On the Nov 7. ballot is a proposed State Constitutional amendment, House Joint Resolution. 4223.
HJR 4223, which passed both houses of the Legislature unanimously, would allow Legislators to enlarge the exemption on personal-property taxes.
Personal property is all property other than real estate. Taxable personal property includes office supplies and business equipment, making it important to small businesses.
Since 1988, the Constitutional limit on that exemption has been $3,000 for each “head of household.” The proposed amendment would allow exemptions of up to $15,000.
A larger tax exemption could ease the tax burden on small-business owners.
It deserves a “Yes” vote.
Vote against I-933
Initiative 933, the “Property-Rights Initiative,” uses a sledgehammer to pound a thumbtack. Many rural property owners have legitimate complaints against the State Growth Management Act and county critical areas ordinances. That’s no reason to attack all land-use regulations passed in the last decade.
The proposal requires that government either pay property owners who can show that regulations have reduced the value of their land or waive those regulations. It strikes at all government efforts to control the character of our communities. We should vote “no” and ask our representatives to review land-use policies.
Owens: State Supreme Court
I recommend a vote for incumbent State Supreme Court Justice Susan Owens. As in the primary, I believe a vote for Owens supports judicial independence.
She now faces State Sen. Steven Johnson, a candidate supported by the Building Industry Association of Washington in its attempt to influence the court.
I showed “no” knowledge of the “Know-Nothing” Party
In last week’s Friday-the-thirteenth column, I noted that the 13th president, Millard Fillmore, later ran as a “no-nothing” candidate for president. The proper term is “know nothing.” People called members of the American Party Know-nothings because, when asked about their secret meetings, they would answer “I know nothing.” They opposed immigration by Catholics from Ireland and Southern Europe. People with such natiivist attitudes are often called “Know-nothings.”
Evan Smith is the Enterprise Forum editor. Send comments to entopinion@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
