RC62 Universal Child Care Benefit and US/Canada Treaty

Concerning your Universal Child Care Benefit, Form RC62, amount for $500. This is something which is unique to Canada and the United States does not have such an items of which is from the Federal Government. So I looked and researched to see if this was taxable income to the United States.

1)  The UCCB is taxable and must be reportable as income if you need to file a tax return.

 2)  The Canadian US Tax Treaty states that if an item is not taxable to one State then that item is not taxable to another State.

3)  The spouse with the lower net income has to report this amount on line 117 of his or her return regarless of which person received the benefit.

 4)  Could not find the information but your spouse is filing married filing jointly so the spouse would have to report all worldwide income in order for you to be able to file jointly with your spouse. This would have been a prior election.

But I have determined that this $500 CAD income is not taxable on your US tax return because if your spouse were to file a tax return it would not be taxable.

Your spouse under number 3 and 4 is the only one that can claim this income. And since this is (number one) taxable income but the Revenue Canada return which is filed separately would account for no taxable income and since the treaty (number three) specifically disallowed an item from being taxable if this is not taxed in Canada then this is not taxable in the United States and this is the reason why I will not be including your UCCB amount of $500 on your US tax return.

The spouse lives in Canada and has no income.  The taxpayer lives in Canada and works in the United States under a work visa.  The spouse has previously elected to include all worldwide income in the United States income tax return.

The RC62, Universla Child Care Benefit is new for Revenue Canada income tax returns as of 2007.  The wording on the treaty was near the end of the treaty wording itself.   

This is interesting because in the United States we also as well as Canada have a daycare credit on Form 2441.  The employer can pay this amount.  This Canadian credit is designed for low income stay at home moms and would seem to be a social repayment.  If the income is too high then the amount of the benefit would slowly vanish.  In the United States the daycare credit has a maximum amount of credit benefit of 20% and does not get eliminated.  The only State where the amount is subsequently eliminated is in California which as of a few years ago limited the amount of the daycare credit to $100,000.  I believe they have been slowly increasing this amount every year by a yearly increased inflation factor.

Having fun now.

Seattle Tunnel versus Viaduct alternatives

Mr. Scott White.

I believe you are on the Transportation Committee when I looked this up previously.

Am the treasurer for the initiative I-99 which seeks to take away the right-of-way for the Seattle Tunnel as proposed by Mayor Nickels.

The cost of a tunnel at this time is extremely expensive and Elizabeth Campbell who is the sponsor of the initiative will be having a 100% effort in gathering signatures for this initiative after her Winter 09 class ends.  I will join the signature gathering efforts after the tax season ends on April 15, 2009.

However, this effort would be null and void if the funding for the Seattle Tunnel is not approved by the State Legislature and yourself and the committee on Transportation.

Have spoken with many people concerning this effort, obviously, and almost virtually everyone is opposed to the Seattle Tunnel idea.  Some comments circle around the State Budget and the need to balance the budget and others also still do love the idea of the beautiful travel route which the current Seattle Waterfront Viaduct passes by.  Others are extremely upset that voting does not count and recollecting the vote which overwhelmingly ditched a tunnel option previously.  The voters do not like to be ignored whatsoever.  As you recall I had said I would approve a teachers pay raise as per the voters even if no other state employee were to get a raise as per the voters electing this a few years ago.

Personally I still would like a retrofit of the Viaduct and then an accumulation of funds for the setting aside of funds for other more appropriate roadway construction in about 20 years or so.  I assume you would still like a Street Version of the Viaduct.  Both are incongruent with the Seattle Tunnel alternative and I would wish you to vote “NO” on any approval of a Seattle Tunnel version.

Thanking you in advance for your deep concern on this important roadway structure for the beautification of the Seattle Waterfront and the drivers of Seattle and the enjoyment of the beautiful vista which drivers are able to enjoy at the present time.  An enjoyable drive while in Seattle will remain if you agree to Vote against funding of a Seattle Tunnel project. 

Thanks

Keith Ljunghammar, EA

Letter about State Balanced Budget

Dear Senators and Representatives
 
Would like to find how the Washington State budget will be balanced.  Could you indicate to me the method which you will be using.  Please mention a bill or how much of a particular program you would be cutting off.  Of course a dollar amount should also be indicated. 
 
