An unexpected agreement to share tax revenue with tribes

2020 Washington Legislature, Day 17 of 60

Everett Herald political reporter Jerry Cornfield: jcornfield@heraldnet.com | @dospueblos

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OLYMPIA, Jan. 29, 2020 — Good morning.

One of the better kept secrets this session has been a push by Gov. Jay Inslee and lawmakers to share state sales tax collections with federally recognized tribes.

Hearings are planned in the House and Senate Thursday on legislation granting Inslee authority to enter into revenue-sharing compacts with tribes. What would be shared are taxes the state collects from non-Indian retailers operating on tribal land.

The template for a new law, as I reported today, is an agreement the Tulalip Tribes reached with the state and Snohomish County on Jan. 8. It provides the tribes a path to receiving up to half of the state sales tax collected from existing and future non-tribal businesses in the Quil Ceda Village shopping center there. It also requires the tribes to spend $35 million to design and build a civil commitment center. It all hinges on passage of the legislation.

• Today House Democrats plan to push through their low-carbon fuel standard bill today. There’ll be spirited debate, but the outcome is not in doubt. They passed the same one in 2019, only to see it lapse at the feet of moderate Democratic senators. Those moderates are still around, but Inslee repeatedly insists the dynamics are different this year. Forty-three days to find out.

• Speaking of the governor, he’s put together a bill responding to the state Supreme Court ruling that limited his Clean Air Rule. Senate Bill 6628 revises the definition of emissions and the emission standard to include direct or indirect release of air contaminants. That means entities that produce or distribute fossil fuels that emit greenhouse gases would be subject to emission caps. It is the only agenda item for the 8 a.m. meeting of the Environment, Energy and Technology Committee.

• Late Tuesday brought a dump of documents from the House investigation into Republican Rep. Matt Shea of Spokane Valley. There are emails, newspaper articles, screen grabs and audio recordings referenced in footnotes in the probe, which came to the conclusion that he had taken part in acts constituting domestic terrorism. They’re posted on this government web page.

A week ago I suggested Mr. Shea could start loosening up for a victory lap. It seemed House Democrats were moving on from trying to expel him, and House Republicans want to move on. Will this new pile of material change anyone’s views?

House Speaker Laurie Jinkins said that maybe reading these materials will influence members (at least nine Republicans votes are needed for expulsion.) She said she hoped to have a chat with her caucus. As far as Republicans go, this seems like a topic to raise when GOP leaders of the House and Senate sit down with reporters at noon.

What we’re writing and reading

• Much was written on those new Shea investigation documents. Here’s coverage in The Spokesman-Review and The Seattle Times.

• It’s popular. A high volume of applications has led to payout delays from the new paid family leave program, reports Rachel La Corte of The Associated Press.

• It’s Super Bowl Week. Sorry, Seahawks fans, but maybe you’ll enjoy this Sports Illustrated story about Richard Sherman’s return to the Big Game.

What’s happening

• Some Democratic lawmakers want to outlaw privately run prisons in Washington. A bill to do so will be heard at 8 a.m. in the Senate Human Services, Reentry and Rehabilitation Committee.

A bill to move the state’s non-presidential primary to May is up for action in the Senate State Government, Tribal Relations and Elections Committee. This panel passed it last year, but it the bill went nowhere after that.

Here’s today’s lineup of committee hearings.

Legislative agendas, schedules and calendars

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