Taxes | Emerald City Journal

Marjiuana Taxes In King County

Published on November 10, 2012

Now that we all can smoke marijuana (I don’t smoke), where will all this tax revenue in King County be used? I truly hope they use it to fix many of the issues we have in the City Of Seattle such as our public schools. What my biggest concern obviously is it being wasted and put in a program, system, or project where the marijuana tax revenue is supporting it completely. To bad we don’t have more clarity on that. Ideally, i would like it to not be used in the general fund but I don’t think that is going to happen. The general fund should be able to support all the things of the City now. Introducing money just gets wasted into new projects or programs. We need better ways to protect our tax money so it’s not all spent on wasteful efforts and then becoming bad debt. If that happens we’re in the same boat we’re in now where raising taxes, fines, or whatever is the solution to fixing their wasteful efforts.

Having talked to many people over the new found freedom of smoking marijuana, they feel that Keep Reading

Initiative Measure No. 502 (Marijuana – Supported)

Published on October 8, 2012

I support Initiative Measure No. 502 concerning making marijuana more legal. I hate the fact that the only real reason the measure is even on the ballot is because tax revenue will be generated off of it similar to liquor. If it were a free resource, then it would not even be considered or presented to the people. The state is only ok with certain initiatives if they are getting their “fair share”. Same reason why prostitution will never be legal (unless it’s highly taxed and regulated). That is another topic, obviously. Seattle’s poor leadership is always on the wrong side of history. They will support this measure as long as the tax revenue is collected.

As I do support the initiative, I also don’t like the 21 and over legal requirement. If you can legally smoke at 18 now, then it should be the same with marijuana. There is no real argument around this age except it is a bargaining chip for lawmakers to get their tax money.

Another reason why I support the law is because we’ve spent billions of our tax dollars trying to fight it. The courts are filled, lawyers are greedy, and it’s a bad situation overall. Our city waste so much tax money on efforts that don’t matter. For the record, I don’t smoke.

I would have liked to have seen how this tax revenue would be spent. I would feel better knowing it would all support the schools, education, and safety. My fear, history, and experience tells me it will be another wasted revenue stream abused. If they started to collect millions and millions of dollars, Seattle will continue to claim poverty and force more taxes from the people.

I think supporting Initiative Measure No. 502 is a movement in the right direction.

What is Initiative Measure No. 502?

Initiative Measure No. 502 is not specific to Seattle but is a measure that was approved by voters statewide in Washington State in 2012. This initiative legalized the possession and private use of marijuana for adults aged 21 and over. Here is a summary of its provisions:

1. Legalization of Marijuana:

Adults 21 and over can legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana, 16 ounces of solid marijuana-infused products, or 72 ounces of liquid marijuana-infused products.

2. Regulation and Licensing:

The initiative authorized the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (previously Washington State Liquor Control Board) to regulate and license marijuana producers, processors, and retailers.
It established a system of state-licensed marijuana growers, processors, and retail stores where adults could purchase marijuana.

3. Taxation:

I-502 imposed a 25% tax at each transaction level: producer to processor, processor to retailer, and retailer to customer.
Tax revenues were designated for specific purposes such as substance-abuse prevention, research, education, and healthcare.

4. DUI Standards:

The initiative established legal intoxication standards for driving under the influence of marijuana, similar to blood alcohol levels for alcohol.

5. Decriminalization and Law Enforcement:

The measure aimed to allow law enforcement to focus on other crimes by reducing the time and resources spent on enforcing marijuana-related offenses.
However, public use of marijuana remained a civil infraction.

6. Federal Law Consideration:

Despite the state law change, marijuana possession and distribution remained illegal under federal law. However, in practice, the enforcement of federal marijuana laws became a lower priority in states where marijuana had been legalized and regulated.

I-502 was significant as it represented a shift in drug policy and had considerable implications for criminal justice, public health, and the economy in Washington State. The legalization of recreational marijuana in Washington has also been part of a broader trend towards marijuana legalization in the United States.

Update: Voters approved I-502 legalizing marijuana in Washington State.

Initiative 502 was prevailing at 55 to 45 percent, garnering backing from over half of Washington’s counties, both rural and urban.

This voting outcome positioned Washington and Colorado to the left of the Netherlands regarding marijuana legislation, establishing them as the focal points of a novel societal experiment with unpredictable outcomes. Media from across the nation and around the globe observed as the vote totals were announced at I-502’s election-night celebration in Seattle, sparking waves of ecstatic cheers.

“I’m prepared to deliver my victory speech now. Post this, I can sit down and halt the trembling,” proclaimed Alison Holcomb, the campaign manager and main architect of I-502.