My method is to
1)  Save $1 bilion by passing Initiative 1043 – illegal immigrants initiative.
2)  Cut  $2 billion from the medical insurance to children.  The amount which it has grown by in the last several years could be cut back and the parents would have to assume their childrens health care insurance amounts.
3)  Cut $3 billion by implementing State Auditor Brian Sonntag’s performance audit recommendations.  Although many will take several years to get this type of a savings it is really a sound step in the start of this process.
4)  Cut $2.5 Billion from the state nursing home care portion of the budget.  This would be accomplished by making senior citizens either pay for their own nursing home insurance and by electing out of state coverage or by starting to pay for nursing home state insurance at the age of 65 and taking out 15% of the monthly amount from the senior citizens social security checks monthly and automatically.  The exact numbers on this I have not received back from my own representative, Mr. Scott White, but they should be close. 
 
Total savings of about $8.5 Billion 
 
Please indicate some recommendations which you would recommend.  If you wish to include only a minimum of $1 Billion please advise.  Will keep your information private for your purposes but will include as a whole for party declaration purposes.  Will not send this to your opposing party however except in the format of a blog or newspaper article unless you specifically say not to include your information.  Again, not from an individual basis but from  a collective basis.  So if three representatives say they would cut $75 million and another says $400 million and another says $300 million then the amount indicated would be $75 million – $400 million or the highest/lowest amount showing from a party collectively. amount.
 
Sincerely
 
Keith Ljunghammar

Washington State Balanced Budget

Mr. Brad Klippert
 
I know you are extremely interested in balancing the budget.

My idea is if something is changed with the senior citizens and nursing home care provided by the state then with some other ideas the state budget can be balanced. 
 
1)  Pass I-1043 Illegal immigrants initiative to the people.  Judge just signed off with the attorneys on the final wording on Friday.  Savings is $1 Billion for the biennium.
 
2)  Cut the aide to children for medical insurance in half.  This aide has increased in recent years from $2 Billion to around over $4 Billion.  This increase is mainly from increasing the parents level of income for qualifying a child for acceptance into the program.  Cutting this number in half will save $2 Billion for the biennium.  Savings now total is $3 Billion.
 
3)  Implement all of Brian Sonntag’s, State Auditor Performance Audits.  I do not see the exact number now on the State Auditor’s website but this should be a little bit over or around $3 Billion.   Although savings may not be fully achieved until later years it is the start of the process.  The Port of Seattle has implemented some of the savings and the employee morale has increase substantially at the same time.  Total savings of around $6 Billion.
 
4)  Senior citizens pay for their own Nursing Home care.  If the senior citizens pay $2.5 Billion for nursing home care paid out of their social security checks in the amount of $150 per month starting at age 65 then this could balance the budget.  This is the area of the numbers which I am trying to gather together at the present time.  Total savings of around $8.5 Billion for the biennium. 

Oh, this balances the budget with a little bit of change.

 
Actually the idea is to help in the process to balance the budget and also start to get the state out of the business of providing free nursing home care.  The state should not be in the business of providing welfare medical coverage.  The CFP and present legal method is to have individuals who can pay to not have senior nursing home insurance but to have the money come out of current earnings.  Edward Jones security advisors say this is with an equity of $3.5 million or more for an individual.  But previously about 15 years ago I was informed that one with $300,000 to $650,000 in assets would not be able to be on the state without draining their bank accounts and assets nor be able to self finance.  This was when the high end of nursing home care was $55,000 per year.  The amount is about $8-9,000 per month at the present time.  Below this level the state would provide coverage.  The strategy for the two lower levels was to get your assets over to an irrevocable trust within 35 months of entering a nursing home or to pay for nursing home insurance for a better quality of life and nursing home care.  My idea would be to get people to pay 15% of their social security income starting at age 65.  The senior citizen recipient could opt out of the state system by paying for their own nursing home insurance.  Notifications would go out at around age 60 and once per year until age 65 to the senior citizens.  Eventually virtually no one except for the very low income senior citizen would be on state assistance.  
 
I was in your office on the Tuesday of the start of the full day the legislature with Craig Keller and Albert Pong.  You put the I-409/I-1043 information in a box of ideas to balance the budget.  How about $8.5 Billion savings for balancing the budget.  
 
