So, you think the legislature dodged a bullet of voter anger by not raising taxes? Evergreen Freedom Foundation policy Analyst, Brett Davis and Amber Gunn have sorted out some of the details in this Bellinghame Herald article and I am left with one question: Which is worse, cowardice or deceit?

While no new taxes were passed for property, sales or business related commerce, the rascals in Olympia have become comfortable with their own unique accounting practices that should raise our hackles even more than an outright tax increase. It's called "fee increases" and it works like this. First you triple a fee requirement, such as the document recording fees for liens, powers of attorney and and deeds, which were raised from $10 to $30. Then throughout the year, you simply submit a budget transfer request and move the new revenue from fee increases out of their dedicated accounts into the general fund to help pay for the programs you've promised to your special interest groups. It's just that easy! A tax increase without actually calling it a tax increase!

This allows the legislators to avoid that annoying supermajority requirement for tax increases and allows them to look like responsible stewards of the public's money
 

Nobody will notice what you're doing, at least not before the next election in November. I cannot believe they can get away with this.I really do not know which offends me more--their cowardice or outright deceit.