living liberty march 2009

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1. 2. 3. 1. 2. ith all the talk about improving public education, all the legislative recommendations and claims about inadequate funding—wouldn’t you like to know how Washington’s schools are doing? And more specifi- cally, how is your child’s school doing? The Evergreen Freedom Foundation has partnered with the Fraser Institute to provide answers. The Washington State School Report Card is an accurate and user- friendly measuring stick for ranking the effectiveness of individual schools. Using sophisticated statistical analysis and five years of WASL scores, each school receives an “overall rating out of ten.” While the WASL is anything but perfect, it’s the state’s own standard and allows apples-to-apples comparisons between schools. If the WASL really is on its way out, future School Report Cards will adjust to its replacement. Holding schools up against statewide average scores finally lets us answer the question, “In general, how is this school doing compared with the rest of the state?” The five years of data have also been analyzed for consistent changes, indicated as upward or downward trends. While some schools haven’t made considerable movement one way or another, others have. The trend indicator tells you the direction the school is going. If your child’s school performs above average but has taken a steep downward turn in the last five years, wouldn’t it be nice to know before the descent turns into a plummet? INCOME TAX SPECTER LOOMS ANEW 4 OPEN GOV. VICTORY 8 LIVING LIBERTY MARCH 2009 | WWW.EFFWA.ORG A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION OBAMA SEEKS ROLL BACK OF UNION TRANSPARENCY RULES 5 W Continued on page 8 10 BEST SCHOOLS 10 WORST SCHOOLS Washington State Is your school here? . . . or here? WHO PASSES, WHO FLUNKS? by Diana Cieslak NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID OLYMPIA, WA PERMIT #462 PROPERTY RIGHTS CENTER LAUNCH Pg. 2

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schools I s y o u r s c h o o l h e re ? pg. 2 1. 2. INCOME TAX SPECTER LOOMS ANEW 4 OPEN GOV. VICTORY 8 property rights 1. 2. 3. MARCH 2009 | WWW.EFFWA.ORG A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION PAID OBAMA SEEKS ROLL BACK OF UNION TRANSPARENCY RULES 5 center launch Continued on page 8 by Diana Cieslak A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION 1 NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE OLYMPIA, WA PERMIT #462

TRANSCRIPT

Page 1: Living Liberty March 2009

A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION 1

School RepoRt caRd:

1.

2.

3.

1.

2.

ith all the talk about improving public education, all the legislative recommendations and claims

about inadequate funding—wouldn’t you like to know how Washington’s schools are doing? And more specifi-cally, how is your child’s school doing?

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation has partnered with the Fraser Institute to provide answers. The Washington State School Report Card is an accurate and user-friendly measuring stick for ranking the effectiveness of individual schools. Using sophisticated statistical analysis and five years of WASL scores, each school receives an “overall rating out of ten.” While the WASL is anything but perfect, it’s the state’s own standard and allows apples-to-apples comparisons between schools. If the WASL really is on its way out, future School Report Cards will adjust to its replacement. Holding schools up against statewide average scores finally lets us answer the question, “In general, how is this school doing compared with the rest of the state?”

The five years of data have also been analyzed for consistent changes, indicated as upward or downward trends. While some schools haven’t made considerable movement one way or another, others have. The trend indicator tells you the direction the school is going. If your child’s school performs above average but has taken a steep downward turn in the last five years, wouldn’t it be nice to know before the descent turns into a plummet?

INCOME TAX SPECTER LOOMS ANEW 4 OPEN GOV. VICTORY 8

LIVING LIBERTYMARCH 2009 | WWW.EFFWA.ORG A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION

OBAMA SEEKS ROLL BACK OF UNION TRANSPARENCY RULES 5

W

Continued on page 8

10 best schools

10 Worst schools

Washington State

Is your school here?

. . . or here?

Who passes, Who flunks? by Diana Cieslak

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAID OLYMPIA, WAPERMIT #462

property rights

center launch

pg. 2

Page 2: Living Liberty March 2009

2 LIVING LIBERTY

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4

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“Quote”

Evergreen Freedom Foundation PO Box 552

Olympia, WA 98507(360) 956-3482

Fax (360) 352-1874 [email protected] • www.effwa.org

VOLUME 19, Issue 3

EFF’s mission is to advance

individual liberty, free enterprise and

limited, accountable government.

This Issue

Publisher:Lynn Harsh

Editors:Scott St. ClairRich Frias

Layout:Joel Sorrell

March 2009

“Liberty is not a means to a

higher political end. It is the

highest political end.”

– Lord Acton

LETTER FROM LYNN WHAT DO I KNOW? by Lynn Harsh

INCOME TAX SPECTER LOOMS ANEW by Scott St. Clair LEGISLATORS CONSIDER EXPANDING UNION INFLUENCE by Scott Dilley

OBAMA SEEKS ROLL BACK OF UNION FINANCIAL TRANSPARENCY RULES by Michael Reitz

GOVERNOR’S TEAM DOES RIGHT THING IN PUBLIC RECORDS DISPUTE . . . EVENTUALLY by Michael Reitz

JOIN US MARCH 26TH FOR THE LAUNCH OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL LAW CENTER CAN MEMBERS MAKE A DIFFERENCE by Lasse Lund

YOUSOUFIAN VICTORY FOR OPEN GOVERNMENT by Trent England

A COUNTRY—A FREE COUNTRY by Scott St. Clair

FINDING OPPORTUNITY IN A BUDGET CRISIS

DIARY OF A FREEDOM LOVING MOM WHAT DOES COMPASSION LOOK LIKE? by Lauren Barnhart THE DEVELOPMENT CORNER by Juliana McMahan LEGACY SPOTLIGHT JOIN US FOR A PLANNING FOR LIFE WORKSHOP by Irene Endicott

WWW.effcan.orgJOIN can TODAY.