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I have one idea which if put together with other ideas I have will balance the State budget.  But I need a little bit more information in order to see if my idea will be viable.  It would require changing the law though.
 
The idea which I am exploring will lessen the stress on the families of the senior citizens.
 
What I am trying to find out now is how many senior citizens there are in Washington State at or over 65 years of age.  My initial findings from the www.ssa.gov website indicate there are 34 million.  91% are receiving social security benefits.  This means that 9% are waiting to the age 70 1/2 to start withdrawing SS benefits.
 
 
While studying for the financial planner, I noticed some drastic financial mutations which have to be gone through for the retirement planning process.  I also realize the State is in a financial crisis.  Mixing my ideas together like a pencil with an eraser I have come up with another idea and one which might help in solving the budget deficit.
 
1)  How many senior citizens are there in Washington State.
2)  How much does each one receive in social security benefits on average. The ssa.gov website says $2715 per month but this number does not connect with what I have been seeing on tax returns.  For Washington State.
3)  How many senior citizens are on full state nursing home care which is subsidized by the state.
4)  How many total senior citizens are in Washington and on nursing home care.
5)  Same last two questions but related to in-home care.
6)  How much is the average cost of nursing home care for senior citizens.
7)  What is the average cost of nursing home care by the state for senior citizens.
8)  What is the average duration of care for state recipients and other private pay recipients.
9) What is the average age of the starting of nursing home care for senior citizens in Washington State. This would be for Washington State recipients and private pay recipients counted separately.
 
Thanking you in advance for your prompt and courteous response to the email.
 
Sincerely
 
Keith Ljunghammar, EA

keithlj.wordpress.com

Terry Bergeson

 

I am endorsing Terry Bergeson for Director of Public Instruction for the following reasons:

 1)  Your cutting of the budget for the WASL and still being able to adhere to the having effective test results necessary for the true results which a test should give. An administrator which cuts a major cost in half must always be given a second and third look of approval.

 2) Your test still tests with true and false and multlpal choice.  But the rigors of testing with an essay style and fill in the blank is an uncompromising characteristic of some of the top Universities in the country.  True results can only be seen if the rigors of test can prove the worth of the student and the worth of the high school and the attending and tested student. 

 3)  Endorse your getting of a $60 Million grant for the improving of reading scores in the lower performing and disadvantaged academic school systems in Washington State.  You have had dramatic improvements and am looking forward to your continued redeployment of those achievements in the rest of the Washington State School systems.

 4)  Am looking at the continued extension of Larry Ishmael achievements in the Issaquah School System and your carrying on with these aggressive accomplishments transposing them throughout the state.  From a low test score school system to a Number 3 in the State School System in one term as a District Supervisor of the Issaquah School System. 

 5)  You have accomplished one of my requirements for a manager.  One must be able to have two if not more innovative ideas and implement those ideas.  Number one above you are in the process of implementing this idea and the cherry is the cost of administration will be cut in half.  The other is the use of grant funds.  These funds have been used and the test results have showed aggressively positive results.  When fully implemented throughout the state our students aptitude and appreciation for other forms of learning should dramatically improve as well.  If I am aware of two ideas you must have additional endeavors of achievement which I in advance am applauding.  Affective and efficient use of government resources should be the goal of all elected officials.  Congratulations!

 The above reasons are why I am endorsing Terry Bergeson for another term as Director of Public Instruction in the State of Washington.  You have a high threshold and in four more years will have an even higher threshold to pass.  Our children will achieve!!

 Thanks

 Keith Ljunghammar, EA

Candidate for 46th Legislative District, position 1

2400 NW 80th Street, #324

Seattle, WA 98117-4449

206.388.9982

vbhoundabout@hotmmail.com

An infrastructure build by individuals

 

An infrastructure built by individuals

Environmentalism. Environmentalism. Environmentalism. Drill. Drill. Drill. Environmentalists say drilling is detrimental to the environment. The driller claims off-shore and tundra drilling help the animal environment. Friendly drilling needs to continue for the benefit of our society and the animal kingdom.

In the meantime alternative sources of energy “exploration” need to be developed. The solar cell energy industry has advanced considerably. One company claims they can produce a solar cell for $1 and the actual roof-top construction cost is $5 each.

