Washington Votes

2008 House Bill 2425 (Regarding the sale and use of small-scale powered equipment)

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  • Introduced by Rep. Maralyn Chase, (D-Shoreline) on January 14, 2008, requires that a retailer offering small-scaled power equipment must provide equal or greater shelf space and signage for similar products that are powered by electrical cord or battery. Also established under this act is a six percent tax on the gross sales of small scaled-powered equipment in addition to all other taxes related to their sale. In addition the act creates incentive programs for local governments to comply with this action.
    • Referred to the House Ecology & Parks Committee on January 14, 2008.

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Comments

Introduced by Rep. Maralyn Chase, (D-Shoreline) on January 14, 2008. New Comment

1) Gimme more Power [by Anonymous Citizen on February 10, 2008]
I can see my future now with my PC enviro-friendly electric mower stalling over every "yard-mine" any dog or homeless person deposits on my lawn.

What is next? Ban back yard grilling? Heaven forbid using (gasp) charcoal briquettes or a petrolium based charcoal starter (my gawd).

Hey, let's all just jump on the star-trek transporter and transport ourselves back to the 17th century and burn horse dung in our fireplaces to stay warm!
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2) HB2425 is Crazy [by Anonymous Citizen on January 25, 2008]
If gas powered equipment is a problem, then maybe we should ban it. Making it the law to force a retailer to carry electric products is crazy.
Are we going to force McDonalds and other Fast food chains to carry a “Healthy” food for every “unhealthy” food they carry and then Tax the unhealthy food an extra 6%?
Are we going to force the State Liquor stores to clear off half of their shelves of unhealthy Liquor so they can carry an equal amount of Juice and water?
Are we going to force every car dealer in the State to carry an equal amount of electric cars for every gas one?
Please stop this Bill!

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3) More Market Distortion [by Anonymous Citizen on January 23, 2008]
This is about par for the course for Chase. I'm not sure of this writing exactly what her background is but is sure isn't running a business. I seriously doubt she has ever met a payroll or had to cut a check to the state for taxes. It's pretty clear that she and her co-sponsor really don't care about consumers or businesses. Six percent? Who cares, it’s not her money. This type of socialism is one of her hallmarks.

I can see it now, if a store wants to highlight the sale of say a particular lawn mower (gas) they must load up the floor display with all manner of electric mowers. So now the state is controlling how businesses display merchandise. Rearrangement of departments, dropping end-caps for certain products, to say nothing of the extra 6 percent charge (with sales tax an extra 15% tack-on to a sale). Then there is the cost of regulation.

This is socialism at it’s best. Central command and control (Or should I say mico-control ) of what a business can display on its own shelves on its own premises. Next the state will be telling stores what they can sell, oh wait, they already do that with light bulbs.

These red army hordes will be up for re-election. Time to start organizing now.

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4) Tired of new taxes [by Anonymous Citizen on January 23, 2008]
Socialism at work! This is just another way to create new non-tax supporting government jobs, while at the same time penalize the only true source for tax revenue, THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

It is time government employees realized most of them don't actually pay any taxes. The "tax" they think they pay just reduces the amount they take out of the tax pot. They never add to the tax pot.

There are only two sources for tax revenue, the private sector jobs and private sector business taxes and adding to the state and national debt.

If you really want to stimulate the economy without adding to the debt it can only be accomplished by increasing private sector jobs and reducing the size and frivilous government spending.
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5) rediculous [by Anonymous Citizen on January 23, 2008]
$500,00 to tell me what to put on the shelves? Get bent
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6) Another $562MM boondoggle [by Anonymous Citizen on January 23, 2008]
Good grief! $562,400,000 over ten years so our Almighty Legislators can dictate to PRIVATE BUSINESS OWNERS what they put on their shelves, and how much of it?

Could someone PLEASE tell the Democrat Caucus in Olympia that the collectivists, socialists and Communists LOST the Cold War?

Thanks you!
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7) MIND THE STORE [by SIDNY on January 19, 2008]
Here we go again telling retailers what they WILL stock. First the Pharmacies ( morning after pill ) and now the Hardware Store (HR 2425). Where will this stop? Government should be limited to prohibiting sales ,not mandating them!
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8) Let the market work [by Geoff on January 18, 2008]
If people want electric tolls they'll buy them. If they need gas powered, let them. The market works if government would keep their fingers out of it! Some equipment needs the horsepower an engine provides, so you want some electric tool that won't do the job mandated to be sold side by side? Also, where does one find a plug in generator?
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