Get Connected.

Get Equipped.

Make a Difference.

he Evergreen Freedom Foundation launched its long-awaited Property Rights Center at a jam-

packed gala luncheon at Southcenter’s Doubletree Inn. Filled to overflowing, the February 12th event was a perfect start to what will prove to be a vigorous and on-going effort to stem the tide of the abuse of eminent do-main, unjustified seizures of private property, and over-regulation that kills entrepreneurs.

Well over 165 people attended the event. From ordinary citizens concerned about protecting their rights as property owners to dignitaries and leaders in the property rights movement, they were passionate about the effort.

After introductions by EFF co-founder and senior fellow Bob Williams, and CEO Lynn Harsh, who

both discussed their long-held desire to have a formal structure on the issue, the crowd was mesmerized by featured speakers John Kramer of the Institute for Justice; Jeff Benedict, author of Little Pink House, a story of eminent domain abuse; and Susette Kelo, a New London, Connecticut. woman who was the subject of that abuse.

It was Kramer’s organization that represented Kelo in litigation through the U.S. Supreme Court, and it was Benedict who found himself one day knocking on her door asking whether he could get to know her in order to tell her story. And the story Benedict told is tailor-made for a Hollywood script. Complete with an innocent and sympathetic victim, a handful of courageous common people (and the occasional

T

Continued on page 9

by Scott St. ClairGala bash launches Property Rights Center

INvEsTIGATIvE JOurNAlIsT Jeff benedict spEAks AT EFF’s prOpErTY rIGhTs CENTEr lAuNCh.

Page 3: Living Liberty March 2009

A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION 3

What do I know...

Letter from LynnLETTER FROM LY NNby Lynn Harsh

know you deserve a hearty thank you! As close as we can tell, that means about 22% of the house-

holds we represent took the time to fill out the lengthy questionnaire and return it to us. That’s amazing! You have already helped us better allocate scarce resources. As a result, we are refining and refocusing some things around here.

What else do I know? Well, a significant chunk of EFF members are just like me: you work hard at your job, have domestic duties to tend to, are involved in community activities, and you flat don’t have time to fill out a bunch of questions even from an organization you love. Some of you sighed deeply, put the survey in a stack on your desk or countertop, intended to get back to it someday…and it just didn’t happen.

I know this because the majority of you who returned the survey marked that you are retired, and that doesn’t represent the majority of our members.

There’s something important I learned about you who are retired. Most of you routinely read our newsletter, but you do not access our website, blog, podcasts, etc. That means you do not know what we are doing day in and day out, because you do not see it. That’s the bad news. Of the hundreds of thousands of people who access our blog and website, for the most part, you are not among them.

So we need to return to more traditional ways to communicate with many of you. Still, paper and stamps cost money, and you don’t want to be overwhelmed with “stuff” from us. We’re chewing on this.

What about the majority of you who didn’t return the survey? You rise to an alarm clock, start a busy household and a commute to work. Do you access us electronically through our website, blog, video, podcasts, etc.? Thousands of people do, but we don’t know if that includes you. The answer to this question significantly affects our duties and budget, so we’re going to try to entice you to respond by asking only a couple of targeted questions in the near future.

I learned something else that might offend senior staff in some organizations, but Bob Williams and I are pleased. The overwhelming majority of you invest in EFF because you think our mission is essential to America’s future and you know we will fight for you. Few of you invest in EFF just because of Bob or me. That is a very healthy sign, because EFF does not belong to either of us, and the need for its services will live far past our tenures.

Everyone who filled out a survey will soon get a summary of the aggregate responses. We are reading all of the handwritten answers or comments as well, and this is where we are learning valuable information about what works best and what doesn’t. Some of you asked specific questions, and you will get an answer. It will take a few months to get it all done, so I ask for your patience.

…after reading responses from 786 EFF members who returned their surveys?

Once again, thank you very much. We are better stewards of our resources and more informed because you took the time to respond.

Now, for the rest of you…. If I invite you over for dinner, will you answer the questions?

What Don’t I Know… …about our new state school superintendent’s plan to increase student academic achievement and test the results? There’s not much to know right now, it seems.

The dreaded WASL is likely heading toward the trash bin to be replaced by two more acronyms: the MSP and the HSP. The Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) and the High School Proficiency exams (HSP) will replace the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). And that, apparently, is all you and I need to know!

The MSP and the HSP are shells that will house new tests someday, but the innards haven’t been created yet. That means cut scores that determine levels of student proficiency have yet to be determined, so we

don’t know how literacy will be defined. Students will take the tests principally by computer, but 40 percent of our schools aren’t technologically prepared to do this. Computers will score the tests, though scoring reliability is still in question.