Initiative Measure No. 1185 – Supported

Published on October 5, 2012

I’m tired of the constant and steady (and sneaky) raises in my taxes. It’s always the same story each time and it goes a little like this “we’re broke” or “the recession is hurting us” or perhaps “they keep cutting our funding”. It’s troubling especially with all the revenue being generated from every sector. The revenue being generated is at it’s highest! I believe the problem is with the spending and management and it each department needs to become completely transparent with line item spending. Until that happens I will never be for raising taxes.

I believe most people would support raising taxes if they knew where each dollar was going. They wouldn’t have a problem supporting their schools or the local fire department, however, without honesty and complete transparency, the public will not support it because they know it’s due to wasteful spending internally.

Initiative Measure No. 1185

Initiative Measure No. 1185 is already the law but will be expiring soon. Your vote supporting it renews the law making it more difficult to raise taxes on all of us. Your vote for Initiative Measure No. 1185 “would restate existing statutory requirements that legislative actions raising taxes must be approved by two-thirds legislative majorities or receive voter approval, and that new or increased fees require majority legislative approval.”

Just two years ago, 64% of voters approved this measure. I stand with them to re-instate this measure for many years to come. Don’t raise my taxes unless you come to me with a plan and full transparency (line item spending) for your department/program. We then can make a decision if its useful or useless.

USA Debt Hits 16 TRILLION

Published on September 5, 2012

Sad but true our national debt is over 16 trillion dollars now. Since it’s election time (and even before that) the finger pointing continues. If we can pull any good news out of the this I guess it would be that China is no longer our big daddy foreign holder. They are owed about 1.16 trillion of it. Japan took on about 1.12 trillion of it. About 5 trillion of it is internally ours for the Social Security Trust Fund and federal pension systems. The rest is divided up between many countries in smaller increments. The federal reserves buys it up also to keep it stable which is shady but anyway. The Bush era certainly didn’t help with the wars debt added and Obama’s promise of reducing it in half – just never came (nor will it ever come). Obama can blame Bush and how he inherited it, however, after a year in office you have to take the rest of the blame being the man in charge. It’s never going down and another 4 years will produce the same results. Will Mitt Romney make a difference? I doubt it but he at least deserves a shot at it in my opinion. I would prefer someone who would take drastic changes like a Ron Paul, however, America isn’t ready for that yet. Perhaps another 4 or 8 years will change their minds.

Here is some food for thought. The debt added under Obama’s 3+ years in office was more than Bush added in his 8 years of presidency – combined. Bush added 4.9 trillion total and Obama added 5.4 trillion and climbing. One last point regarding unemployment rate under Obama, no incumbent has ever been re-elected with unemployment this high – ever. In the event, Obama takes another 4 years he will have not only made history as the first African American president but also making history being re-elected with the highest unemployment rate. Congrats if you win I guess.

Better Finish Up Those Taxes….Seattle.

Published on April 17, 2012

If you haven’t done your taxes by now, you’re late. Not only do you lose about 28% per paycheck received working for the man – you also lose 10% in sales taxes for the stuff you buy. It’s the cycle of life I guess. If that wasn’t enough the man sticks it the retailers you just paid a 35% rate of that revenue! I won’t bother you with the property taxes, lotto taxes, death taxes, tolls, license fees, or gas taxes… it’s endless. So the question is how much are your really paying and are you getting what you’re paying for. Would you feel differently if you actually had to write a check out inside of it being integrated into your life seamlessly? This system isn’t new by any means. It has been in place for many Presidents but surely our tax system is one of the most complicated and messed up systems.

This statement was released by Ron Paul today:

Knowing that every penny the average American has earned from January 1st until today has gone to pay federal, state, or local taxes is a frightening reminder of how much liberty modern Americans have lost. Unfortunately, even after Tax Freedom Day, Americans will still suffer from the Federal Reserve’s regressive and hidden inflation tax, which erodes their purchasing power for the benefit of big banks and big-spending politicians.

As a Congressman, I have never voted to raise taxes or increase spending, which is why I have consistently been named one of the top ‘Taxpayers’ Best Friends’ in Congress by the non-partisan National Taxpayers Union. As President, I will work to reduce the burden of taxes and spending on the American people by passing my ‘Plan to Restore America.’

This Plan not only cuts $1 trillion in the first year of my administration and balances the budget by the third year, but it provides much-needed tax relief to the American people. It does this by permanently extending the Bush-era tax rates, lowering the corporate tax rate to 15 percent, allowing American companies to repatriate capital without paying additional taxes, abolishing the death tax, and ending all taxes on personal savings.

My ‘Plan to Restore America’ also begins to free the American people from the inflation tax by conducting a full audit of the Federal Reserve and legalizing competing currencies. These simple steps will allow the American people to at last learn the truth about how the Fed is working to prop up big banks at the expense of average Americans’ standard of living and then to take the appropriate actions to protect themselves and their families.

