Church by Tim Hawkins



I read the other day church attendance is up in other countries and down in America? I don't know why but I know the importance of attending church. I know God has a sense of humor and its OK to laugh in church. I admire Tim Hawkins who can make us laugh at ourselves. I certainly am not judging any ones church or worship styles- much of that does not really matter and will not keep you out of Heaven. Even my wife and I have different music preferences and I learned long time ago that I can pray if I do not know the words to a song. I hope you have a good church you are committed to and it follows Gods Word. If this video offends you, check out one of the other nine videos by Tim Hawkins on his label.

A man, down on his luck, went into a church which catered to the "uppity". Spotting the man's dirty clothes a deacon, worried about the churches image, went to the man and asked him if he needed help. The man said, "I was praying and the Lord told me to come to this church."
The deacon suggested that the man go pray some more and possibly he might get a different answer. The next Sunday the man returned. The deacon asked, "Did you get a different answer?"
The man replied, "Yes I did. I told the Lord that they don't want me in that church and the Lord said, 'Don't worry about it son; I've been trying to get into that church for years and haven't made it yet."

What Was I Supposed To Be?

 

What a week- I had the joy to hold my 6th grandchild who was just born! I have held my three children maybe even as the first one to hold them- so it really sickens me to read the news of doctors aborting any baby and a president who asks God to Bless Planned Parenthood. (sic, sic, sic.) Life is precious and we need to protect those who cannot protect themselves- no matter what age. Killing is wrong. For you who may think its ok to kill- maybe you can contact your legislators to at least object from using our tax dollars  to fund Planned Parenthood? Today's song is "What was I Supposed To Be" by Ray Boltz. I am amazed how some Christians are allowed to judge and others are not?  Don't accept my or others beliefs, go by the Word of God and don't let others muddy your thinking. Below I shared posts from Mike Huckabee regarding this weeks trial of a so called Doctor, and a post from obama/Rush Limbaugh.

The judge in the murder trial of Philadelphia abortionist Kermit Gosnell threw out three of the seven murder charges against him. He didn’t explain why. But the defense phase is finally beginning, and Gosnell’s attorney is using an argument that we’ve heard before in unconscionable crimes throughout history: that the victims weren’t really human. He argued that there’s “not one piece…of objecti...ve, scientific evidence that anyone was born alive” at Gosnell’s clinic. As for the grand jury report that one baby was “moving and breathing for 20 minutes” before an assistant cut his spinal cord, Gosnell’s attorney insisted, “That wasn’t a baby moving.” He said that one spasm, or movement, or breath isn’t enough to prove that a baby is alive. You know, he might have a point. I’m starting to think that you can have a medical license or a law degree, and not even be a real human being. For more of the Huckabee Report visit MikeHuckabee.com.

OBAMA: Planned Parenthood is not going anywhere. It's not going anywhere today. It's not going anywhere tomorrow. (applause) As long as we've got a fight to make sure women have access to quality affordable health care, and as long as we've got to fight to protect a woman's right to make her own choices about her own health, I want you to know that you've also got a president who's gonna be right there with you fighting every step of the way. (cheers and applause) Thank you, Planned Parenthood. God bless you. God bless America. Thank you. (cheers and applause)

RUSH: "God bless you." I have no words. And I think I'm right about this. The AP says -- I think they're right -- that Obama's the first sitting president to show up and address them. Not even Clinton. And Planned Parenthood would have been a gold mine for Slick Willie. Think of all the action he coulda picked up there. But not even he went there. "God bless you." (sniffle) Sniffle on purpose. There you have it. Our president, "God bless you," Planned Parenthood.

BREAK TRANSCRIPT

RUSH: I have a question, ladies and gentlemen. What happened to the Barack Obama of last week? Last week Barack Obama talking about what happened in Boston said, "If we can save just one child. If we can save just one child," and today Obama goes and celebrates an abortion factory and closes by saying "God bless you" to Planned Parenthood.