More money is needed to design the new tests and buy new computers, but that money source has not been identified. (Can you

spell l-e-v-i-e-s?) While the state legislature has to approve increased funds, they may not have to approve the new tests; but the federal government does.

And one million children in Washington state will once again be guinea pigs for a new, unproven test and scoring system.

But I have a ray of hope, nonetheless. First, I am a fan of testing and scoring via computer. It’s sensible if the bugs can be worked out. The second reason for optimism may be the tests themselves.

Tests have two principal functions, but combining them as the WASL attempts to do, generally results in failure. One function can be called formative: What progress are particular students making in gaining new knowledge and skills?

For example, if I am teaching students how to be great writers, they need to learn the foundations of grammar. I will assess each student’s progress multiple times along the way to find out how they and I are doing. Perhaps the tests will reveal that I need to adjust my teaching strategies or craft special interventions for certain students. The legislature doesn’t need to know these results. Parents, teachers and my principals do.

Summative tests show, at a particular point in time, what students actually know against what they are supposed to know in certain content areas. So, I might give my students a composition/grammar summative test at the beginning of the school year to determine what they know, and give it to them again at year-end to see how close they came to the ideal.

Summative tests work well for gauging the overall progress of students and for evaluating the effectiveness of teachers, curriculum and programs. The legislature needs an executive summary of these results.

If our new superintendent attempts to combine these two functions in one test, it will fail as badly as the WASL. No test created to date has broad enough shoulders to carry this burden. It made the WASL expensive, cumbersome and corrosive to good curriculum.

Furthermore, the WASL attempts to force critical thinking applications in unprepared students. Its level of subjectivity has undermined its validity and reliability. The new proposed tests must do better.

Still, it is distressing to think that we will replace an expensive, flawed test with one that is less expensive but may still be flawed. That’s why limited pilot testing is so important. It appears our new superintendent may skip this step.

What distresses me most is that we allow Olympia and Washington, D.C. to make these decisions to begin with. Why do we think the job description of politicians should include “school building and academic content managers”?

Besides, they already have their hands full trying to manage our personal and national economy.

I

JOIN can TODAY.

Page 4: Living Liberty March 2009

4 LIVING LIBERTY

State Labor Council’s highest priority of the legislative session.

A similar California measure was invalidated last year by the U.S. Supreme Court; so legislators should weigh the proposal carefully since it will likely be challenged in court.

Organized labor says the bill will limit employer coer-cion in the workplace. Ironically, labor is simultaneously urging Congress to pass the Employee Free Choice Act, which allows unions to eliminate secret-ballot unioniza-tion elections and coerce workers into forming a union.

card check: No bill has been filed to expand the Employee Free Choice Act (card check) to the state level. Sen. Janea Holmquist filed a state constitutional amendment (SJR 8214) to ensure that all elections—including unionization elections—in Washington state are conducted by secret ballot.

bargaining transparency: Rep. Bruce Chandler is sponsoring HB 1471 to make documents from collec-

child-care center collective bargaining rights (HB 1329 and SB 5572): Last year the Service Employ-ees International Union was the driving force behind a measure to grant collective bargaining rights to day-care workers. The bill failed, but the idea returned this year in a new bill that would allow daycare workers to unionize to negotiate for more money from the state for low-income children. The SEIU wants to intercept that money before it gets to them, take a cut, and pass on what is left with the promise that they will negotiate for still more to cover their costs. One opponent who owns three child-care centers testified she would likely pay $9,000 a year for union dues.

The Everett Herald called the bill “bureaucratic … heavy-handed and probably counter-productive.” Increasing targeted subsidies to low-income parents is a better approach, the Herald concluded, but “every dollar spent by the state should go directly to improving care, not to creating new layers of bureaucracy.”

The Seattle P-I sounded a similar note. “Unionization could be valid. But heavy-handed, favor-repaying tip-ping of the scales to ensure unionization is a risky path likely to waste resources and, ultimately, public trust in their politicians. Lawmakers should let other early childhood initiatives play out rather than rushing into the union’s game.”

The bill will cost the state about $1 million for each of the next three budget cycles.

Musician collective bargaining rights (SB 5046 and HB 1276): A harmless-sounding bill may turn into a tragedy for local arts communities in Washington. Legislators want to allow musicians that cannot form unions under federal law to have collective bargaining rights under state law.

The bill could harm small to mid-sized theaters. If unions negotiate for higher wages, theaters may respond with fewer jobs available, cuts to the number of pro-grams offered, or even closures.

eMployer gag rule (HB 1528 and SB 5446): Rep. Mike Sells and Sen. Margarita Prentice introduced the probably unconstitutional “Worker Privacy Act” that limits what employers can say to their employees regarding politics and religion. This is the Washington

ike the vampire that never seems to die, the specter of

a Washington state income tax looms yet again in the halls, corri-dors, and dark places of the legis-lature. Only this time, it appears they’re serious.

For decades, an income tax was the third rail of Washington state politics. Propose or support one, and kiss your politi-cal career goodbye. Not even the most spendthrift of legislators wanted to be seen anywhere near a serious proposal for one if they had aspirations for state-wide office.

