[Vision2020] So, Just What Does Lee Rozen Consider "Equal Time" . . .

[Art Deco]

It's easy to see why the Latah Democrats are having problems.  Not only do they not have the testosterone to speak boldly and plainly, but content themselves with almost meaningless pabulum, and, in addition, there may be a few lights out in some of their marquees.  

But the Republicans are not any better, but worse, if we are speaking about ethics, inclusiveness, honesty, openness, and the tendency to greatly oversimplify complex problems, and therefore propose sure-to-fail, misery-bringing solutions.  

As an independent, I have been lately demonized and shunned by certain Democrats because of my support of Tom Trail;  the treatment from certain Republicans has been even worse for my alleged unforgiveable political statements including demands for forthright answers from some of their candidates.

Below is posted from The Spokesman-Review an example of journalism going beyond "she said, he said" to examine the facts behind the assertions.  Is too bad that the local print media, in fact, all the local media, can't do this, maybe even, as a combined, public interest consortium.  The maybe more of the electorate would vote, and decide on their votes with better, more relevant information.


Wayne A. Fox
1009 Karen Lane
PO Box 9421
Moscow, ID  83843

waf at moscow.com
208 882-7975
__________________________________

 October 30, 2010Truths, half-truths and other campaign claims
Jonathan Brunt
The Spokesman-Review 

Tags: 2010 6th Legislative District Senate 2010 election chris marr Michael Baumgartner 
More than a million dollars has been spent fighting for one Spokane seat in the state Senate - and the election season isn't even over.

The milestone was reached this week in the 6th Legislative District fight between incumbent Democratic Sen. Chris Marr and Republican challenger Michael Baumgartner, according to records from the state Public Disclosure Commission.

Marr's campaign has topped $500,000 in fundraising and has spent $470,000 of it. Baumgartner has $387,000 and has spent $352,000. Independent groups, many of which have hidden themselves as the source of ads by diverting money to creatively named political action committees, have spent $118,000 on behalf of Marr and $80,000 on behalf of Baumgartner.

Today is part three in a series analyzing some of the attacks made with that $1 million.

Claim: "With (Marr's) tax increases, it's hurting my employees and my business and the last thing I need right now is an income tax," says Julie (who doesn't give a last name and claims to be a Spokane business owner). 

Source: TV ad from "Spokane Families for Change," a group created this year. It is funded completely by Working Families for Change, which is funded completely by The Leadership Council, a committee aimed at electing Republicans to the state Senate. Among the top contributors are the Washington Health Care Association, the Building Industry Association of Washington and the Washington State Hospital Association political action committee. By diverting money like this, the true source of the money does not have to appear on ads. 

Truthfulness: Perhaps true if Julie sells cigarettes. False as it applies to income tax. 

Analysis: Marr voted this year to increase the tax on cigarettes from $2.03 to $3.03 a pack. He voted against the other taxes that the Legislature used this year to balance the budget. 

It should be noted, however, that even though Marr voted against the final budget, he voted for an earlier version of the budget that assumed new taxes would be approved, saying he wanted to move the process forward.

Marr and Baumgartner both have taken strong stands against the income tax in general and the proposed income tax on next week's ballot. The ad cites the Democratic Party platform as the source for their allegations that Marr backs an income tax. But Marr never signed or took a pledge to support the party platform.

Claim: Baumgartner "Supports corporate income tax that would harm small businesses." 

Source: Mailer from Marr campaign 

Truthfulness: Half-true, maybe even a quarter. 

Analysis: What Marr doesn't say is that Baumgartner would only support instituting a new business tax if the state's unpopular business and occupation tax were eliminated. And, technically, Baumgartner is supportive of a single business tax, not a corporate income tax. 

Baumgartner has endorsed the Washington Policy Center's proposed single business tax, which is based on a tax in Texas. It's a hybrid between the business and occupation tax, which is a tax on revenue, and an income tax, which would be a tax on profits. 

The proposed tax would be a tax on revenue, but businesses could deduct their cost of labor or cost of materials or $60,000, said Carl Gipson, who co-authored a report for the policy center about the single business tax.

Businesses have long called the B & O tax unfair because businesses have to pay it even if they're not profitable. Marr has said he opposes the policy center's proposal.

Claim: "Chris Marr (D) has wasted too much time in Olympia. (He) voted to designate the Olympic Marmot the official endemic mammal of the State of Washington, voted to create Christmas tree inspectors, voted to require truth in music advertising (and) voted to designate the Lady Washington as the official ship of the State of Washington." 

Source: Mailer from "People for Jobs," a group that gets all its money from Enterprise Washington's Jobs political action committee, which gets its money mostly from business interests. Contributors include Comcast, Farmers' Insurance and Puget Sound Energy. 

Truthfulness: The first sentence is for voters to decide. The second sentence is 100 percent true and could also be said about almost all Washington legislators from both parties. 