END TRANSCRIPT

Life Is A Highway(07)

Someone said find a job you enjoy and you'll never have to work another day of your life? Not sure about that, but I sure enjoy my job, I work with some great co-workers and I thank God for my job daily. There are 6 of us on the striping crew-most of us have worked together for over 10 years on crew. Our newest support truck driver, Steve, a transfer from Vancouver- is doing a tremendous job and catching on so fast.  We cover state highways from Canadian Border to below Othello and both Stevens and North Cross Passes..  Right now the lines are pretty bad on roads, due to snowplows and studs, but its hard to paint until it is 50* out,- and winter sand/salt have been removed. Right now our goal is to stripe the roads leading to Apple Blossom by next weekend. Yesterday we did an early start to do high traffic local interchanges. I have made a striping video each year since 2005- this one is from 2008 and called Life is A Highway. This video shows some of the former crews and equipment they worked with. We now use only water based paints.

Welcome Steve, to the NCR Striping Crew 2013

Stroll Down Memory Lane

I am so thankful for  memories. I can't  believe I am this old already and all the things I have seen in my lifetime.  I am thankful even more for the memories of people who have influenced my life- some I have never met even, but influenced my life so much.  Someone sent me an email of old burma shaved signs that I wanted to post below. I remember seeing them in North Dakota when I was young. I also remember the crosses they would put along the road in Montana wherever there was a fatality.I can't remember the last time I used shaving cream. 

To My Old-As-Dirt Friends who qualify as "old as dirt".And this will be something new for you younger ones For those who never saw any of the Burma Shave signs, here is a quick lesson in our history of the 1930's and '40's. Before there were interstates, when everyone drove the old 2 lane roads, Burma Shave signs would be posted all over the countryside in farmers' fields. They were small red signs with white letters. Five signs, about 100 feet apart, each containing 1 line of a 4 line couplet......and the obligatory 5th sign advertising Burma Shave, a popular shaving cream. Here are more of the actual signs:

DON'T STICKYOUR ELBOW

OUT SO FAR

IT MAY GO HOME

IN ANOTHER CAR.

BURMA SHAVE

TRAINS DON'T WANDER

ALL OVER THE MAP

'CAUSE NOBODY SITS

IN THE ENGINEER'S LAP

Burma Shave

SHE KISSED THE HAIRBRUSH

BY MISTAKE

SHE THOUGHT IT WAS

HER HUSBAND JAKE

Burma Shave

DON'T LOSE YOUR HEAD

TO GAIN A MINUTE

YOU NEED YOUR HEAD

YOUR BRAINS ARE IN IT

Burma Shave

DROVE TOO LONG

DRIVER SNOOZING

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

IS NOT AMUSING

Burma Shave

BROTHER SPEEDER

LET'S REHEARSE

ALL TOGETHER

GOOD MORNING, NURSE

Burma Shave

CAUTIOUS RIDER

TO HER RECKLESS DEAR

LET'S HAVE LESS BULL

AND A LITTLE MORE STEER

Burma Shave

SPEED WAS HIGH

WEATHER WAS NOT

TIRES WERE THIN

X MARKS THE SPOT

Burma Shave

THE MIDNIGHT RIDE

OF PAUL FOR BEER

LED TO A WARMER

HEMISPHERE

Burma Shave

AROUND THE CURVE

LICKETY-SPLIT

BEAUTIFUL CAR

WASN'T IT?

Burma Shave

NO MATTER THE PRICE

NO MATTER HOW NEW

THE BEST SAFETY DEVICE

IN THE CAR IS YOU

Burma Shave

A GUY WHO DRIVES

A CAR WIDE OPEN

IS NOT THINKIN'

HE'S JUST HOPIN'

Burma Shave

AT INTERSECTIONS

LOOK EACH WAY

A HARP SOUNDS NICE

BUT IT'S HARD TO PLAY

Burma Shave

BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL

EYES ON THE ROAD

THAT'S THE SKILLFUL

DRIVER'S CODE

Burma Shave

THE ONE WHO DRIVES

WHEN HE'S BEEN DRINKING

DEPENDS ON YOU

TO DO HIS THINKING

Burma Shave

CAR IN DITCH

DRIVER IN TREE

THE MOON WAS FULL

AND SO WAS HE.