But now, with the state in its most severe fiscal cri-sis of all time, the legislature seemingly unwilling

to make the painful cuts necessary to bring spending in line with revenue, and things generally continuing to cascade ever downward, income tax agitators see this as their golden opportunity. Like Lenin in 1917, they will impose their version of order on chaos.

Sen. Rosa Franklin, D – Tacoma, perennially intro-duces an income tax measure, which would require an amendment to the state constitution, then it perennially slides. Not this time. She has introduced Senate Bill 5104, and it’s accompanied by an unusually massive fis-cal note that details financial impacts of the proposed income tax. Fiscal notes routinely accompany revenue proposals.

Other indicators so caught the attention of Evergreen Freedom Foundation staff that ears perked up and a thor-ough analysis of the proposal was made, then posted on

tive bargaining sessions available to the public as soon as the negoti-ations conclude. So far, Rep. Sam Hunt, chair of the State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee, has not allowed it to have a hearing. This bill would provide a first step toward more public accountability in the collective bargaining process.

Collective bargaining update

WFSE v. GrEGoirE: As reported last month, the Wash-ington Federation of State Employees sued Gov. Chris Gregoire for not certifying negotiated pay increases. As a result, those costs were not included in her budget and, by law, the legislature cannot fund them.

In mid-February, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Anne Hirsch ruled against the WFSE and upheld the governor’s actions. WFSE plans to appeal.

SEiU v. GrEGoirE: Three locals of the Service Employees International Union filed suit at the State Supreme Court because the governor refused to include arbitration awards in her budget. The court agreed to hear the case on an expedited schedule. A ruling is expected sometime during the legislative session.

ferry Worker unions: Ferry unions decided to forego awarded pay raises for 2009-11. They reopened bargain-ing and agreed on other non-financial terms. Forced to choose between pay increases or layoffs, the workers decided to keep their jobs.

But they also see an opportunity to make money in the long-term. According to the agreement, “We [the unions] will work with the Governor to restore the economic provisions when they become financially feasible.” In other words, the unions are not really fore-going anything. They are postponing receipt of wage increases until sometime in the future. The agreement is silent on whether any increases would start then or be retroactive from now. State law requires interest to be paid on retroactive increases. The supposed altruism of the ferry unions may actually be a ticking time bomb for taxpayers.

the EFF blog, LibertyLive.org, and Web site, effwa.org. Featuring several tax-impact representative calculations and a link to calculate your own tax burden, the blog posting generated heated reader comments that ranged from incredulity to outrage. Typical was this one:

“I did the math. We are married filing jointly, no children. Our tax bill would be approximately $13,735! Our property taxes are currently about $8,800. Assuming all of these property taxes wouldn’t go away, plus the inevitable income tax creep upwards, this state would chase out any last vestige of desire to start a business.”

by Scott DilleyLegislators consider expanding union influence

incoMe taxspecter looMs aneW

Lby Scott St. Clair

Continued on next page

“rep. Mike sells and

sen. Margarita prentice

introduced the probably

unconstitutional

“Worker privacy

act” that liMits What

eMployers can say to their

eMployees regarding

politics and religion.”

Page 5: Living Liberty March 2009

A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION 5

I n 2006, a local union in Los Angeles spent $27,142 at Medieval Times, a dinner theater that features

“snowy Andalusians and medieval pageantry, coupled with a sumptuous feast.”

Thanks to strong disclosure laws, the bill for this lavish horse show, and thousands of other union expenditures like it, are available for union members to see on the Department of Labor’s website. Unions are required to file annual reports with information about their income, expenditures, and other financial details.

Despite his pledge of a “new era of openness,” Presi-dent Barack Obama apparently plans to hide these details from the men and women that belong to unions.

As one of its last acts under the Bush Administration, the Department of Labor updated the annual form that

most large unions are required to file, an update that was announced months earlier. One change requires unions to report the value of benefits paid in order to provide an “accurate picture of total compensation” received by union officers and employees.

Say hello to the new boss. On January 30, the Obama Administration announced plans to delay implementation of the rule by 60 days. The office is also seeking comments

“on the merits of rescinding or retaining the rule,” a terrible step backward for rank-and-file union members who benefit from reviewing their union’s books.

For decades, the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act’s financial disclosure rules were lazily enforced. Disclosure reports required minimal informa-tion and completed reports were housed at the Depart-ment of Labor, where they were largely inaccessible to union members across the country.

That changed under Elaine Chao, George W. Bush’s Secretary of Labor. In 2002, Secretary Chao first announced plans to update union disclosure require-ments. The change required unions with $250,000 or more in receipts to provide an accounting of income, expenditures, employee salaries and benefits, and other information. Most important, the final rule required unions to itemize individual receipts and expenditures over $5,000.

This touched off a firestorm of union criticism. The Department of Labor received more than 35,000 writ-

ten comments, most of them copies of boilerplate letters drafted by unions. The AFL-CIO predicted compliance would cost more than “$1 billion,” with its own costs at well over “$1 million.” (Secretary Chao would later point out that the actual first-year cost to the AFL-CIO was $54,150.)

The proposal was popular with union members, however, who applauded increased levels of accountability. Since the disclosure rules went into effect in

2005, union members, watchdog groups, and journalists have enjoyed easy access to extensive union financial data—available online at www.unionreports.gov.

