Filing week Wednesday.

We're halfway to the end of filing week in Washington, that magical time when dreams are dashed, rumors are confirmed and suprises are always in store. My notes so far…

I'll be talking more about my confidence in Patty Murray at the top of our state ticket this year as time goes on. Frankly I think Dino's entry is the greatest gift so far. I note that the perennials (Goodspaceguy, Mike the Mover) show a marked preference for the Democratic Party, as meaningless as that may be in a top two primary.

My own personal Congressman has drawn five challengers so far, including three self-ID'd Democrats. This may hold him under 65% of the vote in the primary.

There will be a Democratic contestant in every Washington State Congressional district. Long odds for a sweep, but you can't win if you don't play. Score one for State Party Chair Dwight Pelz and his team.

Locally, all three legislative positions in the 32nd District are on the ballot. The Senate seat is open, due to Sen. Darlene Fairley's retirement. So far the Senate seat and incumbent Democratic Rep. Ruth Kagi have drawn typically token Republican challengers, but the action is in the House Position 1 race, where Shoreline City Councilmember Doris McConnell and former Councilmember Cindy Ryu have filed to replace Rep. Maralyn Chase, who is running for the open Senate seat. Ryu won an early nomination from the local Democratic organization, but in our party-blind top two primary system, they could both run as Democrats, or Democratic Party "preferers," all the way to November.

Meanwhile, filing week continues and there's still time for you to get involved. If you aren't a PCO and your precinct needs one, it's never been easier to get on the ballot in King County. If you're reading this, you can click over to King County Elections and file online. No fuss, no fee. Get your name on the ballot. Good for your Party. Good for your country. Good for you.

Sorry, Senator…

…this won't do.

Darlene Fairley is not only my own personal State Senator, she's a leader in Olympia, a committee chair and member of the Powerful Senate Ways & Means Committee®. That stature (not to mention her safe seat in this capital D throught C Democratic district) makes this weak tea on taxes particular disappointing...

There was talk this session about increasing the sales tax by 0.3% (which would amount to 30 cents on a $100 purchase) to maintain funding for our health care safety net. By law, all tax increases have to be approved by a majority of voters. However, polling showed that people in several districts are not willing to pay more in taxes to provide these services. Polling also showed disapproval of a personal or corporate income tax, although studies indicate that our reliance on a regressive sales tax makes us the state with the most unfair tax system for lower and middle income taxpayers in the US. We’ll have to see what happens with these tax proposals in the future.

"Polling showed..."? "We'll have to see..."? Sorry Senator, but as one of the 49 people out of more than three and a half million elected to provide leadership and representation for your constituents and our state, you'll have to do better than that.

As you knowingly labor session after session to craft budgets based on "the most unfair tax system for lower and middle income taxpayers in the US," you must be likewise aware that you are ill-representing those lower and middle income taxpayers, a good many of whom you must know live right here in the 32nd. Our only hope is your leadership, and your leadership offers us "we'll have to see."

Who, exactly, is "we" if it is not the Democratic leadership of the Washington State Senate? Who will take the challenge of bringing those voters in "several districts" (not, I'm guessing, yours) out of the wilderness of fear and ignorance about tax justice and revenue security for our state if not the Democratic leadership of the Washington State Senate? Who will put a proposal before the people for a stable l and equitable revenue stream for our state if not the Democratic leadership of the Washington State Senate? Who will conduct the aggressive campaign of public education - time and again if need be - that will lift us out of last place in the tax equity standings, if not you?

Sorry, Senator. 'We'll see' won't do.