Burma Shave

PASSING SCHOOL ZONE

TAKE IT SLOW

LET OUR LITTLE

SHAVERS GROW

Burma Shave

Do these bring back any old memories?

Parenthood

  

I am not trying to say anything in todays blog. Sometimes after a rough week on news, we need a little bit of laughter. I hope you can laugh at this video. Kids are so much fun and can be so funny. Tim Hawkins has a way to laugh at life and everyday things we all face. I hope you have a wonderful day.

I was packing for my business trip and my three year old daughter was having a wonderful time playing on the bed. At one point she said, “Daddy, look at this,” and stuck out two of her fingers. Trying to keep her entertained, I reached out and stuck her tiny fingers in my mouth and said, “Daddy’s gonna eat your fingers,” pretending to eat them. I went back to packing, looked up again and my daughter was standing on the bed staring at her fingers with a devastated look on her face. I said, “What’s wrong, honey?” She replied, “What happened to my booger?”

Silly Laws

 

 Food For Thought   By Junius P. Long

If you can get arrested for hunting or fishing without a license, but not for being in the country illegally ...you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If you have to get your parents’ permission to go on a field trip or take an aspirin in school, but not to get an abortion ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If the only school curriculum allowed to explain how we got here is evolution, but the government stops a $15 million construction project to keep a rare spider from evolving to extinction ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If you have to show identification to board an airplane, cash a check, check in at the doctor's office, buy liquor, or check out a library book, but not to vote who runs the government ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If the government wants to ban stable, law-abiding citizens from owning gun magazines with more than ten rounds, but gives 20 F-16 fighter jets to the crazy new leaders in Egypt ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If, in the largest city, you can buy two 16-ounce sodas, but not a 24-ounce soda because 24-ounces of a sugary drink might make you fat ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If an 80-year-old woman can be stripped searched by the TSA but a woman in a hijab is only subject to having her neck and head searched ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If your government believes that the best way to eradicate trillions of dollars of debt is to spend trillions more ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If a seven year old boy can be thrown out of school for saying his teacher’s "cute," but hosting a sexual exploration or diversity class in grade school is perfectly acceptable ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If children are forcibly removed from parents who discipline them with spankings while children of addicts are left in filth and drug infested “homes”... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If hard work and success are met with higher taxes and more government intrusion, while not working is rewarded with EBT cards, WIC checks, Medicaid, subsidized housing and free cell phones ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If the government's plan for getting people back to work is to incentivize NOT working with 99 weeks of unemployment checks and no requirement to prove they applied but can’t find work ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If being stripped of the ability to defend yourself makes you more "safe" according to the government ... you might live in a country founded by geniuses but run by idiots.

If you are offended by this article, I'll bet you voted for the idiots who are running, and ruining our great country.

Girl Perfect

 

It must be tough to be judged by ones outward beauty- I feel sorry for little girls growing up and the standards some put on them. Why is Barbie the role model for girls? (why is porn the role model for some men?)  The Barbie doll is so unrealistic I posted below her dimensions if she was a real person. Jennifer Strickland found true happiness and can explain the dangers we push our girls into in this video and her book, Girl Perfect. I wish I could have shared this information 30 years ago. I feel sorry for any girl who gets sucked into the trap of thinking outside beauty will bring them happiness. We even vote for our elected leaders based on outward appearance? I have always said my young granddaughters accept me for who I am!   I hope we can do the same for all young girls as well- especially those teens who need to be accepted for "who they are". Never forget; "Your value is far more than the flesh. Your body will never be perfect. The only perfect is a relationship with Jesus Christ...."

If Barbie were a real person, she would be 6' 0", weigh 100 lbs., and wear a size 4. Her measurements would be 39"/19"/33". My four-month-olds' heads measure 17 1/2". She would probably have had to have back surgery from being so top heavy.

The average woman is 5' 4", weighs 145 lbs., and wears between a size 11-14. Her measurements are approximately 36"/30"/41". There is a fifty-fifty chance that she is on a diet right now.

After spending her childhood playing with Barbie, watching models and actresses who stand 5' 11" and weight 117 lbs. sell them on the idea of the perfect body.

