Latest news with #TimmOrmsby
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump threatens Washington funding in executive order targeting sanctuary states
May 30—President Donald Trump sent a message to Washington state officials Friday when he signed an executive order designating nearly the entire state as part of what he called "sanctuary jurisdictions," for which he earlier had threatened to cut off federal funding. The list of "sanctuary jurisdictions" appears to name every Washington county except Adams. The list included Spokane County and also listed the cities of Seattle, Olympia, Tacoma, Everett and Yakima, but it did not name Spokane. The "Protecting American Communities from Criminal Aliens" executive order required the formation of a list of states and cities that Trump wrote were obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws. "Sanctuary jurisdictions including cities, counties, and states that are deliberately and shamefully obstructing the enforcement of federal immigration laws endangering American communities," the order reads. "Sanctuary cities protect dangerous criminal aliens from facing consequences and put law enforcement in peril." However, the order does not take the next step and say that Trump intends to withhold federal funding from those places, like he tried earlier this year with San Francisco, Santa Clara County, and 14 other cities and counties it deems "sanctuary jurisdictions." "This is an eye-roller, a head-scratcher, but it doesn't come to me as a surprise at all," said Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, who is chair of the state House Appropriations Committee. Trump's "whole interest is to have jurisdictions bend the knee to whatever fleeting rant he happens to be in." Spokane County Commissioner Al French said he believes Spokane County made the list solely because of state law and insisted it is not a sanctuary county. He said the commission will meet with legal experts Monday to consider how to proceed while being mindful of the executive order. "It's concerning, because the executive order could jeopardize our funding from the feds," French said. "And not by anything we did, but by association." Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown said only that city officials continue to follow all applicable laws but did not directly address the executive order. Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, pointed to the situation in Adams County, which Washington Attorney General Nick Brown sued earlier this year and accused officials there of cooperating with immigration enforcement in violation of the Keep Washington Working Act, which lawmakers passed in 2019. That law protects the rights of immigrant communities from unnecessary contact with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As a result of the law, local police departments and sheriff's offices aren't supposed to share information with ICE or U.S. Border Patrol agents upon request, Aaron Korthuis, a staff attorney at Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, told The Spokesman-Review in March. Korthuis said the law also prohibits local officials from transferring individuals in custody to federal authorities or detaining individuals based solely on their immigration status, or to ask about a person's immigration status. Based on that law, Brown filed suit in Spokane County Superior Court in March alleging that Adams County Sheriff Dale Wagner held persons in custody based on their immigration status, gave federal agents confidential information and helped those agents question detainees in violation of the 2019 law. Following the filing of the lawsuit, Wagner said in a statement at the time that it was a "disappointing attempt to hinder our ability to uphold public safety." Schmick, of Colfax, and State Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, both sided with Wagner, when contacted Friday about the executive order. "I believe that we need to follow the federal law ... especially when people are in jail and ICE is looking for them," Schmick said. "They should be turned over to ICE so they can be deported. We do not want criminals on our streets." Asked if he feared that Trump may try to withhold federal funding to Washington, Schmick said local officials "better change the rules. I thought when they passed (Keep Washington Working) way back when, that we were setting ourselves up for problems. "Now we are the problem." Schoesler noted that states changed speed limits and drinking ages in the past based on threats from federal officials to withhold transportation funds. "If you look at the people being protected by sanctuary cities, they are some pretty bad people. I live in Adams County. They are not grabbing people from the fields and factories," Schoesler said. "We are talking about people who committed crimes. "Sheriff Wagner wants to follow the federal law. If you are a criminal and not here legally, he wants to cooperate. At this point, we'd do better if Nick Brown tried working with these people instead of having a lawsuit every week." Mike Faulk, a spokesman for the attorney general's office, said Trump's executive order "is merely a list, and one that appears to be riddled with errors and false claims," he wrote. "Our bottom line, based on the facts, is that Keep Washington Working does not interfere with federal immigration law." Ormsby, the lawmaker from Spokane, called the executive order just the latest in a litany of proclamations and assertions coming from Trump. "It changes regularly, daily and hourly," Ormsby said. "My reaction is I'm very pleased that we have an attorney general in Washington state who is actively participating in lawsuits to stop some of this silliness that is coming out. "This is just the latest in a long list of gobsmacking things that have come out of this administration," he continued. "While it's difficult to take it super seriously, because it's in the early stages and will have to go through a legal review, I don't think it's an immediate issue for us." Spokesman-Review reporters Nick Gibson and Emry Dinman contributed to this report.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Spokane promised share of 911 dispatch funds if negotiations fail with regional dispatcher
