Primary reasons for running for the State Senate

There are three main reasons I am running for this office.  But they all have to do with the fact that Olympia appears to be far too disconnected from you and me.  Do you want your tax money spent economically and wisely with real prioritization?  Do you want world-class schools/teachers and high graduation rates?  Do you want to have excellent transportation alternatives?  If so, the following issues and proposed solutions (among others) would be an excellent way to begin changing the current culture of government in Olympia.

State Spending

Summary

There has been an unbridled increase in spending during recent legislative sessions. This report shows just how much spending has increased in the last 10 years; and this one shows it has risen by about one third in just the last four years.  It is understandable that the government must spend money, but should that amount of money be limitless?  Should the State be allowed to continue to spend beyond the growth of our incomes and without limit?  To do so is irresponsible.

Proposal

Without going into the details, from 1997 - 2006 the State spent an average of 9.6% of what can be called our Gross Annual Cumulative Income (GACI); that is, the annual sum of our gross incomes.  In order to force the Legislature into disciplined, prioritized, limited budgeting we should by force of law bring that percentage down to 7.0% of GACI over the course of five years - about one-half of one percent a year.

One of the beauties of this approach is that if the Legislature makes our State friendly for business, the amount of money the State can spend will rise.  But if it makes our State hostile to business (which oftentimes appears to be the case), the amount of money the State can spend will decrease.

It should also be noted that limiting spending to 7.0% of GACI would not prevent the electorate from voting on increased funding for special projects like transportation or education.  But the Legislature itself would have to abide within the 7.0% GACI limit.

This is reasonable, prudent, economical, disciplined, and honest.

Transportation

Summary

We cannot simply be told to get out of our cars or, worse yet, be monetarily penalized for using them.  Instead, we need an alternative that is better than our automobiles.  So ask yourself, "What exactly would I need to get me out of my car?"  For most people, the answer requires that the alternative saves not only money but time, particularly on commutes to and from work.

Proposal

Imagine the following:  It is a cold, rainy January morning, and you are creeping slowly along I-405 or I-5 due to an accident three miles farther down the road.  You have a meeting in an hour in downtown Bellevue or Seattle, and you are not sure if you are going to make it in time.  You look to the right side of the road and watch in vain as a fast, elevated monorail whizzes by you at 75-80 miles per hour.  It will be downtown in ten minutes.  Hm.

A few more details on this fast monorail:

This would be a world-class, mass transportation system that people would actually enjoy riding.  And monorails are being used successfully in various places around the world.

State transportation money should also be used (whenever possible) for expansion of current bus systems. Contrary to light rail - which is inflexible, permanent, and exceedingly expensive to build and operate - bus service is ultra-flexible and reasonably priced. More-frequent bus service would be used to complement the monorail in high-density areas.

Improving Education

Summary

Depending on which study one believes, the average high school graduation rate throughout Washington is somewhere between 62% and 82%. In Seattle, one in three students does not graduate. This is unacceptable.

Proposal

Support, responsibility, and money need to be concentrated at one point:  the classroom.  A major step in doing this would be for us to substantially  increase the wages of current and incoming teachers so we can continue to attract the very best from our colleges and universities. Teachers spend a substantial amount of time with our children in the classroom - and they also spend time outside the classroom.  So it is essential that they be the absolute best in terms of knowledge, character, and skills.  So let us reward them generously and hold them accountable for the results.

In addition, we need to implement schools vouchers and charter schools so that parents, not government, decide how and where their children should be educated.  This will be beneficial for regular public schools also because they will have to truly compete for students instead of maintaining the current monopoly on our education dollars.

My opponent's opposition to charter schools - very short-sighted and monopolistic.

A letter-to-the-editor response (by a third party) to my opponent's opposition to charter schools.

Properly addressing each of the above issues will help change the culture in Olympia.

Additional (but no-less-important) reasons for running for this office.