Least we forget, you are probably dieting most of her life, complaining how your butt is too big, cellulite is taking over your thighs. No matter how beautiful she thinks her mother is, mom is forever trying to change her body

What are the odds? Among the above chart's findings, it tells how the odds of finding a single woman with the same tall and thin neck as Barbie is one out of 4.3 billion

How does having a bald Barbie show cancer patients they are accepted? That is like me having to remove my leg to show I accept someone who has lost their leg isn't it?

Remembering George Bevery Shea

 

George Beverly Shea, a longtime associate of the Rev. Billy Graham, appearing before an estimated 200 million people at Graham revival meetings worldwide, died April 16th, 2013 in Asheville, N.C. He was 104.

Of the hundreds of songs he sang, Mr. Shea was most closely identified with “How Great Thou Art,” a hymn that became the de facto anthem of Mr. Graham’s ministry. In 1957, at a crusade in New York City, Mr. Shea, by popular demand, sang it on 108 consecutive nights.

Other songs for which he was known include “I’d Rather Have Jesus,” for which he composed the music, and “The Wonder of It All,” for which he wrote words and music. He recorded more than 70 albums.

George Beverly Shea, known as Bev, was born on Feb. 1, 1909, in Winchester, Ontario. His father, the Rev. Adam J. Shea, was a Wesleyan Methodist minister; his mother, the former Maude Whitney, was the organist in her husband’s church.

Growing up, Bev dreamed the dream of every red-blooded Canadian boy — to be a Mountie — but he also studied piano, organ and violin. One of eight children, he did his first formal singing in his father’s church choir and his first informal singing long before, around the family table.

As a young man Mr. Shea attended Houghton College in Houghton, N.Y., but left before graduating to help support his family in the Depression. He found work in Manhattan as a clerk with the Mutual Life Insurance Company, a post he would hold for nearly a decade. Meanwhile he studied voice with private teachers.

During this period Mr. Shea entered an amateur talent contest on Fred Allen’s radio show, singing “Go Down, Moses.” He came in second — he was beaten by a yodeler — but the exposure led to offers to sing on commercial radio. He declined, ill at ease with the idea of a life in secular music. His career in sacred music, however, was now assured.

In the late 1930s Mr. Shea moved to Chicago to join WMBI, the radio station of the Moody Bible Institute, as a staff announcer and singer. One day in 1943 a young man knocked on the studio door. The visitor was a Wheaton College student named William Franklin Graham Jr., who had stopped by to tell Mr. Shea how much he loved his singing.

Before long Mr. Graham, who had become a preacher in Western Springs, Ill., had recruited Mr. Shea to sing on his own religious radio show, “Songs in the Night.” From the mid-1940s to the early ’50s, Mr. Shea was also the host of “Club Time,” a gospel show broadcast on ABC Radio.

In 1947 Mr. Shea joined Mr. Graham and Cliff Barrows, who would serve as Mr. Graham’s longtime music director, in the first Billy Graham Crusade, in Charlotte.

Mr. Shea was the author of several books, including the memoir “How Sweet the Sound” (2004), written with Betty Free Swanberg and Jeffery McKenzie.

Mr. Shea’s first wife, the former Erma Scharfe, whom he married in 1934, died in 1976. His survivors include his second wife, the former Karlene Aceto, whom he married in 1985, and two children from his first marriage, Ronald and Elaine. Information on other survivors was not immediately available.

Though Mr. Shea was long a vital part of Mr. Graham’s work — Mr. Graham routinely insisted that without him he would have had no ministry — he retained a wry modesty about his role. “The people didn’t come to hear me,” Mr. Shea told The Charlotte Observer in 2009. “They came to hear Billy. To get to hear him, they first had to listen to me.”

It was not always so. When they joined forces in the 1940s, Mr. Shea was already a nationally known voice in Christian music, Mr. Graham a fledgling minister. Their early revival meetings were often advertised this way:  BEV SHEA SINGS  Billy Graham will preach.



