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Washington's Special Session
The Washington Legislature began a special session this week to address a $1.4 billion* budget shortfall. The session opened amid demonstrations by a coalition of Occupy Olympia and union members. Protesters voiced their opposition to the cuts mostly with signs and chants, but some disrupted committee meetings and one man attempted a "citizen's arrest" of the legsilature. Four people were arrested at the Capitol Monday and 11 the next day. Occupy Olympia has planned some kind of direct action for each day this week.
Protesters aren't the only ones vying for lawmakers' attention. Governor Gregoire is urging the legislature to send a referendum to voters for a half-cent sales tax increase. She says the increase in revenue would "buy back" some of the cuts to schools, health care and other programs legislators are currently discussing. Republicans oppose the idea of a sales tax increase as do at least some of the protesters, who unfurled a banner Monday that read, ""Tax the 1% not the 99%. NO SALES TAX." Unlike Republican legislators, many protesters also oppose making cuts to social services in order to bridge the budget gap.
*The budget shortfall is officially $1.4 billion, but legislators may deplete the state's rainy day fund, bringing the total amount they want to make up to $2 billion.
Do you live in Washington? How would you vote on a sales tax increase? Have you been at the capitol this week? What brought you there and what did you see?
GUESTS:
- Jim Moeller: Washington State Representative (D-Vancouver) and Speaker of the House Pro-Tempore
- Don Benton: Washington Sate Senator (R-Clark County)
- Kyle Tanner: Member of Occupy Olympia
Tagged as: legislature · occupy olympia · occupy portland · occupy wall street · vancouver · washington
Photo credit: clappstar / Creative Commons