Analysis: People for Jobs sent at least three mailers targeting Marr so far this campaign season. All of them make some questionable connections to Marr, including one that talks about how someone stole $431,376 from a victims' compensation fund - as if Marr had anything to do with it. He didn't. 

Imagine the ad that could have been produced if Marr had voted against the Olympic marmot proposal. Here's a possibility: "Chris Marr hates schoolchildren. Marr viciously stomped on the dreams of fourth- and fifth-graders at Wedgwood Elementary School when he voted against their proposal to honor the Olympic Marmot, which is found only on the Olympic Peninsula." 

(Note to campaign workers: It would not be fair to pull the first sentence, use an ellipsis and post it on a mailer so it says: " 'Chris Marr hates schoolchildren .' - Spokesman-Review 10-29-2010.'?")

The "marmot issue" really didn't seem like a prominent campaign topic until this gem arrived in mailboxes. So let's quickly review Senate Bill 5071 from 2009. Kelly Clark's fourth-grade class had lobbied the Legislature for years on several proposals as part of her civics lessons. The marmot bill was the first to gain traction and pass. Final votes were 43-4 in the Senate and 84-13 in the House.

The other bills were also popular, judging by votes. The Christmas tree bill, sponsored, in part, by Republican state Sen. Mark Schoesler, of Ritzville, was approved 45-1 in the Senate and 96-0 in the House. Marr was one of six sponsors of the music bill referenced by the ad. It passed 97-0 in the House and 47-0 in the House. 

The vote to give the "official ship" designation to a craft actually in Washington (the old official state ship no longer docks in the state) was 94-0 in the House and 44-1 in the Senate.

Claim: "Michael Baumgartner pledged to outlaw all abortions - and to not allow women and their families to decide what's best when facing serious medical complications in their pregnancies." 

Source: Mailer from Healthy PAC, which is funded completely by Safety PAC, which is funded mostly by Service Employees International Union and Planned Parenthood. 

Truthfulness: False. 

Analysis: This mailer is similar to a few other mostly misleading mailers against Baumgartner paid for mostly by unions through tactics that prevented them from having to list themselves as the top contributors on the ads. 

This claim is attributed to a Spokesman-Review article about the Spokane County Republican Party platform and to Human Life of Washington. The platform, which Baumgartner signed, defines life as from "conception until natural death," but it does not specifically address abortion and whether exceptions should be made in cases where a woman's life is at risk. Human Life CEO Dan Kennedy said his organization, which endorsed Baumgartner, does not ask candidates about their position about making an exception in cases where a woman's life is in danger.

Baumgartner said he would make an exception in those cases. He said he would not make an exception in cases of rape. (Marr supports abortion rights and says he agrees with the state's current laws related to abortion, which do not require minors to notify parents before receiving an abortion.)



  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tom Hansen 
  To: Moscow Vision 2020 
  Sent: Monday, November 01, 2010 5:43 AM
  Subject: [Vision2020] So,Just What Does Lee Rozen Consider "Equal Time" . . .


  One would rightfully expect an inflammatory response aimed at the public
  digs made by Lee Rozen . . . maybe even a request for apology.

  But then, when you place Fox News on the pedestal as a role model . . .

  A softball letter to the editor by David Nelson, Chair of the Latah County
  Democrats

  Courtesy of today's (November 1, 2010) Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

  ---------------------------------------------------------

  Debates are important for voters

  Lee Rozen wrote in the Weekend Daily News that "the chattering class of
  the left of center sees ... the end of Democracy in Latah County" because
  some right-leaning candidates didn't make it to a KRFP candidates' debate
  this week.

  Lee is right about those debates. They probably weren't really that
  important. Left-leaning candidates probably should skip the New Saint
  Andrews debates as well, for all the votes they earn there. But Democratic
  candidates politely go and engage in conversation to help determine how
  Latah County and the state of Idaho is governed. What is the proper role
  of government? What is an appropriate level of education and other
  services? How do we construct a fair tax policy that encourages business
  expansion and pays for the education.

  It's important to have that discussion with all participants. Hearing from
  the candidates in a variety of forums is an important way for Latah County
  voters to select their leaders.

  I believe that in Latah County we are a bit of a throwback to a more
  patient and thoughtful generation in America. All of our candidates ,left
  and right, attend the Lions' meeting in Troy, visit the Deary community
  center, speak before the League of Women Voters in Moscow and at New Saint
  Andrews. Sometimes, we even all appear on KRFP.

  We aren't the chattering class. We just want to discuss the issues and
  debate what's important for our future and our children's future. Please
  vote Tuesday. It's important.

  David Nelson, chair, Latah County Democrats, Moscow

  ---------------------------------------------------------

  Seeya at the polls, Moscow.

  Tom Hansen
  Moscow, Idaho

  "The Pessimist complains about the wind, the Optimist expects it to change
  and the Realist adjusts his sails."

  - Unknown


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