Your Car Is Like A Weapon

This week begins National Work Zone Safety Week. Nationally, every 5.4 minutes there is a work zone crash. Washington averages almost 850 highway work zone injuries each year. The top three causes of work zone crashes are distracted/inattentive driving, following too close and speeding. Since 1950, 60  Washington State Department of Transportation employees have lost their lives in work zone-related activities. Slow down in our work zones- it only takes a second as you can see in todays video.  Please remember to slow down- your car is like a Weapon....

The following tips are for motorists when they encounter highway work zones:

Minimize distractions. Dedicate your full attention to the road and those around you.

Stay alert, expect the unexpected. Keep an eye out for workers and their equipment.

Don’t change lanes in the work zone. The time saved just isn't worth it.

Follow the signs. Signs and flaggers will direct you through the work zone. Expect changes in traffic patterns as the project progresses.

Be patient. Remember, the crewmembers are working to improve the highway, and the safety and comfort of your future travels.

Don’t speed. Enhanced fines may be doubled for speeding in a work zone.

Don’t tailgate. Unexpected stops frequently occur in work zones.

Study your Wife

Thanks for all your prayers and wishes on our Anniversary yesterday. It is important to celebrate moments more than events. One of the ingredients of marriage is humor and to laugh often.  It seems only fitting to include a video by Tim Hawkins called "Husbands and Wives" today. That does not mean we always laugh- its been a tough week- Rick Klinge is dealing with his final days down  here, One of my friends starts chemo tomorrow, another is recovering from a double bypass surgery, and trying to figure out L&I,-  sure glad I serve a Big God. 

My Best Friend

I am so thankful for Janice, my Best Friend. I first met Jan in late 1971 when we moved to Coulee Dam. I first noticed her in my history class, my first class and my first day. (I actually started school a few weeks late when we moved from Fife). We were married Saturday, April 13, 1974. I am so blessed to have shared this life with her- what a gift from God, and one of the best choices I have made.  This is actually an old video, over 12 years old, but she is and always will be, "My Best Friend". Happy Anniversary Janice!

A friend is someone who can see the truth and pain in you even when you are fooling everyone else.

A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words

Helper in The Car

 

Tim Hawkins has a wide variety of humor topics, this one deals with marriage and is called "Helper in the Car".  I am not trying to prove a point, just needed a good laugh and after almost 39 nine years of marriage, I can relate.

Don't Laugh At Me

 

I love to laugh, but it is never ok to laugh at someone else. Bullying is wrong and as adults we need to stop it when we can. We need to protect those who cannot defend themselves and we need to change the subject and not encourage it as adults. Remember the saying, If you can't say something nice- don't say it?   Whether you are a child or adult- it is never OK to put someone down to make yourself look better.  And just because I do not agree with your opinion, does not mean I hate you. In Gods eyes we are all the same- and who are we to judge or have walked in their shoes. Some of those who are different can teach us a lot if we will just listen. Peter Paul and Mary sang as song called Don't laugh at me and someone added some photos to it that I wanted to share today.

I stand behind this man and his son! I am Proud of that dad.

 What an example.

Catch A Wave

We have been to Raptor Reef Park now 4 times-once a year these last 4 years.  First time when it was raining on a trip planned to Silverwood, so we went there instead. It is 200 miles from here, in Courdelene, Idaho. We left around 10am Tuesday. We ate Lunch in Moses Lake, and then to Spokane Riverfront Park around 1;30pm. Jan and Emilee went shopping while Cody, Caitlyn and myself checked out the park. We highly recommend Spokane Downtown Medical Center Quality Inn- they always treat us so good and kids love it there. We actually have stayed there over a dozen times and it is filled with good memories for us and the kids. They let us check in a few minutes early  to rest, and then off to Chuck E Cheese for dinner and games. We drive by the house we lived at 35 years ago in the valley and where Jeremy was born. I was glad to rest back at motel, and the kids were good to let me. Wednesday we actually arrived 45 minutes before opening time, so Jan and Emilee shopped at Walmart and Cody, Caitlyn and myself played "I spy" in the car. Then we were the first ones in park at 10am. I could not go in water due to surgery, and they did not charge for me to sit and take photos. We ate lunch there, and about 3;30 we let the kids play some arcade games with money their mom gave them.  After a 5pm meal at Taco Bell- it did not take the kids long to fall asleep for the quiet trip home. We really had a great time,wish you could have joined us. I feel sorry for you if you don't have grandkids- they really make these trips fun. Our kids grew up too fast.