But I have no money. I am working paycheck to paycheck.

You might be saving up some money in a pension plan or in an IRA.

True power lies in the ability of the individual to make decisions. Individual decisions when accumulated collectively can help or hinder a society as a whole. Collectively as the price of “at the pump” gasoline increased the individuals reduced driving habits thus the collectiveness of individual actions reduced the price of gasoline.

In the same sense government actions can help or hinder progress or should I say action or in-action of the individual as well. IRA’s and Roth IRAs have stimulated the non-pension individual to save for retirement. Some individuals have accumulated substantial massive individual account balances tax deferred or tax free. This is good.

But now the government needs to let the individual free up some of their money so the collective strength of the individual can benefit society once again.

An IRA or Roth IRA should be accessible for the individual house construction of a solar panel roof. Costs of solar cells are down and construction workers are looking for work. If the government would allow up to a $15,000 to $20,000 withdrawal from an IRA without a 10% penalty this would be the first step. Step two would be allowing the individual to: 1) withdraw the funds as a loan with payback at the selling of the house; 2) or instead of an ordinary gain charge a capital gain tax on the withdrawal.

If a loan then no monthly amounts would have to be returned to the IRS except monthly amounts received from utilities for excess electricity bought by utilities. In some utility districts the sell back amount might be higher due to the higher cost during daylight hours. The eventual selling of the house would then pay off the difference and the IRS would continue to accumulate wealth at that time with those funds.

If under a capital gain then 2008, 2009, and 2010 with an individual 15% tax bracket no capital gains tax would be paid for the cost of the solar cell roof. This would allow those in lower marginal tax brackets to truly withdraw funds and thus lower their personal costs of living. The lowering of costs may also help in freeing up other funds for IRA or retirement contributions. The higher than 25% tax bracket would enjoy a lower tax on the amount of the withdrawal by not having to pay a tax on the withdrawal of the funds for personal use at the ordinary tax rate but at the lower capital gains rate.

The third way would be the loan and capital gain rate combined. An amount above the 15% tax bracket would be considered a loan and the amount of the loan paid back as previously mentioned. For the amount in the lower tax bracket since capital gains have been calculated this amount would then not have to be paid back. Obviously the calculation would be done at the individual income tax preparation and filing time.

On the Form 1099-R, in Box 7 a code “C” for cell would be used. As with all withdrawals a payment from the trustee directly to the contractor would take place.

The advantage of this would be construction and electricions would get back to work. This collectively would be done in the southern states at first but the construction process might benefit the northern states from reduced solar cell costs. Later on with the lower costs thus this also would make solar cell roofs affordable in the northern states.

When money moves our economy moves. If money does not move our economy is stagnant.

In the meantime let’s drill, drill, drill. Let’s create an oasis for the animal kingdom and stimulate the “freely” using of electricity as previously worded on the mosaic outside of the Seattle City Light Building.

 

 Keith Ljunghammar, EA

 

 

Initiative 97

Letter to:

JT News

2141 Third Avenue

Seattle, WA 98121

Phone:  206-441-4553

FAX:  206-441-2736

Reply to August 1, 2008 article concerning I-97 and initiatives objective of defunding Seattle Employee Pension Fund of Israel based securities.

     Your newspaper looks very interesting but the article from the last publication was disheartening. I do not see why any true American can say “no” to supporting Israel.  I-97 and the City of Seattle pension fund not including Israel company securities on a broad blanket scale is un-American and does not solve the problem which the initiative is attempting to address. Israel has a right to defend herself and has always taken a defensive posture.  An initiative such as this will only hurt trade with the United States and with Seattle.

     I do not know of any long-time Republicans nor Christian-Republicans who would consciencely sign or even vote for this initiative.

     I would encourage your newspaper to continue to address the false impressions which the initiative takers signature gathering approach have been. Only open and true communication will reveal the hidden agenda of the managers of the Initiative.

     Again, I applaud your true presentation of I-97 and the full disclosure of its meaning of how the initiative is written.

     Knowing decendents of Samuel Adams and Thomas Jefferson this violates the nature of the founding of this country and the reverance for the establishment of a “free society”. This initiative disembowels “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness” in every aspect and every meaning and every connotation. The fight for freedom is what is the “Rock” of America. This Initiative is not the “Rock of America” but rather the “Tea” which needs to be thrown overboard.

