1105 & 1107

Third Blog:

No joke, these measures are a pain in the ass to read and I had to literally force myself to do so…but here’s the skinny:

Measure 1105: Like 1100, it’s about hard alcohol, “spirits” as they say. A basic cut and paste…the measures are nearly identical, save for a few details that don’t really set them apart. You are either okay with hard liquor being sold at mini marts and grocery stores or you’re not. You’re either fine with liquor stores shutting down, and people losing their jobs, or you’re not.

The people for this measure say that liquor should be sold by anybody who can afford the annual fee. Many other states of done this. There is no ethical justification for this measure. It’s purely a matter of money.

People against measure 1105 say that Washington is number one in keeping hard alcohol out of the hands of minors for a reason, and that reason is that government ran liquor stores are efficient. Two ethical reasons to say no to 1105 are: other states that have passed similar measures have higher DUI related deaths and mini marts are 400 times more likely to sale alcohol to kids.

Okay…so here is who’s really behind all this stuff:

YES for 1105: A bunch of rich people. Jack Rabourn (Former Washington State Liquor Control Board Member), Al O’Brien (State Representative, former Criminal Justice Committee Chairman), Ken Oplinger (Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce & Industry President), Tom Pierson (Federal Way Chamber of Commerce CEO), Po Chang (President of Summa Foods), Charlie James (African American Business and Employment Activist and Columnist)


No for 1105: an assortment of public service personal. Jim Cooper (Washington Association for Substance Abuse and Violence Prevention), Alice Woldt (Executive Director, Washington Association of Churches), Kelly Fox (President, Washington State Council of Firefighters), John Lovick (Snohomish County Sheriff), Sharon Ness (RN, Acute Care Nurse), Craig Sousie (Emergency Medical Technician), Renton Fire and Emergency Services.

You decide…Yah or Nah

Measure 1107, is about ending the new taxes enacted this year. Temporary candy, soda and bottled water taxes have been in effect since June 2010. Also a higher B&O tax for manufactures of certain processed foods. All of this is meant to bring in $300 million into Washington State’s general fund.

Those for measure 1107 say that taxing candy, soda and bottled water will hurt Washington families and higher B&O taxes for manufactures will hurt food producers. People who regularly consume soda and candy will have to pay a bit more. They also claim that these junk food taxes apply to all groceries and that the money the state gains from these taxes goes into a general fund, which politicians can use at their discretion.

Those against 1107 say, well, I think they say it better than me:
“1107 strips $300 million that funds schools, kids’ health and other basic services by eliminating small, mostly temporary taxes on non-essential items like gum, soda and candy.”

“Sugar sweetened sodas and candies have zero nutritional value and contribute to an epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes -- with taxpayers footing the bill. It makes sense that highly profitable soda companies pay a small amount to help cover some of the health costs their products create.”

“The national soda lobby is financing 1107. The American Beverage Association is providing 99.9 percent of the funding - more than $10 million dollars! They don’t care about Washington families, just their own profits.”



Okay…so here is who’s really behind all this stuff:

YES for 1107: Grocers and Manufactures: Ed & Roxanne Husmann (Farmers, Ed’s Apples, Sultan), Marc Wallace (Grocery Store Manager, Baker’s Corner Store, Longview), James Connelly (Owner, Lodi Water Company, Chewelah), Tim Martin (President, Harbor Pacific Bottling, Elma), Pierson Clair (President, Brown & Haley, Makers of Almond Roca), Terri Jean Racy (Grocery Store Owner, Aeneas Valley General Store, Tonasket)

No for 1107: Mostly Education and Health professionals: Nyda Galbreath (First grade teacher, Board member, Washington Education Association), Dr. Jeffrey Smith (Medical Director, Community Health Care, Pierce County), Laura Hitchcock (Executive Director, Washington State Public Health Association), Doug Shadel (President, AARP of Washington), Tara Lerew (Registered Nurse), Paola Maranan (Executive Director, Children’s Alliance)

You decide…Yah or Nah