May 15—A once-contentious bill to claw back Spokane's share of taxes funding the regional 911 dispatch service was signed by Governor Bob Ferguson Thursday — and after some modifications, all sides appear pleased by the outcome. "We are very pleased with the amended bill language," said Cody Rohrbach, Fire District 3 chief and chair of the regional dispatcher's board. Every police and fire jurisdiction in Spokane County, except for the Spokane Police Department, is a member of Spokane Regional Emergency Communications, or SREC. After years of negotiations to bring the city police department into the fold, stalled over disputes about fees and power on the SREC board, the proposal collapsed in January as the SREC board voted instead to kick the city fire department out of the partnership. This left the city scrambling to stand up its own 911 dispatch service and find the funds to do so. While the SREC board has since somewhat walked back its January decision, and both parties are expected to soon enter mediation to talk through possibly repairing the partnership, the bill signed Thursday does guarantee some funding if the city goes it alone. Days before negotiations collapsed in January, Spokane's state Reps. Timm Ormsby and Natasha Hill introduced a bill that would claw back funds from the regional dispatcher, though the rest of the SREC coalition initially accused lawmakers of trying to take more than the city was owed. The regional dispatcher is funded through a sales tax, an excise tax on phone bills, and a user fee each jurisdiction must pay on top of the taxes proportional to their demand on the system. The sales tax is apportioned by law and will return to the city upon its full exit from the SREC system, according to city officials. That left a brewing fight over the roughly $5 million of excise tax dollars generated per year in the county. About 55% of the 911 calls in Spokane County last year came from within Spokane city limits, and city leadership and their allies in the legislature initially argued the city should receive roughly that large a slice of the pie. When it was first introduced, HB 1258, which was narrowly tailored and only applies to Spokane and SREC, gave the city more than half of the excise taxes. But the rest of SREC's leadership believes that the city is only owed the tax dollars generated within its own borders, which they estimate at closer to 42% based on the city's population, implicitly arguing the city should not receive funding to compensate for its higher per-capita need, including due to the disproportionate share of people commuting into the city for work. The bill was amended, however, in such a way as to leave the final apportionment undetermined. The city and the rest of the SREC coalition can either come to an agreement or fight it out in Spokane County Superior Court. If the city goes it alone, payments to the city begin in 2026. "I am grateful to the Washington Legislature and Governor Bob Ferguson for passing House Bill 1258 and signing it into law," Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown wrote in a statement. "This bill ensures equitable distribution of local 911 excise tax funding for emergency communications, which is essential in building a fair, effective, and reliable system should the City of Spokane need to establish its own."
Yahoo
25-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Democratic lawmakers unveil budget proposals; call on higher taxes for wealthy and companies
Mar. 24—OLYMPIA — Democratic lawmakers unveiled their budget plans Monday morning, as the legislature looks to balance preserving key public services while addressing Washington's multibillion-dollar budget deficit. Both plans call on the state to address the shortfall through a mix of cuts and new revenue, while Republicans continue to insist a balanced budget is possible without raising taxes. While neither Democratic proposal is likely to be fully implemented, the budget plans serve as bargaining positions for negotiators as both chambers work to adopt a budget by April 27. Following the release, Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, who chairs the House Appropriations Committee, tied the state's budget challenges to "impacts from the federal government" that include potential tariffs and continued inflation. "We took these challenges on head-first, working every day with the people of Washington first in our mind," Ormsby said in a statement. "Our guiding principle was to protect investments that keep people healthy and to reduce harm wherever possible. This budget is a testament to that approach." The plans come after Senate Republicans unveiled a budget they say shows the state can adopt a balanced budget without imposing new taxes, by pausing previously passed spending that has not taken effect and forgoing previously negotiated