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Articles by Jeremie Dufault
Letter: Rep. Corry's state budget plan would rescue Lions Pool
To the editor — Yakima's pools have provided healthy and low-cost entertainment to local kids for decades. I know because I was one of them. Please join me in supporting my seatmate's plan to keep Yakima's only indoor swimming pool open for at least one more year. Rep. Chris Corry's budget proposal would fund the community and school events held at Lions Pool through 2026, giving our city leaders more time to find a permanent fix.
Con Millionaires Tax: WA Dems' proposed income tax will grow beyond millionaires | Op-Ed
The folks who run Olympia want a personal income tax. The good news? They say only the rich will pay. The bad news? We know better. These things start small and grow. They always have and they always will. Take the federal income tax. In 1913, only 1% of American households paid the new tax. Today, two out of three do. Our state’s problems are rooted in the Legislature’s lack of financial discipline. It can’t stop spending.
County Coroner elections are expensive and unnecessary. Let’s end them | Opinion
Current state law requires citizens in Yakima, Benton and other mid-sized counties to elect coroners. We want to change that. We want the elected commissioners in those counties to appoint their coroners. That not only saves money, but — because elected officials will still make the final decision — it preserves accountability. Our legislation offers three immediate benefits: It preserves the right of citizens to vote for policy makers. It reduces election and operating costs.
Opinion | Closing Yakima Valley School: a shortsighted, cruel approach to balancing the budget
Former Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent budget proposal defunded and closed the Yakima Valley School. The Yakima Valley School in Selah is a residential and respite care facility for those with developmental disabilities. HB 1472 and SB 5393 implement the school’s closure through legislation. We must stop these cuts for the sake of developmentally disabled individuals and their families in our community and across Washington state.
Guest Commentary: Closing Yakima Valley School is a shortsighted, cruel approach to balancing the budget
Former Gov. Jay Inslee’s recent budget proposal defunded and closed the Yakima Valley School. The Yakima Valley School in Selah is a residential and respite care facility for those with developmental disabilities. HB 1472 and SB 5393 implement the school’s closure through legislation. We must stop these cuts for the sake of developmentally disabled individuals and their families in our community and across Washington state.
Opinion | Communication is key in 2025 session
On Monday, Jan. 13, I returned to the marble hallways of our state Capitol in Olympia as the 2025 legislative session officially convened. Starting my third term in the Washington State House of Representatives, I once again represent the great people of the 15th District. Representing those in Yakima and Benton counties is a privilege and an honor. The day after legislators were sworn into office in the House and Senate, Gov.
Letter: Redrawn boundaries fail voters - and Latinos
To the editor — I represented the 15th Legislative District in the state House of Representatives from 2019 until 2022. That's when its boundaries were redrawn to create a 52% voting-age Latino district. Although the new boundaries took me out of the district, they did bring in Republican Nikki Torres of Pasco, who went on to become the area's first Latina state senator. Now a judge has changed the boundaries again, supposedly to bring the district in line with the federal Voting Rights Act.
Letter: Removing the city manager was the right call
To the editor — The former Yakima city manager proposed utility tax increases and lived and worked part of the week in Renton. I applaud Mayor Byers, Deputy Mayor Brown, and Council Members Berg, Glenn and Roy for removing him. We need a city leader who lives and works full-time in Yakima. And we need someone who will not propose higher utility taxes, which fall hardest on Yakima's lowest income residents. JEREMIE DUFAULT Selah
Letter: Leo Roy's background will help him serve constituents
To the editor — Leo Roy is a small-business owner and longtime resident of east Yakima who wants to make his neighborhood safer and cleaner. His multicultural family background will help him serve all of his diverse constituents. Please join me in supporting Leo Roy for Yakima City Council. JEREMIE DUFAULT Selah
Letter: You're right - Hispanics aren't apt to vote Democratic
To the editor — I agree with at least part of a recent Yakima Herald-Republic editorial. It is unlikely that majority Hispanic voters in the soon-to-be reconfigured 15th District will elect Democrats. I had the privilege to meet and work with thousands of Latinos across the 15th District during my two terms in the Legislature. Most are hardworking, entrepreneurial, and family- and faith-focused. They are conservatives and will likely support conservative candidates.
Letter: Listen to Mann - scrap the paid parking idea
To the editor — An out-of-town consultant says Seattle-style parking meters in downtown Yakima will make money over time. I disagree. The expensive machines will get scrapped after residents complain, businesses leave and fewer people come downtown. The city will have wasted millions of dollars of taxpayer money. City Council should listen to community leader and downtown Yakima champion, Joe Mann, and skip the paid parking plan. Selah
Letter: City should pull the plug on utility-bill plan
To the editor — Property owners are not responsible for their tenants' student loans, their car payments or their VISA card balances. Yet, city of Yakima staff want landlords to pay their tenants' water, sewer and garbage bills. Why? Because it would make things easier for the city. Here's what else it would do. It would increase Yakima rents. Landlords would have no choice but to assume the worst-case scenario and pass along that higher-than-normal cost to their tenants.
