As if the upcoming referendum on Seattle’s 25-cent disposable bag fee wasn’t enough, state Rep. Dean Takko of Longview (D-19) introduced legislation today that would prohibit local governments from charging a fee or tax on disposable paper or plastic shopping bags. Takko, whose district includes Weyerhaeuser’s largest plant as well as several other timber and paper-products companies, has received contributions from Weyerhaeuser, Port Blakely Tree Farms, Hampton Lumber Mills, and Rayonier, Inc., an international timber corporation. The bill is cosponsored by seven other legislators, all of them from timber-producing districts.
So Much for Local Control
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Good.
Well, if it passes, I guess we have to ban them instead.
They’re representing the interests of their constituencies, the folks who live in their districts and work for the timber and paper companies. I don’t blame them one bit. In fact, they’re doing exactly what they should be doing, if you believe that your elected officials should represent your interests.
What do we do about this? I want the bag tax PASSED. How can I make it happen? Erica, please help.
If the “local controllers” governed with any brains, the “outside agitators” wouldn’t be proposing this.
We could still tax publishers who distrbute newsprint.
first prop 8, now this. . .
It seems like a bag fee would increase the use of paper bags, to some degree anyway. If you’re paying 25 cents for a bag, you might as well ask for paper bags which are more durable and hold more stuff.
I’m no fan of the bag tax, but buddy from Longview ought to butt the hell out of what ought to be decisions made at the local level.
Can I propose legislation that would keep tax revenue local to within a county and its adjacent counties, including gas tax and sales and use tax?
Can I propose legislation that instructs anyone living in Longview to butt the hell out of Seattle’s biznez?
At least until they clean up the stink that Longview Fibre puts out down there? Phew!
Thanks for the info, Erika, how can we make sure this bill doesn’t pass?
Amend the bag tax so that it only applies to the counties that want it. Make it a giant pain in the ass for stores to do business and bag producers to find clients.
Good.
Seriously, you guys need to think of a better way to do this, such as a deposit/return scheme like Oregon uses for bottles.
(caveat – have owned paper/forestry firms in the past and worked in lumber mills in my teens and pre-teens)
I’m becoming convinced that this Democrat supermajority we have in this state is a bunch of bullshit. More and more of them are coming out of the closet as Republicans!
!@#$
It’s a 20 cent fee. Not 25 cent.
And why is the timber industry interested in helping the plastic bags succeed? Aren’t they competition?