Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, talks with Jeff Slakey about budgets being adopted by the Legislature and expresses disappointment the majority declined to provide meaningful tax to Washingtonians despite a $15 billion budget surplus.
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Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, joins Jeff Slakey on KMAS to discuss the future of the Democrats’ long-term care program and payroll tax, as well as his legislation that would impose term limits on state elected officials.
Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, joins Jeff Slakey on KMAS to discuss Governor Inslee’s State of the State address. He also provides an overview on legislation he’s sponsoring this session that would dedicate the state sales tax on motor vehicles to the transportation preservation and maintenance account.
Rep. MacEwen, R-Union, speaks with KGNW’s Tim Gaydos about his effort to pass a constitutional amendment that would place term limits on state legislators and statewide elected officials in Washington.
After two days of debate, Democrats in the state House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a seven percent tax on capital gains income exceeding 250-thousand dollars from the sale of long-term assets, beginning January of 2022. As John Sattgast reports, Republicans argued that a new income tax is unnecessary, unpopular, likely unconstitutional, and may lead to a statewide income tax for all Washingtonians.
Radio Report Transcript
SATTGAST: Democratic supporters say the tax is needed to fund expansion of childcare in Washington state. However, Republicans, such as Colfax Representative Joe Schmick point out state revenue is up more than four-billion dollars – so a new tax is unnecessary.
SCHMICK: “We have ample money without a tax structure change as dramatic as this one. We can fund all that we need to do with existing money.”
SATTGAST: Representative Drew MacEwen says an income tax is unpopular among Washington voters who have rejected various forms at least 10 times on the ballot.
MacEWEN: “In 2010, 60 percent of them voted no when this was on a statewide ballot because they know what is going to happen. That level is going to get lower and lower and lower. Before you know it, everybody is filing an income tax return and paying income taxes whether on capital gains or whatever else.”
House Republican Floor Leader Jacquelin Maycumber. . .
MAYCUMBER: “Washington state’s own governor’s budget sets it at 9 percent for earners at 25-thousand dollars.”
Camano Island Representative Greg Gilday says the measure will likely be challenged in the courts as unconstitutional.
GILDAY: “It attempts to circumvent constitutional restrictions to implement an income tax in the state of Washington.”
Majority Democrats rejected 19 of the 20 amendments Republicans offered, including one that would remove language preventing the measure from a referendum. Centralia Representative Peter Abbarno says it’s unfair…
ABBARNO: “Such a monumental, historic day where this House is voting for an income tax and we’re going to prevent the people from having an opportunity to have a say.”
The bill passed 52 to 46, with all Republicans and five Democrats voting no. It must now gain Senate approval before the 2021 session ends on Sunday.
John Sattgast, the state Capitol.
With less than a week remaining of the 2021 legislative session, it is becoming apparent the governor’s emergency powers will likely remain intact and unchanged. John Sattgast reports.
Radio Report Transcript
SATTGAST: Since March of 2020, Governor Jay Inslee has ruled unilaterally through emergency proclamations without outside input. On Friday, Republican Representative Drew MacEwen made a motion to suspend the cutoff dates and bring an emergency powers reform bill to the floor for a vote.
MacEWEN: “The founding fathers of this state and of this nation never envisioned a system where one person would have unfettered control of the government for a prolonged period of time.”
MacEwen’s bipartisan House Bill 1557 would cause a state of emergency to expire after 60 days unless renewed by the Legislature. Auburn Republican Representative Drew Stokesbary said it would restore the people’s voice in their government.
STOKESBARY: “It’s about asking ourselves whether or not we, for as long as we serve in this body, and every single one who comes after us will have a constitutional role to play in long-lasting emergencies.”
Although the bill had bipartisan sponsors, majority Democrats soundly rejected MacEwen’s motion on a party-line vote.
HOUSE VOTE: “Madame Speaker, there are 41 yays, 56 nays, one excused. The motion is not adopted.”
SATTGAST: Republicans say it may the last chance to provide legislative input before the session ends Sunday, allowing Governor Inslee to continue to singlehandedly ruling by emergency proclamation.
John Sattgast, the state Capitol.
Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, joins KVI’s John Carlson to discuss a bipartisan bill he’s sponsored that would implement emergency powers reform. House Bill 1557 would cause states of emergency to expire after 60 days unless renewed by the Legislature, and would allow the Legislature to terminate, on its own authority, an emergency declaration.
Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, joins IFiberOneNewsRadio KMAS to discuss the 2021-23 operating budget, the signing of his bill to help businesses in the hospitality industry mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, and the latest on his emergency powers reform bill.
With three weeks remaining in the 2021 legislative session, Rep. Drew MacEwen joins IFiberOneNews Radio to provide an update.