Steele, Goehner field questions, take surveys during telephonic townhall

OLYMPIA (CYBERSPACE) - 12th District State Representatives Keith Goehner (Dryden) and Mike Steele (Chelan) held a one hour telephonic town hall meeting from here, Thursday, Feb. 27, where they explained their stances on a variety of legislative items as well as took questions from the listening audience. The two also conducted three informal polls to gauge the collective moods of those participating on the call.
NCW Media managed to get one question in to the pair via its East Wenatchee office: What would you do with the $1.1 billion unexpected new revenue in state coffers? The first thing Rep. Steele said, was that it was an issue unfortunately out of the GOP hands because the majority Democrats will not allow a GOP proposal to use the surplus to give tax relief to Washington's property taxpayers. (See statement below)
Both men agreed that they would try to get that "extra" money back to the taxpayers that gave it to the state in the first place. In fact they held one of the three polls on the question of whether or not taxpayers would like that money …or not. The obvious answer was yes, 86 percent thought more money in their pockets because of lower property taxes would be a good thing.
Questions came in from Leavenworth, Twisp, Ephrata, Chelan and Manson. Phyllis from Leavenworth called-in to complain about outsiders buying second and third homes and causing county property assessments to rise for those local residents that can't afford the extra taxes accusing authorities of trying to tax longtime residents out of their homes.
Fred, another caller from Leavenworth, wanted to know how some politicians could push aside the $30 car tabs? Rep. Goehner said the state budget should "reflect the will of the people" to not allow more and more localities to add taxes to car tabs.
Bob from Chelan wanted to know when the Washington State Department of Transportation would conduct its third party efficiency study. Rep. Steele said he would be happy to work on that issue with the caller.
A caller from Twisp wanted to know how to protect the Methow Valley watershed and William from East Wenatchee enquired about the rise in B&O (business and occupation) taxes.
Regarding the B&O issue, Rep. Goehner stated once again that the majority rules and both he and Rep. Steele will continue to try to protect the small businesses of the state calling small business the "economic engine" of Washington.
The issue of sanctuary cities and in this case, a sanctuary state came up. Rep. Goehner said the bill is already in the Governor's Mansion awaiting his signature to make Washington a santuary state. Rep. Goehner stated he didn't understand the purpose of doing that, but again, majority rules. Perhaps the most provocative question of the night came near the end of the event when Joyce from Ephrata asked about why sex education was going to be taught to children starting in kindergarden.
Rep. Steele said he was adamantly opposed to this concept. "We should not be teaching this in kindergarden. We want locally elected school boards to make the best decision for that district." Rep. Goehner said, "I agree with Rep. Steele." He went on to say that maybe 6th Grade would be a more appropriate grade level to start sex education.
Caller Chris from Manson wanted to know the logic behind taxing homeowners more in order to create more housing calling that just "more of a burden" on homeowners. He sugested regulating rentals that in some cases are acting as hotels with the amount of transient traffic involved. Rep. Steele said he didn't agree on more taxation and Rep. Goehner said regulations have driven up the cost of housing to the point of "diminsihing returns" for homeowners. He said he was in favor of "removing impediments" to allow more housing be built on the scarce available land in Chelan County.
"On Feb. 19, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council (ERFC) announced a surge of $1.1 billion in unexpected new revenue during the state's quarterly revenue forecast. In total, the state now has a $2.4 billion budget surplus.
With taxpayer dollars continuing to come into the state at record levels, House Republicans believe the new revenue and budget surplus gives us an opportunity to reduce state property taxes. We had House Bill 2222, which would provide property tax relief, ready to go on the first day of session, but it has not received a public hearing.
House Republicans have also recently introduced House Bill 2946 to provide $1 billion in tax relief for Washington's working families. The legislation would uphold voters' choice for $30 car tabs, while ensuring stable funding for roads and transit, eliminate the sales tax on prepared food items sold at grocery stores and eliminate the sales tax on certain personal necessities.
Revenues are more than sufficient to invest in critical government services and provide meaningful tax relief," stated a GOP pre-townhall statement.
The press release went on to state, "It (the Democrat state budget) does not include any plans to return some of the surplus or new revenue to you, the taxpayers. It increases spending from last year's 2019-21 operating budget from $52.5 billion to approximately $53.8 billion. It would only leave $59 million in the general fund account and $2.8 billion in the Budget Stabilization Account.
Under this proposal, spending will have increased by nearly 75 percent since 2013 and is up 20 percent over the last biennium. It is not sustainable or fiscally responsible."