The new rules have uncovered plenty of questionable spending, including huge outlays for booze, movie tick-ets, lobster dinners, golf outings, and yes, equestrian

Is that what income tax proponents want to hear?The Web site analysis of the proposal noted that SB

5104:• As proposed, it represents a dramatic tax increase

for people who do not own a home or have children.

• As proposed, it taxes citizens whose low incomes classify them as poor.

• As proposed, SB 5104 punishes those who suc-ceed financially by taking larger portions of their income as it increases.

While there are some offsetting provisions (elim-ination of the state portion of the property tax and reduction of the state portion of the sales tax from 6.5 to 3.5 percent), the net impact on Washington state taxpayers is more money out of their pockets with no

effective way to limit growth in tax rates, or “bracket creep” where your rate of taxation increases as your income increases.

dinner theater. Steamfitters Local 449, a 1,400-member union that helped build the Pittsburgh Steelers’ Heinz Field, spent $17,176 for steak dinners in Washington, D.C. The National Education Association hands out millions to left-leaning groups including ACORN ($178,000), the Denver 2008 Convention Planning Committee ($1 mil-lion), the Gay Lesbian and Straight Education Network ($157,500), and the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition ($10,000). AFSCME District Council 37 in New York City spent $5,774 for alcohol (oddly listed under the “political activities” category).

Union members are astounded when they see how their dues money is spent. So why is President Obama dropping the curtain on this new level of transparency?

It’s simple: the piper must be paid.Big Labor spent hundreds of millions of dollars to put

Barack Obama in the White House. An AFL-CIO mem-orandum to the Obama transition team details Labor’s wish list for the new administration.

The AFL-CIO’s “Priorities for Day 1” include halting implementation of disclosure rules—a recommenda-tion Obama followed with the January 30 rule delay. In Obama’s first year, the AFL-CIO wants the president to roll back the modernized disclosure rules that Secretary Chao enforced. The union says “the recordkeeping and reporting continues to impose significant financial bur-dens.”

Listed as a “High+” priority, AFL-CIO asks the Depart-ment of Labor to instruct staff who investigate union corruption to not “exceed the scope of complaints when investigating allegations of misconduct.” The agency’s union corruption division has uncovered hundreds of cases of corruption, and its efforts have returned mil-lions of dollars of embezzled funds to union members.

Labor unions helped put President Obama into office, yes. Unions will benefit from his Administration, of course. But there is no reason to eliminate accountabil-ity standards that help the rank-and-file keep tabs on their union—especially when most workers are forced into union representation under regressive labor laws.

President Obama has pledged that “transparency and the rule of law will be the touchstones of this presi-dency.”

He needs to prove his commitment to openness by resisting Big Labor’s demands.

“ despite his pledge of a ‘neW era of openness,’ president barack obaMa apparently plans to hide these details froM the Men and WoMen that belong to unions.”

$27,142 at Medieval tiMes...

by Michael ReitzObama seeks roll back of union financial transparency rules

“ Senator Rosa Franklin is proposing an amend-ment to the state Constitution to allow a Wash-ington state income tax. The fiscal unrest, down economy and political climate are com-bining to create near perfect storm conditions for her proposal to be taken seriously. Because Democrats have near super-majorities in both houses, because the budget deficit is approach-ing $8 billion, and because many of Washing-ton’s fiscal problems are being blamed on the state’s revenue structure, many leading interest groups are seizing this opportunity to push an income tax on the November 2009 ballot.”

EFF Economic Policy Center Director Amber Gunn summed it up:

WILL ADD IMAGE HERE

Income Tax Specter Continued from page 4 . . .

Page 6: Living Liberty March 2009

6 LIVING LIBERTY

by Michael ReitzGovernor’s team does right thing in public records dispute…eventually

an the governor hide a cost-saving idea from the public? Does the public have a right to know about

government reform discussions within an agency? These were questions the Evergreen Freedom

Foundation faced in a recent public records dispute. It’s no secret that our state faces a budget crisis of

historic proportions. Back in November, Gov. Chris Gregoire told a reporter that the Office of Financial Management (OFM) had given her “87 ideas” for dealing with the budget shortfall.

Curious to see these 87 ideas, EFF’s Amber Gunn filed a public records request, only to have Gregoire’s budget office tell us this document was exempt from public review. OFM claimed the document was protected by “executive privilege” and “deliberative process.”

We were surprised, to say the least. What reason could there be to hide budget solutions from the public? We requested that OFM reconsider its denial, pointing out there is no “executive privilege” exemption in the Public Records Act. We also explained that once the governor released her budget proposal, which had been released in December, the deliberation exemption no longer applies.

Days later, an OFM attorney responded, and said the agency would waive its claim of executive privilege “in the spirit of openness.” The letter clarified, however, that the document we requested wasn’t about the state budget—it actually related to a “government reform package” the governor planned to launch. OFM assured us the document would be released as soon as Gov. Gregoire announced her reform plan.

The reform announcement came on February 9, and true to its word, OFM faxed over the document we requested.

While we’re happy OFM eventually agreed to release the document, several aspects of this little spat are troubling. Rather than acknowledge that executive privilege doesn’t exist in the Public Records Act, OFM simply “waived” it, thereby preserving it for future use. The law says that public records requests can only be denied by citing a specific statutory exemption.