 

 

 

 

 

Voting in the Primary

Some people would say the Primary iis a boring time to vote.  But unlike past voting the primary this time is a top-two tier election primary.  This means that the top two vote getters will get the nod to continue to the general election in November.

What should be your strategy for voting in the Primary:

1)  You could vote for the Republican which means you would be voting for Keith Ljunghammar

2)  You could vote for Gerri Pollet or for Scott White for the Democratic Party side.  Sorry you can only vote for one.  Both of them are extreme liberal even though Scott White claims to be just a little bit left of center his continuing rhetoric would indicate to me that he is just as left of center as Gerri Pollet.  So this would mean you should vote for Keith Ljunghammar so in Novermber you can have a mix of Left and Right.  Keep the choice in the mix.

3)  If you want to vote for Gerri Pollet again in the Primary you should really be voting for Keith Ljunghammar.  Gerri Pollet and Keith Ljunghammar would be a good mix up of ideas in the General Election.  Left and Right.  What more could you want.  Gerri continues with his environmental stances which have been continuing for years.  Gerri bottom line is more expenses for the environment and one or two new taxes.  Gerri wants a financial sales tax and an income tax for the state.  Keith wants to balance the budget so capital improvements can be started to improve the states overall economy.  In this case you should vote for Keith LJunghammar.  We need to assure capital improvements are made but Gerri’s plan would bring the state into bankruptcy if it already is not on the brink of bankruptcy.  Keith’s plan would balance the budget so worthwhile capital improvements could be started.

4)  That leave voting for Scott White.  But again if you want to have Scott White continue then vote for Keith Ljunghammar.  A vote for Scott White would be a vote for Gay Marriage and rampant expenditures for mass transit and other items which the democratic party has an agenda to get accomplished such as a state income tax.  If this is the case then you really want to vote for Keith Ljunghammar in the primary election cycle so a true debate can happen on these agenda items.  If Gay Marriage passes then the skills needed for legislation in this area is a vote for Keith Ljunghammar and not Scott White.  With the experience of income tax preparation and financial planning the pitfalls of marriage and community property or separate property issues can be addressed.  In as recent as the third week of July Keith took a seminar on Divorce and the pitfalls to avoid.  Keith also has studied the individual state income taxes of all of the states (except those only addressing financial taxes) of the major forms and supplemental forms on a line-by-line basis and written instructions on a line-by-line basis.  Who would be better in addressing the pitfalls or the benefits of each state and how best to structure our own state income tax return.  So if you want to vote for Scott White in the primary you really should be voting for Keith Ljunghammar in the primary so a true general election debate can take place and Washington State would be the beneficiary.

Cnclusion.  So if you want a real debate to continue whether democrat or republican you should be voting for Keith Ljunghammar in the primary.  If you want a watchdog then you will be voting for Keith Ljunghammar in the General Election as well.  Only Keith Ljunghammar has presented ideas of minor and major importance and of original thinking which neither party Republican nor Democratic have presented in their platforms or thought about.  Innovation is the key to success for your future and not the continueing rhetoric or yesterday.  Let’s push forward and correct the things which need to be corrected and correct them.  A balance budget is a necessity in order for any progressive issues to even be addressed whatsoever.  And the true meaning of progressive is one who is thinking ahead and not for someone who can outspend someone else. 

Keith Ljunghammar has the parade of ideas and Scott White and Gerri Pollet are only parading the old ideas from yester year. 

Elect Keith Ljunghammar.

Assoc of WA Business questionnaire

 

The following was for questions to candidates of post-primary status.

Here are my answers to the questions and the questions as posed by:

Association of Washington Business
PO Box 658 1414 Cherry St. SE
Olympia, WA 98507
(360) 943-1600

Filled out by:

Keith Ljunghammar

Candidate for 46th Legislative District, position 1

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1. Why are you running for the state legislature?

1) Reduce the excess budget red ink or balance the budget.

2) Get the 432/432 Performance audit recommendations by Brian Sonntag implemented.

3) Retrofit Viaduct. Some has already been started but for reconstruction and not retrofitting.