You Are My Sunshine

Good thing you cannot hear me sing- one of my favorite songs I sing to the grandkids over and over is "You Are My Sunshine"- I know they can sing better than I do. I hope they will sing it to their children someday. Grandkids do not seem to mind if you are on key, and even the other day one of the grandkids said "Grandpa you never seem to win at Chutes and Ladders?"  I know he wanted me to win as well. I am thankful for Grandkids- here are some quotes of what kids think of grandparents from internet;

A Grandma will always be there for you, whenever you need her, like a Guardian Angel – at least my Grandma is!

 A Grandma always has time and likes to go to church – at least my Grandma does!

A Grandma always remembers special moments with her grandchildren – at least my Grandma does!

My Grandma does not like TV that much - she prefers books.

My Grandma has a dog, which she loves very much.

My Grandma likes to spend time in her garden and in her kitchen; she likes cooking even if she is not that good at it!

Grandmas are good looking – or at least my Grandma is!

Grandma's like to hug & kiss, which is OK by me! They have a terrible sense of direction, and so often get lost. They like to push on the swings, which is OK by me. Grandma's love to dance and look silly. Go for walks with their grandkids & dogs. Tell lots of stories, some that are true. I love my Grandma and wish I could see her more.   Kristian aged 9

A grandmother is a woman who has no children of her own, so she loves the boys and girls of other people. Grandmothers have nothing to do. They only have to be there. If they take you for a walk they go slowly past beautiful leaves and caterpillars. They never say ‘Come along quickly’ or ‘Hurry up for goodness sake’. They are usually fat, but not too fat to tie up my shoes laces. They wear spectacles and sometimes take out their teeth. They can answer any question, for instance why dogs hate cats and why God is not married. When they read they never leave anything out. They do not mind if it’s always the same story. Everyone should have a grandmother especially those who do not have a television. Grandmothers are the only grown ups who have time. Found in a Welsh church written by a boy aged 8.

A grandmother is a babysitter who watches the kids instead of the television.

A grandfather is a father who has a second chance

"You're more trouble than the children are" is the greatest compliment a grandparent can receive. 

Underground Seattle

About four years ago Dawn/Derek moved to Kirkland. When we have time, we try to visit sites together in that area. We have visited Flight Museum, PMB Ballet, Woodland Park, Science Center, Nordic Museum, and of coarse Underground Seattle. It was actually on Labor Day of  2010 we visited Underground Seattle. The previous time was when I was in 6th grade with my class I think. This video was actually made by a TV crew, I am posting it under Vacation since spring break is next week for the schools over there. This week was spring break here. I just enjoy spending time with our grandkids. I hope todays video gives you some ideas for spending time with your kids/grandkids.



I am my own Grandpa

Here is a funny song if you know your English well. Another well done song by Ray Stevens. 

I was visiting my son and daughter-in-law last night when I asked if I could borrow a newspaper. "This is the 21st century, old man," he said. "We don’t waste money on newspapers. Here, you can borrow my iPad."

I can tell you, that fly never knew what hit it…

A police car pulls up in front of grandma Bessie's house, and grandpa Morris gets out. The polite policeman explained that this elderly gentleman said that he was lost in the park... and couldn't find his way home. "Oy Morris," said grandma, "You've been going to that park for over 30 years! So how could you get lost?" Leaning close to grandma, so that the policeman couldn't hear. Morris whispered, "I wasn't lost... I was just too tired to walk home."

A little girl is sitting on her grandpa's lap and studying the wrinkles on his old face. She gets up the nerve to rub her fingers over the wrinkles. Then she touches her own face and looks more puzzled. Finally the little girl asks, "Grandpa, did God make you?" "He sure did honey, a long time ago," replies her grandpa. "Well, did God make me?" asks the little girl. "Yes, He did, and that wasn't too long ago," answers her grandpa.
"Boy," says the little girl, "He's sure doing a lot better job these days, isn't He?"

There's Taxes Everywhere....