Also, we discovered after Gregoire’s reform announcement that several business and labor leaders helped develop the reform recommendations. The deliberative process exemption is intended to shield

intra-agency deliberations when forming policy, but there is less justification for keeping conversations secret when outside groups are involved.

Finally, our organization had the resources to challenge OFM’s denial. Yes, the budget office backed down when we challenged them, but what about the individual citizen who files a records request? How many people are denied documents with claims of phantom exemptions?

These problems demonstrate the need for constant vigilance by government watchdogs. The Public Records Act says it best:

“The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies that serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may maintain control over the instruments that they have created.”

saturdays at 8:30 AM or sundays at 1:30 pM on these stations:

delivering the truth Weekly…

radio free Washington

kgon-fM 101.3Walla Walla/Tri-Cities

ktbi-aM 810Wenatchee/Moses lake

ktrW-aM 630spokane/No. Idaho

kspo-fM 106.5spokane

You can also tune in on saturdays at 12:30 pM to:ktrW-aM 630spokane/No. Idaho

kyak-aM 930Yakima

ktac-fM 93.9Moses lake

doWnload the shoW from our website at: www.effwa.org/main/page.php?number=560.

C view our king 5 interview at:youtube.com/evergreenff

Page 7: Living Liberty March 2009

A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION 7

our Mission: To identify and train student

leaders who value free market principles, limited

government, and personal responsibility.

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation is now

accepting applications for our summer internship

program. Internships are available in our policy

centers and communications department.

We seek applicants with excellent research,

writing, computer and oral communications

skills, as well as strong character and a

history of leadership. preference is given

to students entering their sophomore or

junior year of college. Applications are

due March 13, 2009.

2009 young leaders internship prograM

please visit our website at www.effwa.org/youngleader or contact Diana Cieslak at [email protected].

for More inforMation,

The cost of EFF’s summer internship program

(administration, faculty costs and student wages) is $5,000

per student. If you would like to help sponsor a student,

please contact Gail Kramer at [email protected], (360)

956-3482 or PO Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507. You can also

donate online at our website: www.effwa.org.

to celebrate the launch of ourJoin us on March 26

constitutional laW center

special speaker edWin Meese, iiiAttorney General under President Reagan and currently Vice President at The Heritage Foundation

The Evergreen Freedom Foundation recently announced the launch of the Constitutional Law Center, a project designed to protect individual rights and hold government accountable. Please join us for lunch as we describe the vision for the Constitutional Law Center, and share recent legal action and accomplishments.

thursday, March 26, 2009Lunch at NoonRegistration begins at 11:30 a.m.

Bellevue Embassy Suites Hotel3225 158th Ave. SE, Bellevue, WA$30 per person (includes parking)

Please RSVP by March 23 by going online to www.effwa.org/meese, calling 800.769.6617, or emailing [email protected].

Space is limited!

ne of the more common questions that new activists ask is, “I feel passionate about [insert issue here], now what

can I DO about it?” It is a reasonable inquiry. In the world we live in, there is a lot to worry about, feel strongly against, or aggressively support—but we often don’t know the right way to go about it.

Many people want to dive in headfirst and create real change, but most just end up contributing a few bucks to a cause. A lot of organizations capitalize on this mentality by simply asking their members for money so they can run a TV ad. A com-mitment to change should extend further than just whipping out a wallet. People join organizations like the Evergreen Free-dom Foundation’s Citizen Action Network (CAN) because they want to have an active role in bringing about change.

Now that the 2009 legislative session is in full swing, plenty of opportunities have arisen for citizens to directly make a dif-ference. Issues are being decided that will affect the financial, physical, and moral environment that we will be living in for years, and the people making those decisions need to hear from those who will be affected by them.

One major issue this year is the attempt to circumvent the Electoral College. The Citizen Action Network began prepar-ing for the onslaught back in December, putting information up on EFFCAN.ORG and hosting discussions live on uStream.tv. Once bills were introduced, members were asked to fight to keep the Electoral College. Many responded by writing and

calling their legislators, letting their voice be heard and providing solid information on why the Electoral College is vital to our country. Several thought it was important to take it a step further.

When bills are introduced, they are referred to a committee hearing where lobbyists, legislators, and the public show up to support or oppose the bill and testify. CAN mem-bers appeared at hearings for House Bill 1598 and Senate Bill 5204—measures to effectively eliminate the Electoral College. Some felt so strongly that they drove all the way from Lynden to Olympia and waited for two hours to share their thoughts at a hearing. Efforts like these can have a profound impact on whether a bill goes to the next step in the process or dies.

Every little bit helps—the more people who act, the greater the impact will be. When it comes to the legislative session, CAN members’ efforts are greater then the sum of their parts. As more people contribute their time, energy, and voice, a marked difference in what bills are enacted into law will be seen. As little as five minutes taken to write an email to a leg-islator or a day spent driving and waiting in order to testify in person—each action has its place, and each action puts us that much further on the road to freedom.