4) SR-520 for eight lanes.

5) Look at correcting the Labor and Industry excessiveness over the other States costs of same like Oregon.

6) Look at the construction of alternative energy sources but from a very specific arena like Macah Indian Tribe to Seattle for Ocean power energy and the power lines for transmission and wind energy in the Port Angeles region.

7) Sound barriers along I-5 in Seattle.

Vote for the implementation of I-409 so to reduce the budget deficit.

9) Other budget reduction recommendations.

10) Look into ways of implementing lower mortgage interest refinancing.

11) Structure the Installment loan business if the industry requests it so the Payday loan industry is more compatible with equitable loan practices. Credit card industry needs to be looked at also because this industry is out of hand and should only be a short term credit facilitator and never a long term loan source.

12) Also, restructure the self-insured labor and industry segment so instead of 100% of the actuarial only 75% would be required for a set-aside amount. This would free up perhaps $433 million. (Based upon 700 employees per company average and 395 companies.)

13) This list seems to be growing whenever I see an inequity in state politics and business reality.

14) One other projects would need a U.S. Congress to initiate the change and am making contact with various other individuals or institutions in order to implement those changes which I also would be envisioning.

15) Have the legislature look at alternative medicine and the reduced costs associated with this industry and if lower to implement in low-cost clinics so the county or city or state does not have to pay as much.

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2.. What leadership qualities would you bring to office that your opponents would not?

Both of my opponents are taking the handbook of the democractic party. No original thought of what could be possibly done.

I am proposing the above which neither candidate has looked at.

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3.If elected to office, what will be your three priority issues?

1) Implement as many of the 432 recommendations of Brian Sonntag our State Auditor of his performance audits as possible. Result – lower costs.

2) Redo labor and industry. Lower costs equal more money in workers pockets and less in red tape. Result – lower business and worker costs.

3) Implement I-409 objectives. Results – lower budget costs.

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Taxation & Budgeting

 

 

4. New data from the U.S. Census Bureau show Washington’s state and local tax burden for business as the 18th highest in the nation. Do you think Washington employers pay too much, too little or about the right amount of taxes? What would you change?

With the brief information I received from a self-insured industry labor and industry expert Washington State industry pays about twice as much in Labor and Industry as what Oregon does and this is with no reduction in benefits. If this is only one area then double other states costs is yes, toooooo much. Washington employers pay too much.

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5. Initiative 960, which passed in 2007, requires lawmakers to have a supermajority to raise taxes. This requirement is now under a legal challenge in the state Supreme Court with a claim that the higher vote requirement is illegal because it alters the constitutional voting thresholds without actually amending the constitution. Please describe your position on a two-thirds majority for raising taxes and if a change to the state Constitution is necessary.

Our State budget is out of line with reality. Legal challenges are not binding until the State Supreme Court says so. but in the meantime the law needs to be abided by and two-thirds majority is the rule at the present time. I was one of the consultants when Mr. Tim Eiman was contemplating this as an initiative or another one. Two different years and only one inititive per year of funds available.

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6. The Priorities of Government or “POG” process is designed to ensure that state spending is targeted towards appropriate objectives is limited to available resources and measured against its results. Do you believe this process should be used regardless of the revenue outlook? Please explain your answer.

Priorities of Government will vary depending upon who has been elected. Revenue outlook should be the overriding factor in determining objectives of government. Cannot spend if finances are not available.

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7. Washington has over 300 cities and towns, 38 of the cities have local business and occupation (B&O) taxes and the majority of the cities have license requirements. Employers pay taxes and license fees individually to each city rather than through a centralized collection and administration system. The lack of centralized system and inconsistent tax treatment from city to city causes great confusion for employers particularly when their business is not physically located within the city boundaries that wants to collect the tax or license fee. What solutions would you propose as a member of the Legislature?

The legislature claims to have solved this problem. However, the taxing of B&O by jurisdiction is not cost affective nor will it ever be cost affective. The State believes their website will correct most of these confusions. The problem here really is not the paying of the taxes but the penalties associated with posting the payment to the wrong city. Also, if payment is made to only one jurisdiction and the payment really is in full then the penalty for non-payment and also underpayment would be access to the company eventhough full payment of taxes were made. Forgiveness of the debt under current law is not allowed since it went to the incorrect jurisdication and only a refund will be due the company. If the statute of limitations have passed then the payment is still due and the refund will not be given to the company also.