collective bargaining agreements with state workers. The Republicans' plan instead offers state workers a $5,000 bonus paid over two years. "The Senate Democrats claim their budget makes 'tough choices,' but the reality is, the tough choices are going to fall on the parents and college kids and families who will lose out because of the majority's misguided priorities," Sen. Chris Gildon, R-Puyallup, said in a statement Monday. Senate Minority Leader John Braun, R-Centralia, said the Senate's plan "does exactly what we expected — it raises taxes and overspends. "Their plan adds $12.1 billion in new policy spending despite Washington already facing a multibillion-dollar budget shortfall," Braun said. "Instead of living within existing revenue, Democrats are pursuing unsustainable spending, leaving the state vulnerable. As the saying goes, 'If you find yourself in a hole, stop digging." Senate proposal While the size of the state's deficit fluctuates depending on who you ask on a given day, Sen. June Robinson, D-Everett, chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, said she estimated it at roughly $12 billion over four years as she crafted their budget proposal. The chamber's budget writers unveiled a two-year, $78.5 billion operating budget on Monday, up from $72.4 billion between 2023 and 2025. The plan calls for $6.5 billion in cuts over the next four years and $16 billion in new revenue. Under the plan, revenue would increase in the second biennium, with the plan projecting $6.2 billion in additional revenue between fiscal years 2025 and 2027 and $9.8 billion between 2027 and 2029. "Crafting this budget required tough choices, thoughtful conversations, and a strong commitment to the people of Washington," Robinson said in a statement. "An all-cuts approach was never on the table — not when it meant turning our backs on schools, health care, and the basic services people depend on. This budget is a choice to lead responsibly — to face the reality in front of us and respond with solutions that are not just balanced and sustainable, but worthy of the people we serve." Under the plan, the legislature would use $1.6 billion from the state's rainy day fund in fiscal year 2026, which would be repaid the following year. The fund would be further replenished in future years, with $7.6 billion in reserves by the end of fiscal year 2029. "It does go low but quickly builds back to a very strong point," Robinson said. The plan would fund the collective bargaining agreements previously negotiated with state workers, though it calls on state workers to take 13 unpaid days off in fiscal year 2026, the equivalent of a 5% pay cut. While Gov. Bob Ferguson previously proposed a monthly furlough of one day for state employees for two years, the Senate Democrats' plan would only be in effect for one year. The budget would also invest $750 million per year into K-12 education, with most of the funds going toward school operating costs and special education. The plan would also not impact the bonuses that National Board Certified Teachers at K-12 schools receive. Lawmakers in the chamber offered a preview of their plan to address the deficit last week as they proposed taxing Washington's wealthiest residents through what they called a "financial intangibles tax," allowing property tax increases to be set by inflation and population growth and removing the cap on employer payroll taxes. The plan also calls on the state to reduce the sales tax by half a percent, which Democrats argue would help make the tax code less regressive. "People are going to see real, concrete benefits from the investments we're proposing today — keeping schools open, providing special education services for students, food assistance for needy families, support for those with developmental disabilities and so much more," Sen. Noel Frame, D-Seattle, said in a statement. The Senate Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the proposal Tuesday at 4 p.m., and could pass it out of committee Thursday. House of Representatives proposal While there is similarity in the two plans, budget writers in the House of Representatives took a slightly different approach as they crafted their plan. The budget calls on the state to spend $77 billion through the operating budget between 2025 and 2027. House Democrats have proposed a Financial Intangible Assets Tax of $8 on every $1,000 of assessed value on certain financial intangible assets, with the first $50 million exempt from the tax. Rep. April Berg, D-Mill Creek, said the tax would apply to around 4,300 residents and could raise $2 billion a year. Under the plan, House Democrats would not tap into the state's rainy day fund. The budget would also not cut the state's sales tax. House Democrats instead proposed a 1% B&O tax on businesses with income over $250 million, which Berg estimated would apply to around 400 businesses. The budget would also increase surcharge on specified financial institutions with a yearly income of $1 billion or more from 1.2% to 1.9%, which Berg said would bring in $600 million in fiscal year 2026 and $2 billion in fiscal year 2027. "This revenue package provides greater local fiscal flexibility, and asks the wealthiest Washingtonians to contribute more equitably to the programs and services our communities need and on which working families rely," Berg said. The proposal would fully fund the state workers' collective bargaining agreements and would not implement furloughs or cut pay. According to Ormsby, the plan would reduce travel, professional development, equipment and service contracts. National Board Certified teachers would also retain their bonuses under the plan. The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the proposal Tuesday at 4 p.m., and could pass it out of committee Thursday.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Spokane dispatch funding bill passes house, heads to Senate