To get involved, sign up for membership in the Citizen Action Network today by visiting www.effcan.org. You’ll receive reg-ular updates on important issues as they develop and be given suggestions as to what you can do about them.

can Members Make a difference

Oby Lasse Lund

Page 8: Living Liberty March 2009

8 LIVING LIBERTY

parents deserve to knoWWhen people entrust their most precious treasures to an institution—and when taxpayers invest their hard-earned money—they deserve to know how that institu-tion is doing. The School Report Card lets parents con-duct an easy performance audit of their child’s school. Sally might be bringing home A’s in math, but if her school is getting a D, her grades probably aren’t the good news her parents thought.

planning to Move?The School Report Card’s regional search function will allow families to check out new schooling options in order to make the best decision for their kids. This in-formation will be priceless for realtors and community leaders, too; knowing how schools hold up against the rest of the state will produce pride—or incentive for im-provement.

giving credit Where credit is dueTop ranking schools deserve a pat on the back, but first we have to find them—and some of them just might sur-prise you! Wouldn’t you like to know that your com-munity’s elementary school ranks among the top in the state? The School Report Card is our treasure map for locating dynamite “Cinderella” schools. It will also steer us clear of “sand trap” schools—and you’ll find some of those in unexpected places, too.

serving educatorsIf a teacher or administrator finds that his school is fall-ing behind, questions should be asked. And contrary to popular opinion, comparison is a good thing. By com-paring schools’ raw data, the School Report Card sends a message to poorly-performing schools that the bar is higher than they think—and that improvement is possi-ble. But we don’t just leave them there. In addition to test scores, the School Report Card’s school demographic information lets educators locate schools with similar characteristics so they can find out what’s being done to help students succeed.

serving legislatorsEducation is a hot topic in the political arena. What-ever decisions legislators make during this session or in the future—and many are being debated right now—they should be based on an accurate mea-surement of how public schools are doing.

in the end, knoWledge is poWerSome groups shower parents with figures and percentages, but until people are given reliable and under-standable conclusions, it might as well be raining Kool-Aid for all the

ow many ways can government say “No” with-out actually using the word? Quite a few, as King

County demonstrated in repeated illegal evasions of Ar-men Yousoufian’s public document requests. First sub-mitted on May 30, 1997, his requests began a saga that is returning from its third trip to the Washington State Supreme Court.

Early in 1997, Yousoufian listened to then-County Executive Ron Sims make a pitch for a new football stadium in Seattle. Sims mentioned various studies, claiming that they justified the $300 million proposal. Yousoufian, a Seattle business owner, wanted to see it for himself. He made a request under the Public Records Act. The clock was ticking; a public vote on the stadium plan was just weeks away. Instead of providing the information, Ron Sims ran out the clock. The measure passed, barely.

According to Justice Richard Sanders, author of the latest Supreme Court decision,

“… King County repeatedly deceived and misinformed Yousoufian for years. King County told Yousoufian it produced all the requested documents, when in fact it had not. King County told Yousoufian archives were being searched and records compiled, when in fact they were not. King County told Yousoufian the information was located elsewhere, when in fact it was not. After years of delay, misrepresentation, and ineptitude on the part of King County, Yousoufian filed suit [on March 30, 2000]; nevertheless, it would still take another year for King County to completely and accurately respond to Yousoufian’s original request, well past the purpose of his request, the referendum on public financing of a sports stadium.”

The Public Records Act says that a government agency can be fined from $5 to $100 per day for a violation.

Despite King County’s systematic “gross negligence” and “lack of good faith,” the trial court fined the county the minimum amount, just $5 per day or $25,440 plus attorney fees.

Yousoufian appealed and won an increase to $15 per day. This was hardly a slap on the wrist for Washington’s largest county, even though it would have been the largest fine ever levied for a Public Records Act violation. But if King County’s behavior didn’t deserve a fine near the top of that range, exactly what would?

Amazingly, King County appealed. The State Supreme Court finally ruled on the issue this past January. Justice Sanders wrote the controlling opinion in the case, joined by Justices Charles Johnson, Mary Fairhurst, and Jim Johnson. In all, the case produced five opinions, including a dissent and a partial dissent.

According to Justice Sanders’ opinion, the Supreme Court could only overturn the fine if it found that “no

reasonable person” would agree with the trial court. In addition to considering the agency’s motives, trial judges must consider any economic loss and the potential for public harm caused by withholding public documents. In this case, wrote Justice Sanders, with an upcoming public vote on a $300 million project, the potential for public harm was obvious.

The decision makes clear that when trial courts set fines in public records cases, part of the purpose is to deter governments from further violations. And, wrote Justice Sanders, “A flea bite does little to deter an elephant.”

And so, after nearly a dozen years, Yousoufian will return to the King County trial court for a third attempt to determine how hard the County’s wrist will be slapped.

good it will do. The School Report Card provides the facts so that the people of Washington—families, educa-tors, community leaders, legislators, and citizens—can find out how our schools are doing, study what works, and ultimately do our best to provide an excellent educa-tion for our kids.

EFF’s Elementary School Report Card launches this month, and the Secondary School Report Card is coming soon. Starting March 10, search for your elementary school’s report card online at www.reportcardwa.com.

the opinions in Yousoufian v. The Office of Ron Sims

by Trent EnglandYousoufian wins victory for open government

H

Justices Richard Sanders, Charles Johnson, Mary Fairhurst, and Jim Johnson – Controlling opinion requiring higher fines for violations of the Public Re-cords Act.

