My name is Dennis Richter, and I am running as a Republican candidate for State Representative, Legislative District 1, Position 1.  Why?  Because government has grown far beyond what we, the people, need.  It must be brought back to an acceptable, reasonable size more reflective of how our families conduct their lives: economically and within a limited budget.  It must also become more business friendly so we can retain the jobs we currently have in our state and attract others to locate here.

This is just common sense.

To help you get to know me better, please read the following, then check out my bio and platform.  You can also go to Facebook for discussions and upcoming campaign events.

Primary reasons for running for State Representative

An attempt needs to be made to change a culture in Olympia that is far too disconnected from us.  Do you want your tax money spent economically and wisely with real prioritization?  Do you want an atmosphere that is conducive to the creation and retention of jobs?  Do you want world-class schools/teachers and high graduation rates?

To that end, the following issues and proposed solutions (among others) would be an excellent way to restore common sense government in Olympia.

State Spending

Summary

There has been an unbridled increase in spending during recent legislative sessions.  An Evergreen Freedom Foundation report shows just how much spending has increased since 1997 - an unsustainable rate.  It is understandable that the government must spend money, but should that amount of money be limitless?  Should the State be allowed to continue to spend beyond the growth of our incomes and without limit?  To do so is irresponsible.

Proposal

Without getting into all of the details, from 1997 - 2006 the State spent an average of 9.6% of our Gross Annual Cumulative Income (GACI).  In order to coerce the Legislature into disciplined, prioritized, limited budgeting, we must by force of law bring that percentage down to no higher than 7.0% of GACI over the course of the next ten years - about one-half of one percent a year.  At current levels, this amounts to the State reducing its spending by approximately one billion per year.  Will this be difficult?  Absolutely.  But it must be done in order to reign in an uncontrolled Legislature that has an insatiable appetite for our money.  A good place to start is what has been suggested by the Evergreen Freedom Foundation ("105 Days - 105 Ways").

One of the beauties of this limitation approach is that if the Legislature makes our State friendly for business, the amount of money the State can spend will rise.  But if it makes our State hostile to business (which oftentimes appears to be the case), the amount of money the State can spend will decrease.

It should also be noted that limiting spending would not prevent the electorate from voting on increased funding for special projects like transportation or education.  But the Legislature itself would have to abide within the GACI limit.

This is just common sense.

Employment

Summary

As of the end of January 2010, the unemployment rate in Washington was between nine and 10 percent.  Our state is better off than many, but having approximately 500,000 people out of work is not acceptable.

To top it off, we have seen a century-old bellwether company - Boeing - locate a second 787 production line in South Carolina.  This should be a very sobering warning to all of us.  By most estimations, this cost us 10-12,000 jobs!  We have no choice but to take steps to make Washington State the friendliest state in the union to start and operate a business.  Can we afford to lose Boeing completely?  Absolutely not.  So why has legislative indifference - demonstrated by high unemployment insurance, high labor and industry taxes, and high regulation - been allowed to continue for such a long time?  This has to change.  If we accept the Legislative status quo, we will continue to give high-paying jobs to other states and will never know how many companies do not locate here due to legislative ineptitude.  If only our legislature was as happy to keep Boeing's production line in Washington State as South Carolina's was to get it.

It should be obvious to anyone that the Boeing Company, which has added trillions of dollars to our economy, will continue to more production out of our State if we do not act.  We must act, and we must act quickly.  And we must also alleviate the punitive taxes and regulations the State has placed on our businesses.

Proposal

We need to have a major attitude change in the Legislature regarding the business environment.  In many aspects, our State is very friendly to business, but in others, it is hostile.  And our Legislature's long-term attitude is that businesses are lucky to be able to operate in this State.  This is arrogance at its best, an arrogance that must die a swift death.

To make our State more friendly, we should phase out the onerous, penalizing B&O tax.  We should also work hand in hand with business to make clear that we want lower unemployment insurance and labor-and-industry taxes.

This is just common sense.

Education

Summary

Depending on which study one believes, the average high school graduation rate throughout Washington is somewhere between 62% and 82%. In Seattle, one in three students does not graduate. This is unacceptable.

Proposal

Support, responsibility, and money need to be concentrated at one point:  the classroom.  A major step in doing this would be for us to substantially increase the wages of current and incoming teachers so we can continue to attract the very best from our colleges and universities. Teachers spend a substantial amount of time with our children in the classroom - and they also spend time outside the classroom.  So it is essential that they be the absolute best in terms of knowledge, character, and skills.  Let us reward them generously and hold them accountable for the results.

We also need to ensure that less money is spent on bureaucracy.  Principals, not bureaucrats, should be held accountable for the success or failure of their schools.

This is just common sense.

I respectfully ask for your vote in the primary election in August and the general election in November.

Thank you.