Republicans Set Hearings on Own Incompetence
In a shocking investigation into their own inability to read legislation, Senator O'Ban and Washington Senate Republicans have taken a bold step into the unknown. How much incompetence are they willing to admit in their quest for Seattle Times headlines? Apparently quite a lot.
Sound Transit has been entirely transparent in their requests for a funding source to the legislature and to voters: This is well established.
The state legislature set both the rate and method of motor vehicle depreciation, which did not change in ST3. If these state legislators would like to change what the voters approved, they must replace any transit funding they are cutting. Senator O'Ban's investigation into the bill he voted for is an act of bad faith. Bad faith, because they are abandoning a bipartisan deal to allow regional voters to tax themselves to fund transit in exchange for highways in far flung parts of Washington State. Bad faith, because they are trying to override the will of voters who expect Sound Transit to deliver the light rail promised in ST3.
Why are they doing this? They are desperate, as the party of Trump, to make this a campaign issue and maintain control of the state senate after an upcoming special election in the 45th district. Seattle Subway recommends a campaign donation to Democratic candidate Manka Dhingra in their honor.