Letters to the editor for April 20

Olympian misses the mark on fire Proposition 1

I write this as a professional public policy analyst and former Olympia mayor.

I don’t understand your editorial recommendation to approve the proposed Regional Fire Authority (RFA). Clearly this proposal should be rejected and sent back for more work because of the flaws you listed and more.

Your recommendation boils down to this: (1) the Olympia and Tumwater fire and medical response programs need more funding, and (2) we should provide the additional funding by establishing a new special-purpose local government (the RFA) with five new elected positions. And we should do this now, even though we’ve had little time to consider it.

Here’s what we ought to do:

First, evaluate the need for more funding. Credible questions have gone unanswered.

Second, if the need for more funding is established, we should evaluate ways to address this need. Why jump to the most extreme approach — an RFA? The cities have several other options under current laws. This includes levy lid lifts, which are a safety valve in the levy lid law that allow cities to exceed the usual 1% maximum annual property tax increase. Other taxes are also available.

These approaches could bring additional firefighters, equipment and fire stations quickly, not in seven years as the RFA proposal does.

Bob Jacobs, Olympia

Strengthening families through the wealth tax

The Washington State Supreme Court recently made an important ruling that is a first step needed to fix Washington’s upside-down tax code. The Court upheld a capital gains tax on the super-rich, requiring them to pay what they truly owe and contribute to education and child care programs that will benefit all of us.

It’s unfair that most people in Washington pay a larger share of their income in taxes than mega-millionaires and billionaires, most of whom live in high-income urban areas in the state. The capital gains tax on the super-rich will affect less than 1% of Washingtonians, 8,000 of the wealthiest people in the entire state. These taxes will provide increased investments in early learning and K-12 schools.

That’s great news for everyone because early learning can significantly improve the lives of children! Let’s ask our representatives and lawmakers to build on that progress by continuing to fix our tax code so that it is more just and equitable. When they create the next state budget, they should make sure that those at the top pay what they owe while low and middle-income families feel less impact.

Jody Disney, Olympia

Reason why WA state does not restrict abortion

The April 15 issue of The Island’s Weekly, in the article “Governor orders state to stockpile abortion pill,” there is a quote from Minority Leader Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, who said while people are concerned about a right to an abortion being stripped, the state of Washington is not threatened.

“Abortion in Washington is established via a vote of the people. We don’t believe in overturning the will of the people, and we’re not making efforts to restrict access,” he said.

The only reason this is true is because Democrats hold a majority in the House, Senate and Governor’s Office.

Every year, Republicans introduce bills that restrict abortion. Many anti-abortion bills have been written by Wilcox’s fellow Republicans to restrict abortion. This year Senate Bill 5098, SB 5172, SB 5185 and SB 5227, all restricting abortion, were introduced.

Madeline Bishop, Olympia