Some claim we must increase gas tax and car tabs for the Dept. of Transportation still? Many are the same people wanting to increase min. wage to 15.00 an hour and same people that handed over surplus riverfront property rather than selling it, for a trail. The largest share of south end project funds went to trails/sidewalks. No one wants to show the part of proposed DOT budget actually goes to loans, interest, claim payouts, public transit, and bike paths and not to actual highways. What about the funds Labor and Industries receives in gas tax funds for a safety violation that never happened or the millions of gas tax funds transferred to general funds thru sales tax paid on highway projects? A tree fell on a car near Stevens pass- guess who they want to pay for that act of God? As a taxpayer, I am tired of raising taxes with no accountability. I also see waste- like requirements to call for a dig when any stop sign is replaced, any guardrail post replaced or all delineators replaced starting July 1st. How much did the gender neutral RCW rewording cost taxpayers? I can still remember voting on 30.00 car tabs and watching it pass multiple times. I can remember when I paid less than the total present state gas tax per gallon for a gallon of gas. I hope you have taken time to contact your elected legislators to voice your views on taxes. Most local elected officials will listen if you take time to share your views and keep them accountable- sadly most citizens are apathetic and do not take the time. When I was on council- I bet I could count on one hand those who took time to contact me with concerns before I voted. Sadly, I bet you have not taken time to call and most will not take a minute to call today. There is no need to increase gas tax or car tab taxes- they need to use the money they have wiser. Just today a Wenatchee city councilman bragged how the state was giving the city millions of tax dollars as part of Returned unused tax dollars? If it is really as bad as they claim it is, why have they not passed any reforms and why do I see so much Construction going on the other side already?

How do you expect Gas prices to drop if we keep raising gas taxes? Remember how the Nickel gas tax increase was supposed to be the answer to all our problems? We are already 9th highest in Nation for gas tax. When I started driving a gallon of gas was less than our present state gas tax per gallon. Remember, these are state gas taxes, not federal gas taxes collected.

How many times have we voted for 30.00 car tabs? On July 1st 2013, East Wenatchee residents will see a 20.00 increase in car tabs without voter approval. Anyone remember when car tabs were just 30.00? anyone really want a 140.00 "increase" on car tabs just on a 20,000 vehicle- even more on higher vehicles!

Anyone notice, from the Wenatchee World, that Wenatchee city is sitting on 500,000 for seven years to install a traffic light at McKittrick and The Avenue, while just increasing car tabs for citizens? An article next to it from March 2008- (http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2008/mar/13/city-lists-projects-that-car-tab-hike-could-fund/ )states they needed to raise car tabs as the state would not fund any projects unless they exhausted all avenues themselves- yet not one mention they were sitting on a half million in federal funds back then. Makes one wonder how much federal dollars are sitting unused in similar projects while taxes are raised daily? Did anyone voice your concerns when that happened?
And East Wenatchee was claiming how broke they were and implied they were forced to increase car tabs and property taxes, only to find out last month the mayor is recommending the city buy property at 9th/Valley Mall Parkway for additional parking for a few select downtown business owners? And Wenatchee will be asking for more as soon as you forget about the arena fiasco.

Have you called 1-800-562-6000 yet?

History of Gas Tax

                         1991 increased to: 23.0¢/gal                        

                               2003 increased by: 5.0¢/gal     2003 New Rate: 28.0¢/gal

2005 increased by: 3.0¢/gal

        2006 increased by: 3.0¢/gal        
2007 increased by: 2.0¢/gal
                              2008 increased by: 1.5¢/gal    2008 New Rate: 37.5¢/gal

                                2015 Increased by 11.7 cent  a  gallon--- unless you stop It!

3-4-15 update; This blog was written several years ago, but nothing has changed. Wenatchee still has not installed that traffic signal, car tabs were again increased in Wenatchee last fall, and the senate has passed a gas tax bill higher than the one mentioned above. I urge you to call your legislator at 1-800-562-6000 and oppose the transportation tax increase- it would increase gas tax by 11.7 cents a gallon (12 cents actually). This is even higher than last years increase request that was barely defeated last year. The new state tax would put our state at  49 cents a gallon-that tax alone is twice what I paid for gas when I started driving. It would put us as the highest gas tax in the nation according to the 2012 chart.  The special interest groups are spinning this for their benefit, calling it an investment and claiming you will not notice it? I can promise you the tax, if passed will not come down. This tax is separate from the Cap and Trade Tax that they want to impose as well. If passed, you will pay several times both in your tank, and in increased transportation costs.