My ultimate goal remains to repeal the 16th Amendment and end the tyranny of the IRS once and for all. Of the four men seeking the presidential nomination of one of the major parties – President Obama, Governor Romney, Speaker Gingrich, and myself – I am the only one who has consistently opposed increases in taxes and spending. I am also the only one who has consistently fought the Federal Reserve’s assault on the middle class’ standard of living. My campaign to Restore America Now is the clear choice for any American concerned about rolling back taxes, cutting spending, and curbing inflation.

….. Yet people will continue to vote for Mitt Romney or Obama. Can’t really fault them as the media continues to push these two “front runners” like nobody else is running.

Seattle Property Taxes Just Increased

Published on November 10, 2011

Owning a home and living that “American Dream” is going to cost you double. Voters just passed a $232 million dollar education levy last Tuesday.

This yes vote (59% yes) doubles what you’re paying now and will be taken from your property taxes each year. Congratulations Seattle. I find it amazing considering all the corruption in our education system (superintendent Maria Goodloe-Johnson) or just reading all the wasted school revenue each year. We have proven that plenty of revenue is generated for the school system already. Next year (less than that I bet) we will be hearing how the school system is broke again. Bus routes will be cut. The teachers will be on the front line walking out of the classrooms because you know all the money isn’t going to support them or increase their wages at all. At least I will have something to write about and reference again here at the Emerald City Journal. It would be the first time I told you so though.

The system is broke voters you can’t fix this with more money. It’s a management problem. The top managers make all the money “managing” while the little folk teaching the children get screwed over with less money and even less support.

The only good thing about this is hopefully voters will see the light at the end of the tunnel now. They will stop funding this toilet bowl of a system where the procedures and management are so messed up. I suspect, however, next year they will pull the strings to your heart again saying “it’s for the kids & teachers” and get another passed.

How About A Christmas Tree Tax

Published on November 9, 2011

It’s about time for the holidays and you should know that you will be paying a little more this year. I call it the Christmas Tree Tax. Each farmer who sells their Christmas trees will be taxed (in addition to the regular taxes) a 15 cent tax. Sure you probably are saying well that isn’t very much and I agree. You probably won’t even notice the difference but you should know that is it there. I would categorize this tax as a poke just to see what they can get away with. It’s not that this tax increase is going to put a dent in your pocket or anything it’s just the principal really. It’s the continued poking and poking with the fees, taxes, registration, tolls, regulation etc that just gets on your nerves. It’s the stupid stuff like this that are introduced just to see what they can get away with by poking you a little more and increase it down the road if needed (Oh and it will be needed).

Now for all the people saying its just 15 cents let it go. Here is a fun fact: 83%+- of the population are Christians in America. In 2010, there were 302 million households – you do the math.

Prohibition Of Marijuana Has To End Someday

Published on July 14, 2011

I am not a pot user, medical or otherwise but the battle against people using it has been lost long ago. I sure am not for making it easy for people to do something illegal but the police could be used for far better things. The little dopers are going to get it and to get it they have to rob a house, auto or person to get a little money or things to sell and then it’s easy to find a seller. If they get arrested and a free ride to jail, booked in, bailed out, go to court it really adds up in tax payer dollars with absolutely nothing accomplished. It’s like filling a hole by digging another hole beside it. It should be controlled and taxed so the “pot heads” can walk into someplace and buy a small amount. Instead of smuggling it in, just let the government buy it as an import and tax the heck out of it. It would be a fair tax(unlike food that we all need). No one would be forced to buy it, and only the pot heads would pay the tax and it would be cheaper for them than to be in danger on the streets whether buying or selling.

I am no expert on the medical benefits of marijuana. Pot Heads can probably convince a doctor that it really relieves their pain and get a prescription. There is no argument that marijuana has some sort of effect on the brain. It must make people feel good or they wouldn’t use it. A few stiff drinks has the same effect. It dulls your thinking, makes you dance when you otherwise would not etc. It does not mean you are really dancing, it just releases your inhibitions some how. So if it were legalized so anyone could go to a place and buy it without fear of arrest, it does not mean you can do whatever you want when you are under the influence of it. Like go to your job or drive your car. It just means you can buy it and take it home. Workers can be fired from their jobs for using medical pot. I believe most everyone would agree that that is a good thing, except the “pot head”. If they are in such pain that they have to take pot to work then they are too sick to go to work. period. Just because you can walk into a liquor store and buy a bottle and drink til all your pain is gone does not mean you can drive or do anything that could cause you to get a DUI. Pot is the same. If you look at it from a non pot user or boss they don’t want to be around some one who’s head is screwed up on dope. I don’t want someone sawing down my trees, while he is looped on medical pot, or to drive my truck or to take my tonsils out. No sober person wants to have to hold up the end of a board with a looped up person holding up the other end. If you buy it at a marijuana store or a doctor prescribes it you are still walking around with a fuzzy brain and should not be on ANY job. But I think the day has came to make it legal. It would cut down so much crime and its doubtful anyone who is not prone to use it anyway would head out and buy some. Most normal people do not want to be fuzzy headed.

