President Obama will deliver his State of the Union speech tonight. He will pitch some new proposals and address economic inequality to ensure “a fair shake for all”.  What are your thoughts on the state of our union? Do you believe the biggest problem in our country is ‘income inequality’? Economic justice is a building block of Marxism..true fact!

The Bellingham City Council wants to hear what the public thinks about a $7 monthly increase to water bills for Lake Whatcom protection.  Do you think money is the solution to the pollution or do you have a better idea?  I personally think they continue to take more taxpayer money to throw at a problem they really neveraddress.  After all, what would they do if there were no longer a problem…give you some back?

New proposal aimed at preventing private membership retailers (such as Costco) from selling liquor because “buying in bulk and in super-sized packaging…increases abusive consumption”.  Thoughts?

Though introduced last year with little traction, a state bank is now getting some interest in Olympia.  If passed, the state would be allowed to borrow money directly from the Federal Reserve.  What are your thoughts?

On the heels of yesterday’s article I posted…headline from the Seattle Times this morning.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017225993_fueltax13m.html

I wonder how many Washingtonians know about this little Gregoire deal with the tribes?  Can someone tell me why we pay to pave roads on the res…when we are already giving them the cash to pay for it themselves?

http://www.washingtonstatewire.com/home/11026-battle_explodes_as_business_challenges_indian_gas_tax_deal.htm

http://www.researchcouncil.org/docs/PDF/WRCEconomics/RefineryReport2009.pdf

Governor Gregoire asked state lawmakers to propose a $1.50-per-barrel charge on refineries to pay for ferries and road repairs. Do you think you will end up footing the bill? Well, it may all depend on if they use the word tax as opposed to the word fee.

A Bellingham group wants to ban all personal fireworks.  What are your thoughts?

State lawmakers are going to be asked this session to require private insurance plans to cover abortion. This would extend a 20-year-old mandate that insurance plans funded or administered by the state cover abortion if they cover maternity care. What are your thoughts?

A young mother shoots and kills an intruder, as guns sales in the US are up and violent crime is down in 2011.  Do they go hand in hand?  How far do you believe a person can go to protect themselves in their home?