Guest Column: 2022 Legislative session wrap-up
The gavel dropped and the 2022 legislative session ended on March 10. State lawmakers will not return to Olympia until January 2023 unless a special session is called. I am pleased to report that legislators worked across the aisle this year to improve education, health care and critical infrastructure in Washington state.
Commentary: Respect voters -- repeal the capital gains income tax
Income taxes are unconstitutional in Washington state. The tax-and-spenders have tried 10 times over the past 100 years to change that part of the state constitution, but Washington voters — the ones who decide these things — said no. Then they said no again. And again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. Again. And again. The message seems obvious: We don’t want an income tax. The liberals’ response: OK, then we won’t call it an income tax.
Guest Column: Legislative session underway, key issues
The 2022 legislative session is finally underway, and I am honored to continue to represent the 15th district. Though we are once again operating remotely, I am committed to making your voices heard in Olympia. This session, I am fighting to reduce your tax burden, reverse runaway spending and rein in the governor’s emergency powers. In 2019, the majority passed House Bill 1087, a bill that levied a payroll tax to fund a long-term care insurance program in our state.
Rent vouchers, not an eviction moratorium, are best for tenants and landlords
Jan. 22, 2021 at 8:01 am Updated Jan. 22, 2021 at 11:31 am By Special to The Times Government shouldn’t be able to give away something it doesn’t own. But that’s what happened when Gov. Jay Inslee stopped property owners from evicting nonpaying tenants. He took something of value from the landlords and gave it to the tenants. Who should pay for this new social policy? Right now, the governor is forcing property owners to foot the bill, but is that fair or even legal?
Letter: Lawmaker urges people to send a message via advisory votes
FILE — The Washington Capitol is seen on Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Olympia. FILE — The Washington Capitol is seen on Saturday, April 27, 2019, in Olympia. AP Photo / Rachel La Corte, file To the editor — Monday's guest editorial urged voters to skip over the 12 tax-increase advisory votes on this year's ballot. I disagree. The Legislature last year enacted $8 billion in tax increases, even though more money than ever was already pouring into the state's treasury.
Letter: Dufault explains his archive no vote
To the editor — In the April 23 editorial promoting construction of a new state library, the Yakima Herald-Republic pointed out that I opposed the measure. I did and here’s why: The legislation I voted against would raise $80 million by charging people more when they record a document with their county auditor. That’s a fee, not a tax, and I believe that fees should be paid only by the people who benefit from them.
Message from Rep. Dufault: Don't raise taxes
To the editor — It’s one of those good news, bad news and worse news things. First, the good news. State revenue is projected to grow over the next two years to a total of $50 billion. That’s almost twice what we spent 10 years ago. The bad news? The Democrats in Olympia — including Gov. Jay Inslee — want more. The worse news? The Democrats are in control.
Tax plan at work
To the editor — I recently read that Apple is bringing $250 billion back to the United States.That decision — and the $38 billion in taxes and tens of thousands of jobs that come with it — is a direct result of the recently enacted Republican tax plan.Thank you, Congressman Dan Newhouse, for supporting the measure.
Manage our forests; put out the fires
To the editor — As Washingtonians choke their way through another month of raging wildfires, westside leaders seem too busy grandstanding against the Trump administration to tackle this major public health and safety emergency. That leadership vacuum leaves agency bureaucrats in charge. “Let it burn,” they say in defiance of common sense. “This is good for our forests and good for public health.” (Yakima Herald-Republic, Aug. 27).
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Democrats’ bait and switch
The Justice Department has appointed former FBI Director Robert Mueller as a special counsel to oversee a federal investigation into potential coordination between Russia and Donald Trump’s campaign during the 2016 presidential election. Do you agree with this move?
Next step: income tax
To the editor — I was naïve in 2012 when I believed Jay Inslee’s promise that he was against taxing the income of Washington state residents. On Tuesday, Dec. 13, the governor once again proposed multiple tax increases and a new tax on income earned from selling assets. Gov. Inslee insists that this capital gains tax is not an income tax, but the U.S. Supreme Court and even the IRS disagree with him.
Return Newhouse to D.C.
Yes. I was in the Trump camp but now am reconsidering. Yes. I was undecided but now am considering other candidates. No. I'm with Trump all the way. No. I never was with Trump.
Letter: Herion has qualities, character needed as judge
Chris Herion is a former Marine and current judge advocate in the U.S. Army Reserves. It has been my privilege to serve with him these past two years. Story continues below video Chris’ character, temperament, and strong sense of duty and fairness uniquely qualifies him to serve as a judge.
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