Seattle Sound Transit Will Spend $2.1 Million In Rail & Research

Published on May 25, 2011

Wow, why would they spend anything on consultants? Ask anyone who rides the bus and they would get an ear full for free. The operating committee voted to pay EMC Research up to $1.5 million to check riders attitudes, fuel prices, and find what it would take to get a person on the bus or rail. Sound Transit already has a shortfall of $3.9 billion in their 15 year extension plan.

For starters they need a good customer service office with help that at least know where a bus stop is. Some dufus hooded a bus stop by error in Georgetown and it took two weeks for Customer Service to quit saying the stop was open. They could have asked any driver who went by it every half hour. About the time a person figures out a good route they change it. For example the 174 bus used to go from Seattle to Federal Way, and into the Airport. No transfers and it worked real good and the bus was standing room most of the time. Then they decided to have it go in the tunnel at Holgate so it screwed it up royally and was so unhandy to have to go down in a tunnel station to get the bus. About the time we got that figured out they stopped running it completely. You have to take a bus to the Tukwila Link station(even though you have absolutely no desire to go there) then take a rapid ride from there. I did all my heavy shopping in Federal Way but don’t even go anymore. Once you have to get off and on it’s to time consuming and inconvenient. I don’t know how to get to the airport on the bus anymore. They only think of speed not that riders might want to get off along the highway and shop or do errands.

If you have to scrape the ice off your windshield and drive to a transit station you might as well drive on to work. Bus fare is not a bargain anymore at all. Sound Transit does not have nearly as many riders as they thought they would, maybe its time to just quit building, and paying consultants and doing anything if they are losing money and take the time to LISTEN to riders, not some hot-shot consultant that wouldn’t ride a bus if it were free. Oh, well they can tack on $20.00 to our car tab and have some more to squander.

Troy Hutson Handed Out Seattle Welfare Benefit Cards, No Questions Asked.

Published on May 7, 2011

Troy Hutson the head of the states food stamp and child support agency quit just before he was fired. He was defending himself as doing a real good job. His boss Susan Dreyfus thought he did a good job. And believe it or not State Rep. Mark Miloscia D Federal Way hated to see him quit. He says Economic Service is the best run agency in the state. He wanted to give the best customer service he could and said these people are poor and wanted them to feel good about themselves and make it as easy as possible. Well what about the taxpayer that is furnishing the money DHSH to hand out? Mr. Troy Hutson had to know those people were not losing their cards. He replaced 27,000 cards($600 a pop) no questions asked. Why not make it even easier, just stand on a corner near a bar or strip joint and say “step right up” get your entertainment money right here. Kind of like a hot dog vendor. I know from being a landlord of a low rent apartment house and living beside one that the people who are getting a welfare check and debit cards are NOT POOR. They are alcoholics or druggies that have no intention of ever going to work. Of course they can’t hold a job. If they had to pee in a bottle everyday to see if they were drinking or on drugs they would all fail. The ones I know are young, able bodied and say they have issues. Their issue is they don’t want to go to work. You do not help an alcoholic by giving him money. You do not help a drug addict or gambler by giving them money. They know every trick in the book to get more help and not have to sober up or find a job. The fact that they might have a child or two does not help that child if they spend the money for booze or sell their card for cash instead of buying food. It sounded like Troy Hutson had a good education but he was brain dead when it came to common sense. He will not have to pay back a cent of the millions he handed out no questions asked. He wanted to give the best customer service, well he really nailed that one. But it a recent news article published also said he believed in innovation and accountability. Accountability to who? I think the DHSH should be completely done over. They have so much money and forget that they can’t give a thing away until it has been taken away from a worker and a lot skimmed off to pay their wages. Its like a white collar crime with the taxpayer getting fleeced. I wonder with the blatant handing out replacement cards if someone was getting a cut. I worked all my life and I live on my social security. If I lost my check, it would take 30 days to get it replaced. I have to eat just like the drunks and dopers but I would have to figure out how to make it. Guess we old people don’t deserve good customer service. Why couldn’t I walk in and get a new check and just say I lost my old one, and not even tell my name? This is so completely stupid its hard to write. Well in another article you will see that now you can get free tuition to a Seattle University with a free lunch and a flunking grade. Well they could certainly take over Troy Hutson’s job. It would not take much education to hand out replacement cards, no questions asked. No one would ever complain that they did not get good customer service that’s for sure. When will the wasting of our tax dollars ever end?

Seattle Newspaper for the People by the People

Taxes - page 2

Marjiuana Taxes In King County