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8. According to the National Council of State Legislatures, using 2005 data, Washington ranks 24th in per capita state and local property tax in the nation and 26th on per $100 of personal income. Our State Constitution requires assessing and valuing all property uniformly and equitably at 100 percent of its true and fair market value. This provision results in business and citizens being treated the same. Over the years’ legislators have felt pressure to limit property taxes, especially for homeowners. Doing so creates a “split roll,” a shift of the property tax burden to commercial and industrial properties. Do you support homestead exemptions or other changes that would artificially shift the property tax burden to business?

This already has been partially done by allowing the exemption of personal property for certain types of businesses of $15,000. This is for individuals with children and for senior citizens. This artificially creatives an exclusive class. A non-entity company owned business can set up payments to individuals who qualify where the risk is reduced to an affective zero of an equity company. Money flows from businesses to individuals and the business increase their pricing structure to offset this difference anyways. For competitive purpose however this sometimes is impossible to do or sometimes it might be a negligible amount. This industry rules here in this example. Business tax structure at the present time is excessive and always has been excessive.

Currently the democrats are talking about implementing a health insurance mandate on all employers. I do not understand the logic in this however. Where is the duty of the employer to provide this coverage.

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Health Care

 

 

9. Do you believe that employers should be required to provide health care coverage for their employees? Why or why not?

No. The dynamics of the employee versus the employer are as distant as Hells Canyon. This also would but a different hire perspective on different categories of potential employees. This is an extremely bad idea. No sound equity here but rather inequity in the hiring process for a defensive measure would compel democragraphic health insurance discrimination in the hiring process.

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10. Do you believe government should be responsible for the administration of health care coverage in our state? Please explain your answer.

The government with the labor and industry has done an extremely poor job of this so no this should not be what government should be responsible for doing. An example might be if the government has a hiring freeze and now the administrative portion takes one month then would the hiring freeze create a two or three month acceptance of paperwork. A medical condition in the meantime would become life-threatening and this would not be acceptable to any prudent individual.

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11. Would you support employer tax incentives for small business to encourage purchasing of health care benefits for their employees? Why or why not?

Yes I would. But first I would like to see the implementation of reduction of medical insurance costs which have been artifically increased by government mandates which are unnecessary for medical coverage. An example would be medical insurance by its design mostly does not provide for he cost affective structure of providing cash as a payment option and then to be reimbursed for this.

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Employment Law

 

 

12. Please describe your position on whether new laws are necessary to restrict employers facing a union organizing campaign from communicating with their employees on unionization and political issues.

I never have seen the logic in this mandate except for a attorney-client privilage standpoint. However, correct communication by the one party (unions) have not been allowed in the communication process so actual “legal respresentation” is never allowed. A what-if this or what-if-that is never presented.

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13. The 2007 legislature enacted a new paid family leave benefit for Washingtonians without providing a long-term funding source. Should the legislature continue with this new benefit and if so what is an appropriate funding source?

This is insanity and should be dropped. These are elective decisions by the employee and proper accounting should rests this squarely on the employees shoulders where it belongs.

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Energy

 

 

14. Initiative 937, which passed in 2006, requires qualifying utilities to use at least 15 percent renewable energy (e.g. wind and solar power) by 2020. By definition, this new law does not count existing renewable energy, including a majority of Washington’s vast hydroelectric power, against the 15 percent requirement. Do you believe that hydroelectric power should be considered “renewable energy” and qualify for credit against the 15 percent mandate? Why or why not?

Yes, because it is renewable. What will happen if the 15% is achieved by wind. Will wind then become illegal to use in the calculation.

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Land Use

 

 

15. Under current Washington land use law, development rights in real property vest, or “lock in”, at the time a completed application to subdivide land, or obtain a building permit, is filed with the city or county. Washington’s vesting period occurs early in the development process as a result of Washington’s front-end loaded environmental laws such as the Growth Management Act (GMA), Shoreline Management Act (SMA), and State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). Would you support moving the current vesting period to a point later in time during the development process? Why or why not?

