just for the record..the town of Kittitas did get rid of their police dep't...however, it had NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with I-695. I ought to know...I live here...let's get our facts straight, puh leeze.

-- dee jay (angus@eburg.com), December 24, 1999.

Westin,

Like I already said, I don't have the names or addresses of the individual officers that will be laid off. Nobody does. That information has never been publicized.

If Benton wants to do something, have him call the number that I posted. But as I said previously, he needs to do it quick to find the info for the three people that won't have jobs anymore. The department shuts down on December 27th.

Both the Times and KOMO TV reported on this. The town used to receive sales tax equalization money that funded their police department. Now they don't. Since the money wasn't there anymore, the city council voted to shut down the police department and contract with the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office.

-- (bbquax@hotmail.com), December 24, 1999.

Look, quacks,

The fact is that if the Times "reported" it, then it would be in their archives.

I ran a search and came up with nothing.

Also, in agreement with the guy who lives there (directly above your last post) you have shown nothing to indicate that these cops were fired due to 695 (a requirement in Benton's original deal).

The check was to go to ONE person. Provide the necessary facts (as in a URL) or forget it.

Westin

Have you emailed Rep. Fisher (fisher_ru@leg.wa.gov) to resign today?

-- Westin (jimwestin@netscape.net), December 24, 1999.

bbquax......Twas not 695 that shot down the police department. Twas the city council.

You people just keep confusing the DECISIONS of the government with the WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

Everything that local or state government decides NOT to fund wil be blamed on 695 for decades and there will be mindless twits who will always believe it

-- maddjak (maddjak@hotmail.com), December 24, 1999.

Westin,

I don't know why it's not in the Times' archives. Probably because it's too small of an article; they don't post everything that they put in their paper on their website.

I used a different search engine to find the article. Feel free to go to your local library or call the Times for confirmation if you have that much time on your hands.

Here it is.

The Seattle Times November 26, 1999, Friday

Copyright 1999 The Seattle Times Company The Seattle Times

November 26, 1999, Friday Final Edition

SECTION: SOUTH; Pg. B2; PACIFIC NORTHWEST

LENGTH: 110 words

HEADLINE: KITTITAS BLAMES INITIATIVE 695 FOR LOSS OF POLICE DEPARTMENT

BYLINE: SEATTLE TIMES STAFF: SEATTLE TIMES NEWS SERVICES

DATELINE: KITTITAS, KITTITAS COUNTY

BODY: KITTITAS, Kittitas County - Blaming Initiative 695, this Central Washington town plans to disband its three-person Police Department.

The City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday to eliminate the department and contract with the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office for law- enforcement services because the city faces decreased tax revenue.

Police in the town of 1,120 will stop patrolling on Dec. 27, but will remain on the payroll until the end of the year. The city expects to save an estimated $ 45,000 next year by eliminating the department.

Many cities statewide have been forced to re-evaluate their budgets following the passage of I-695 on Nov. 2.

-- (bbquax@hotmail.com), December 24, 1999.

again...the city of Kittitas disbanding their police dep't has nothing to do with I-695. I don't care what the times reports...they have a history like most of the news media, of not giving the full facts. The city of Kittitas began debating this issue long before I- 695 was even filed as an initiative...it was a BUSINESS DECISION and nothing more. Now, if the some of the councilmen used I-695 in their deliberations to come to the conclusion to disband the police dep't...then so be it. However, they (kittias) began discussing this issue early in 1999, it just came to a head (not by design) after I- 695 was passed.

-- dee jay (angus@eburg.com), December 24, 1999.