Mar. 19—OLYMPIA — A bill to divvy up tax revenue as the Spokane Fire Department prepares to leave the regional 911 center continues to move forward in the Washington Legislature. Every police and fire jurisdiction in Spokane County, except the Spokane Police Department, is a member of Spokane Regional Emergency Communications, or SREC. In January, following years of negotiations to bring the city police department into the agency, the proposal collapsed and the SREC board voted to end negotiations and remove the city fire department. Sponsored by Democratic state Reps. Timm Ormsby and Natasha Hill of Spokane, the bill would divide roughly $5 million of excise tax dollars generated per year in the county. While similar proposals have been introduced in previous sessions, the legislation took a step forward last week after it successfully passed out of the House of Representatives. The bill is under consideration in the Senate Ways and Means Committee. The regional dispatcher is funded through a sales tax, an excise tax on phone bills, and a user fee each jurisdiction must pay on top of the taxes proportional to their demand on the system. The excise tax dollars generated per year in the county are the source of the argument. With around 55% of the 911 calls in Spokane County last year coming from Spokane city limits, city leadership argued the city should receive roughly that proportion of revenue from the excise tax. "If we have to run a primary PSAP, it's only right that we should have a portion of the two dedicated funding streams that are meant to fund that service in our county," Spokane City Administrator Alex Scott said as he testified in support during a Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing Tuesday. At the hearing, Spokane Fire Chief Julie O'Berg testified that funding from the bill would "provide a framework for the communications infrastructure we are losing by being removed from the regional communication system, provide training for dispatchers, and implement technologies that can save lives." "The passage of the bill is a critical component to ensuring that our emergency response system remains robust and is capable of meeting the needs of our growing community," O'Berg said. Katy Myers, chair of the Washington state 911 advisory committee, argued the bill "contradicts our repeated recommendations to protect the integrity of the 911 excise tax fund." The bill, Myers said, would "further divide an already insufficient fund," and she urged members of the Senate to vote against it. "My biggest concern is that you're taking a fund that's already underfunded and putting it out into more centers, which costs more money," Myers said. A similar bill was introduced in 2023, but it was not adopted after its sponsors acknowledged it would likely disrupt ongoing negotiations. As of Wednesday, a vote in the Senate Ways and Means Committee has not been scheduled.
Yahoo
30-01-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Countywide fire and police leaders convene in outcry against bill to divert some county taxes to city
Jan. 29—Nineteen police and fire department representatives from Liberty Lake to Latah to Cheney to Elk convened at the new Spokane Regional Emergency Communications facility in Spokane Valley Wednesday to oppose an "unfair" proposed state law. The bill, sponsored by Spokane Reps. Timm Ormsby and Natasha Hill, democrats, is the latest in a yearslong saga between the county 911 dispatch system , or SREC, and the city of Spokane. Two weeks ago, the former cut negotiations with the city to have Spokane Police join the regional dispatch service, currently the only first responders in a separate city-run system. SREC receives all calls in the county, but transfers those intended for city police. The bill would divert a portion of taxes collected by the county to fund SREC to the city, based on a formula factoring the number of calls SREC receives for city police. At present, funding is based on population rather than call load; the city represents 42% of the county's population and 55% of SREC's call volume, according to SREC Communications Manager Kelly Conley. Spokane County Sheriff John Nowels and Spokane County Fire District 3 Chief Cody Rohrbach each took issue with the premise of the bill to funnel taxes into the city and its scope. It's narrowly tailored to only apply in this situation in Spokane County, though Legislators from across the state would be voting on the bill. "We can't ask the rest of the county to disproportionately cover financial for (the city); it's really not fair. It's not even sustainable," Rohrbach said. "For years, our 911 tax dollars have been distributed fairly across the state based on population." In an interview two weeks ago, Hill said the county should be supporting the city, since that's where the largest concentration of people lives. "What we have here is a city and state working together and letting the county know they can do more," Hill said at the time. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing on Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at the State Capitol, and can we watched online via TVW. Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
