Tag Archives: Senate

Senators sign letter supporting AG lawsuit

Today Senate Republican Deputy Floor Leader Jim Honeyford, R-Sunnyside, delivered a letter to Attorney General Rob McKenna in support of his decision to join a bipartisan, nationwide group of attorneys general challenging the constitutionalityof the national health care bill signed into law this week. These senators signed the letter:

Sen. Randi Becker Sen. Don Benton Sen. Mike Carrell Sen. Jerome Delvin Sen. Mike Hewitt Sen. Janéa Holmquist Sen. Jim Honeyford Sen. Curtis King Sen. Bob McCaslin Sen. Bob Morton Sen. Cheryl Pflug Sen. Pam Roach Sen. Mark Schoesler Sen. Val Stevens Sen. Dan Swecker Sen. Joseph Zarelli

“Our caucus has long sought to ensure all Washingtonians have access to high-quality, affordable health care while maintaining our commitments to the vulnerable, working poor and elderly. Over the years we have introduced legislation to accomplish this goal,” the letter stated. Continue reading →

Raising taxes on businesses will not create jobs, King says

The Washington State Senate today passed Senate Bill 6143, which would create or raise 21 separate taxes, including the state’s business and occupations tax. This is the second time the Senate has passed the massive tax bill due to the Legislature currently being in special session until the majority can agree on a budget.

Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, and former small business owner, issued this statement after the measure passed by a vote of 25-18. Continue reading →

King says Senate tax-bill message is ‘We just want your money’

The Washington State Senate today passed Senate Bill 6143, which would create or raise 21 separate taxes. Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, issued this statement after the measure passed by a vote of 25-23.

“Before the passage of this tax package and the budget it would support, the Legislature had been saying it was going to start holding government accountable. Instead, those who receive tax incentives to help grow our economy would be held accountable. The state has outspent its revenues over the last several years, but we won’t recognize that fact. Instead, we are holding small businesses and private citizens accountable by forcing them to pay for what we have done. Continue reading →

Bill to create anti-gang law ready to pass Senate with King’s support

House Bill 2414, which would create a criminal street gang activity nuisance law, was made eligible today by the Senate Rules Committee for a vote by the full Senate. The measure’s chief supporter in the upper chamber of the Legislature, Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, said such a law would give law-abiding citizens another tool to help combat gang activity in their neighborhoods.

“We’ve been fighting the expanding gang presence in our district for some time now, and this bill will make it easier for private individuals to take action,” King said. “We need all the help we can get to combat this scourge and this bill will certainly do that.” Continue reading →

King bill to ease small business burden passes Senate unanimously

The Washington State Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed Senate Bill 6524, which would ease the penalty for businesses that fail to pay their unemployment insurance tax in a timely manner. The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, said reducing that burden will help small businesses that are struggling to survive.

“Businesses that are delinquent in their UI payments are charged a penalty which is currently two-tenths of 1 percent above the highest rate on the scale, which is 5.4 percent,” King said. “Even if your rate is the lowest on the 40-point scale, one delinquency will jack your rate up to 5.6 percent as a penalty. That’s counterproductive to encouraging the growth of businesses in Washington. My bill decreases that penalty to 1 percent over whatever rate the business is currently paying.” Continue reading →

King honors Nile Valley Landslide recovery effort participants

Today the Washington State Senate adopted Senate Resolution 8690, sponsored by Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, honoring those whose hard work and dedication assisted in the swift recovery effort following the Nile Valley Landslide on Oct. 11.

“On October 11 the Nile Valley landslide devastated our community, forcing many people out of their homes and completely destroying others,” King said. “I would like to acknowledge all of those whose hard work contributed to the recovery effort.”

King’s resolution honored Gov. Christine Gregoire, Washington State Department of Transportation employees, Yakima County Public Services, and numerous other state and local agencies who aided the recovery effort. Continue reading →

King votes against bill to nullify taxpayer protection law

The Washington State Senate on Tuesday passed Senate Bill 6843, which would suspend a key provision of the taxpayer protection law created by Initiative 960. SB 6843 would repeal the two-thirds legislative vote requirement for final passage of any tax increase bill until July 1, 2011, which covers the 2010 and 2011 legislative sessions.

Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, said the bill is a slap in the face to taxpayers. Continue reading →

State Senate honors Yakima school superintendent Ben Soria

The Senate today took a break from voting on the 99th day of its scheduled 105-day session to unanimously approve a resolution recognizing the career of Ben Soria, who is stepping down June 30 after nine years as Yakima School District superintendent and 21 years of service as a school administrator in Washington.

Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, who introduced Senate Resolution 8661, recalled Soria’s arrival in Yakima from Tacoma, saying he was “the right man at the right time for all the right reasons.” Continue reading →

King says stimulus vote keeps Valley Mall interchange on track

Sen. Curtis King says the Valley Mall Boulevard/Interstate 82 interchange project, which was at risk of being delayed to 2016, will remain on schedule now that the Legislature has passed a bill to appropriate about $340 million in federal transportation stimulus money.

“Representatives Johnson and Ross helped move the bill out of the House of Representatives, the Senate caught it at mid-afternoon and now it’s off to the governor’s desk. It’s been a joint effort that I appreciate very much,” said King, R-Yakima. “One of my three goals for this legislative session was to keep the Valley Mall interchange on track. The votes today mean the project will stay on schedule to go out for bid in October.” Continue reading →