³ÉÈËXÕ¾

SEATTLE NEWS ARCHIVES & FEATURES

State Supreme Court decision borders on skit comedy

Aug 14, 2015, 1:12 PM | Updated: 4:54 pm

There’s one difference between the Washington state Supreme Court and an Saturday Night Live ...

There's one difference between the Washington state Supreme Court and an Saturday Night Live skit, Representative Matt Manweller told ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio's Dori Monson. (AP)

(AP)

There’s one difference between the Washington state Supreme Court’s decision to fine the Legislature $100,000 a day for failing to adequately fund public education and a Saturday Night Live skit: SNL skits are meant to be funny.

Representative Matt Manweller (R-13th District) told ³ÉÈËXÕ¾ Radio’s Dori Monson that reading Supreme Court decisions are becoming more like SNL skits, especially the idea of a fine being put into a pot that can’t be touched.

“I don’t know what they’re thinking,” Manweller exclaimed. The court is “so far beyond judicial legitimacy that even their own orders are not enforceable.”

The court held the state in contempt on Thursday for, once again, not creating a plan to better fund education &#8212 even though the Legislature came up with about $2 billion more for education during this session, on top of the $2 billion last session, Dori pointed out. The court’s role is to rule whether something is constitutional, not impose fines on taxpayers, he said.

“If you look at their order, they basically saw that taxpayers didn’t impose $4 billion of additional taxes … therefore [the court] will punish you with a fine and put it in a bucket, which you can’t spend,” Manweller said. They’re just making themselves look more and more foolish.”

Now, the court is encouraging Governor Jay Inslee to call for another special session so lawmakers can continue to find a way to further fund education. Inslee said lawmakers will meet Monday to begin preliminary work that needs to be done before a special session is called.

Dori believes the court’s order is a “backdoor” attempt to impose a state income tax, something he said the court has no right to do.

“You’re spot on about the backdoor attempt at income tax,” Manweller said.

Seattle News Archives & Features

Associated Press

Seattle man charged with string of burglaries at the homes of NFL and MLB stars

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle man was charged Friday with a string of burglaries at the homes of prominent current and former football and baseball players, marking the latest example of well-known athletes being targeted in home thefts. Earl Henderson Riley IV, 21, was charged with several counts of residential burglary in both occupied and […]

25 days ago

Associated Press

Campgrounds closed along Pacific Crest Trail in search for man wanted in daughters’ deaths

SEATTLE (AP) — Authorities have closed a wide swath of popular campgrounds and backpacking areas along the Pacific Crest Trail in Washington as they search for a former Army soldier wanted in the deaths of his three young daughters. Dozens of additional law enforcement officers from an array of agencies joined the investigation and search […]

25 days ago

In this undated photo released by the Thurston County Sheriff's Office, a cache of military weaponr...

Associated Press

2 arrested with arsenal and Nazi paraphernalia after base robbery were ex-military, prosecutors say

SEATTLE (AP) — Two men arrested in Washington state with an arsenal that included grenade launchers and body armor, along with Nazi paraphernalia, were former military members who attacked a soldier with a hammer while stealing gear from Joint Base Lewis-McChord last weekend, investigators say. Levi Austin Frakes and Charles Ethan Fields were arrested Monday […]

27 days ago

Associated Press

Authorities are searching for a Washington state father of 3 dead girls

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state father is wanted for murder after his three young daughters were reported missing and then found dead. Police on Tuesday asked the public for help in finding the father of the girls, Travis Decker, 32. He is wanted for three counts of murder and kidnapping, the Wenatchee Police […]

28 days ago

Expand Autoplay Image3 of 5 Burien car crashes through home Burien car crashes through home (photo:...

³ÉÈËXÕ¾ 7 News Staff

Driver sails through Burien homes after launching off curb, officials say

A driver crashed into two Burien homes Monday afternoon causing significant damage.

1 month ago

Associated Press

1 person was rescued and a search is underway for 3 others after a boat sinks north of Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) — One person was rescued by a good Samaritan and authorities were looking for three others after a boat took on water and sank in waters north of Seattle, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday. A U.S. Coast Guard boat crew and helicopter searched for the missing alongside Everett firefighters and police, the […]

1 month ago

State Supreme Court decision borders on skit comedy