I did not know the vesting is with a building permit. This vesting process would trigger a complete building on a land for full utilization rather than staged building as would most developers need to do. This process violates logic and current capital utilization rules for capital growth of assets. I have heard of too many complaints from individuals who have had to stop the retirement process and go back to school for a masters degree at age 75 so she can continue to work because now she cannot retire. Or she cannot subdivide and sell and retire.

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Land Use

 

 

16. Recently, global climate change has become one of the major environmental issues facing policymakers. What, if any, is the appropriate role for state and local governments to play in addressing this important issue?

Global climate change does not exist. The temperature gage was incorrectly calculated and manipulated. The only one who can change the climate is God and He is cooling the system down quite satisfactorially right now.

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Education & Training

 

 

17. Do you favor making additional changes to the current WASL system and if so, what changes do you suggest.

Different Colleges and Universities test in different ways to get their test scores. The WASL alternative would test using T/F or multiple choices. This unfortunately does not test the cognitive evaluation process of the individual nor the capabilities of the student. Logic cannot be tested in some scenarios by a T/F or multiple choice testing process. Fill-in-the-blank or essay testing tools are a much deeper processing tool for evaluative processes.

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18. Is the education system in general, providing participants with the skills they need to meet employer demands in our state? If not, what system changes would you recommend?

It would be best established by the employer and the the employees. Are we hiring from overseas for our highest paying jobs. My two highest paying jobs in the last two years from income tax prepartion were for H VISA employees. But really the employers need to be asked or questions or we will never know what is lacking in our educational system.

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Transportation

 

 

19. Transportation issues have a direct effect on the Washington State economy and the ability of businesses of all size to succeed. As a member of the Legislature, how would you deal with mounting problems regarding traffic congestion, freight mobility and road maintenance?

In our state constitution it says that the highest priority of the state is for the education of the children. However, if the infrastructure is not conducive to adequate and timely methods of transportation then the real number one priority needs to be transportation reprioritizing so education can again become the highest priority. The constitution really assumes an adequate transportation system has already been implemented. For every hour a child spends on the road means less study time for the child and the sooner the child gets tired and then the study days is over. So without adequate roads a student may only study two hours where if adequate the child may study four hours. The extra two hour shortfall was caused by an inadequate road transportation system.

The problem at the present time is the state budget is out of balance and funds for congestion relief do not exist because of this. Balance the budget so additional funds can reclaim this crisis.

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20. Tolls are common place in many parts of the country and are again being used in Washington to help finance increased capacity on the Narrows Bridge and to control traffic on Highway 167. Please describe your position on the use of tolls and their revenues in Washington’s transportation system.

I have been informed by a Gig Harbor resident that they had been complaining about the daily 45 minute commute wait on the Gig Harbor side for years but now they are not complaining about the $3 toll fee. No one likes to commute and wait. This is non-productive time and none is making any money by sitting.

Highway 167, wasn’t the funds for the RTA automatically supposed to pay for an additional lane and now it is a HOV and Pay Road. That is the complaint I am receiving for the Highway 167 system breakdown.

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Letter to the Editor

Letter to the Editor

Once again the Macah, Yakama, Spokane and other tribes put themselves in a non-leadership position. Keeping money earned rather than sharing it and paying for the right to keep the money.

My uncle who was the pastor at several Indian tribal reservations including the Nez Perce and those mentioned above taught me that Indian society believes that what is yours is mine and what is mine is yours. The above shows what is mine is mine.

Leadership from the Indian Tribal Council would be sending in a portion as a tax to Washington State. But aside from sending taxes to Washington State the leadership could establish charities for the greater society. Build windmills on your land and give 1/2 the profits to pay for low income households electricity. Build colleges on your reservation land. Build industry on your land and build a future for tribal members. Or retrofit the Viaduct. Manufacturing pays more than casino pay.

Show leadership. Giving away large amounts of money for political reward will only perpetuate the suppression of the Washington Indian peoples.

I know the Indian people are strong and proud so I wonder why the Indian Tribal Council is still thinking of themselves as third class citizens. Strengthen don’t weaken.

Thanks

Keith Ljunghammar

46th District Legislative Candidate, Position 1

vbhoundabout [a*t] hotmail.com

2400 NW 80th Street

Seattle, WA 98117-4449

206.388.9982d