Washington currently has the 7th-highest gas tax in the nation at 55.9 cents per gallon, according to the American Petroleum Institute. If an 11.7-cent per gallon increase is approved, that would move Washington to 67.6 cents per gallon -- second behind Pennsylvania at 68.9 cents per gallon.
If the increase were to be applied Monday, the average price for a gallon of regular in Washington would go from $2.72 per gallon (6th highest in the nation) to $2.83 per gallon (3rd highest).

Along with the gas tax increase, the revenue bill would also increase car-tab fees by $15 in the program’s first year and then by an additional $8 in 2022. The classified skill examination fee for obtaining a commercial driver’s license would increase from $100 to $250

While on line, Please oppose HB 1938  to increase State Tourism! It may sound good, but you will pay for it in more costs, and even the government budget would pay more, if it passes. My last stay at a motel in Spokane had 23% in fees/taxes already on top of base rate, and who knows how many the motel passed on in its base rate as well. If the state needs tourism dollars, use the already local tourism dollars that go for things like sprint boat races and city gateway projects that benefit only a few. I am so tired of these little taxes that add up- look at your next motel bill or your phone bill- those "little" taxes add up quickly. This tax is on top of the 12.2 billion Transportation tax proposal.

4-14-18 update; Here is a current list of what you will pay in taxes per state this year;

Here’s a look at all 50 states and Washington, D.C., and their estimated tax bills:

State	Estimated Total Taxes Paid	Estimated Tax as Proportion of Income
Montana	$7,034.50	14.54%
Delaware	$9,208.64	15.09%
West Virginia	$6,837.16	16.03%
Kentucky	$7,536.60	16.82%
South Carolina	$7,903.51	16.85%
Mississippi	$7,086.42	17.49%
Wyoming	$10,484.94	17.73%
Indiana	$8,953.29	17.75%
Idaho	$8,761.08	17.82%
New Mexico	$8,261.34	18.09%
North Carolina	$8,739.29	18.11%
Oklahoma	$8,760.45	18.24%
Oregon	$9,742.40	18.29%
Arkansas	$7,858.01	18.56%
Georgia	$9,512.06	18.64%
Missouri	$9,280.30	18.71%
Tennessee	$8,746.85	18.78%
Alabama	$8,407.85	18.79%
Hawaii	$13,528.92	18.80%
Louisiana	$8,627.36	18.90%
Iowa	$10,558.08	19.35%
Utah	$12,172.78	19.47%
Ohio	$9,891.85	19.52%
Alaska	$14,640.22	19.67%
South Dakota	$10,402.41	19.97%
Michigan	$10,168.27	20.02%
Arizona	$10,278.85	20.02%
Maine	$10,190.48	20.05%
Kansas	$10,748.19	20.06%
Florida	$9,839.21	20.12%
Colorado	$12,711.57	20.33%
North Dakota	$12,034.36	20.36%
Pennsylvania	$11,199.82	20.40%
Virginia	$13,591.54	20.55%
Minnesota	$13,240.61	20.94%
Nevada	$11,135.01	20.97%
Wisconsin	$11,529.70	21.11%
Maryland	$16,096.75	21.16%
District of Columbia	$15,434.01	21.16%
Nebraska	$11,546.97	21.23%
New Hampshire	$14,891.97	21.74%
Texas	$12,392.38	22.64%
Vermont	$13,064.84	23.29%
Massachusetts	$16,598.00	23.39%
Rhode Island	$13,862.38	23.74%
Connecticut	$17,037.90	23.74%
Washington	$14,943.32	23.78%
Illinois	$14,100.66	23.82%
California	$15,642.81	24.53%
New York	$15,467.46	25.46%
New Jersey	$19,977.91	27.11%