Name: Sue Forde

Town: Sequim

Party: Republican

Questions

1. We’ve had an updated revenue forecast for almost a month and we know more about the financial and social impacts of COVID-19. Is it time for the Legislature to have a special session to address budget and other issues?

Absolutely. A special session should have been called prior to July, in order to delay the new bills and raises that were passed in the recent legislative session. It should also address the length of time a governor has when emergency powers are invoked before a special session is called. Enough folks are concerned about this to start an initiative (I-1114) to limit the governor’s emergency powers to no longer than 14 days unless extended by a vote of the Legislature. It brings the balance of power that should be in place now. Republicans in the Legislature have been calling for a special session for some time now, but Democrats have the majority in both the House and the Senate, and have refused. Time for a change!

2. Because of Covid-19, the state will lose billions of dollars in revenue over this biennium and next, much more than is in the current rainy day fund. Balancing the budget will mean cuts and/or raising taxes. What are your thoughts on whether to cut spending or raise revenue?

Interestingly, this last session, Republicans proposed that the $2 billion excess in the budget be used in two ways: Return $1 billion to the people, including $30 car tabs; and place $1 billion into the rainy day fund. The Democrat majority, including my opponent, said “no” — they’d rather spend it. So here we are! The shortfall is a projected $8.8 billion. We should (a) roll back the budget to what it was two years ago; (b) review and streamline government and state agencies for efficiency and savings; and c) help small businesses — the backbone of the economy — to stay in business. Taxing less, not more, will help to jumpstart the economy, and help individuals, workers and families keep more of their hard-earned money..

3. If the Legislature has to raise taxes to balance the budget, which segments of the economy should see the increases.

The Legislature should not raise taxes. Individuals, families and small businesses are hurting as a result of the prolonged shutdown, and higher taxes will create more hardship. Rather, taxes should be reduced to relieve some of the burden on the taxpayers. State government can and should reduce spending. In 2019, Democrat legislators, including my opponent, using “Title Only” (ghost) bills, passed a 17% tax increase of $8 billion more than 2018’s budget. The 2019 population increased by 1.6% while total state government spending rose 5.7%, 300.5% more than the 2019’s population growth. The more an individual or business is taxed, the less freedom is available to enjoy the fruits of the labor to produce it.

Currently, the Democrat majority is looking at ways to increase taxes, including more payroll tax, more property tax, and a capital gains tax. They are working toward a state income tax, as well.

Isn’t it time to elect representatives who will put the taxpayers first? As with a household budget, when times are tough, trimming expenses is necessary. So it should be with our state government. The main difference on this issue between myself and my opponent: he has voted for higher taxes; I will work to lower taxes, and have signed the Taxpayer Protection Pledge, and will look at ways to trim the budget by eliminating waste and streamlining. There are many ways to do this.

4. Is there a need for policing reform? If so, what are some of the issues that need addressing?

We need law and order, and to support our police, who protect us from criminals and put their lives on the line, along with firefighters and paramedics. If there is an instance where there is abuse by any individual (whether it is someone in uniform or someone attacking our police officers), that person can and should be charged and given a fair trial, as is the system in our country under our Constitution.

5. What is the most pressing need in your district and what can the Legislature do to address it?

It’s reopening our district for business and helping families and businesses get back on their feet through reduction in taxes, a “tax holiday” and other means. In our district, (Grays Harbor, Jefferson and Clallam counties), there have been very few COVID-19 hospitalizations,.

The governor uses a “one size fits all” method of shutting down the entire state, without taking into consideration that many of the rural areas don’t have the issues that the large, heavily-populated cities do.

The homeless issue needs to be addressed, as well as housing affordability and help for the timber industry. There are a variety of ways to solve these problems.