tax

The effort began a few months ago with the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), and now the Washington State Farm Bureau (WFB) has joined in the fight.

Wednesday Governor Jay Inslee visited with low-income workers in Yakima, as well as college students at CWU in Ellensburg, in support of his goal to bring back a never-used state tax rebate program.

While some ballots are still being tabulated it appears the Benton County Criminal Justice tax has passed.    But it could potentially face a hurdle.

Benton County Citizens for Efficient Criminal Justice claims various public officials have violated Washington law by allegedly using their publicly-elected positions to lobby for the proposed Criminal Justice Sales Tax.

The money would reportedly be used to pay for cancer research and prevention.

A new group, Citizens for Safe Communities, is seeking the new sales tax to provide more resources to battle gang and other criminal activity, you will get to vote on it later this year.

Gov. Inslee recently fired off a letter to Republican legislators in Olympia,  refuting their claim that his Carbon Fuel Standard he desperately wants to adopt would act as a tax because it would raise fuel prices.

You might remember last October and November Newstalk 870 reported Gov. Inslee signed a Pacific Coast energy agreement with CA, OR and British Columbia that includes a pledge to adopt a green fuel standard.   Now, Inslee finds himself facing a storm of opposition from truckers, the GOP, and business leaders.

The decision will now go to voters for a regional aquatic center.

The Pasco School District has placed a bond on the Feb. 12 ballot and they want residents to know what it is for, what it will cost and why it is needed.