Justices Jim Johnson and Richard Sanders – Con-curring opinion calling for a fine “at or near $100 [per day] to punish King County’s multiple acts of miscon-duct and to protect governmental transparency.”

Justice Tom Chambers – Concurring, but suggest-ing a fine “in the upper half of the range,” but not at the top.

Chief Justice Gerry Alexander – Concurring in most of the decision, but opposed to instructing the trial court to impose a fine in the upper half of the range.

Justices Susan Owens and Bar-bara Madsen, Justice Pro Tem Karen Seinfeld – Dissenting, and claiming “King County’s conduct here does not mandate a ‘high end’ penalty.”

Report Card Continued from page 1 . . .

Page 9: Living Liberty March 2009

A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION 9

Yes, I want to Invest In the evergreen FreedoM FoundatIon.

Dear Friend of EFF,

While we welcome every gift, our greatest need is reliable monthly support. It is imperative for reaching our goals. Please consider monthly giving as a way to invest in the cause of freedom. Our secure e-Giving System ensures that more of your contribution goes directly to our work.

Cordially,

Please mail or fax in this form (fax 360-352-1874) or call 360-956-3482. We will send you a confirmation letter for your records.

Your Donations to EFF are Tax Deductible!

Bank Debit/Credit Card Donation Authorization I request my bank or credit card company to transfer funds in the amount of $ each monthuntil further notice. I understand that I am in full control of my donation, and that I can decide to make any changes or discontinue the service at any time by calling 360-956-3482 or writing to EFF.

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honest public servant), a bulldozer operator who saw the light and joined the cause, and powerful villains straight from central casting all of whom end up being destroyed for their efforts, Benedict’s narrative kept people on the edge of their seats.

Could it have been more dramatic? No—until, that is, Susette Kelo herself got up to speak. Simple, straight forward, sometimes halting in her speech, but always real and honest, she told the audience how her property was stolen from her by government, a statement refreshing for its candor and directness.

The personal story of what she went through to buy her little pink house, fix it up, then try to live in peace and harmony with her neighbors only to be rudely tossed out in favor of what turned out to be a failed development scheme (the property stands vacant today), was summed up by many in one word: injustice.

In the words of former King County Council Member and long-time property rights advocate, Steve

Hammond, “Susette Kelo shows all of us that it does not take wealth, power and political connections to make a difference. It just takes courage and determination.”

Stories like Kelo’s, in fact, drove EFF to develop the Property Rights Center. Jonathan Bechtle, EFF Chief Operating Officer, described the PRC as, “a fight for the little guy, for people who are your neighbors—the young family who just bought a house, retired people, small business owners—folks like that. Decisions to regulate intellectual or real property should be made for reasons of good policy, using good science, and reasonable standards.”

Additionally, according to Bechtle, “EFF, through the Property Rights Center, supports the efforts of other organizations and individuals who have dedicated their lives to the fight for property rights. We want to multiply and boost their efforts, and we are excited to join their ranks.”

A pre-luncheon meeting of 60 of the very people Bechtle mentioned served as a networking platform for activists from around the state.

EFF will announce a leadership team for the PRC in the near future.

“ Susette Kelo shows all of us that it does not take wealth, power and political connections to make a difference. It just takes courage and determination.”

Property Rights Continued from page 2 . . .

Page 10: Living Liberty March 2009

10 LIVING LIBERTY

Now available on DVD, the HBO production of John Adams is not only an absolute must-see, but also something that should be shown in every secondary and post-secondary school in America, especially in the context of today’s head-lines and news reports that chronicle what seem to be the destruction of what Adams sought to establish.

Based upon the best-selling biography of the same name by historian David McCullough, the production chronicles the life of America’s second president from his successful defense of the British soldiers who participated in the infa-mous Boston Massacre to his death on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after the Declaration of Independence was signed, on the very same day Thomas Jefferson, his sometime close friend, sometime bitter nem-esis, also died.

In the mini-series is an arresting scene where Adams, played brilliantly by actor Paul Giamatti, debates in the Con-

tinental Congress whether the colonies should continue attempting to reconcile with Great Britain or go their own way. Perhaps the most aggressive delegate in favor of independence, Adams forcefully articulates what it is that that he wants.

“A country—A free country!”But it wasn’t just the efforts of Adams

and the other Founding Fathers in 1776 to establish “a country—a free country” that made it so—others in subsequent years had to maintain freedom, some-times at a horrendous cost.

In The Republic of Suffering: Death and the American Civil War, by Harvard University president and noted historian, Drew Gilpin Faust, the awful human cost of that responsibility is chronicled.

“The number of soldiers who died between 1861 and 1865, an esti-mated 620,000, is approximately equal to the total American fatali-ties in the Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Span-ish American War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War combined. The Civil War’s rate of death, its incidence in comparison with the size of the American popu-lation, was six times that of World War II. A similar rate, about 2 percent, in the United States today would mean six million fatalities.” (emphasis added)

The modern mind that exists in a com-fortable, affluent (even in today’s rough economic climate), and educated society cannot comprehend these numbers. The sacrifices made by Adams and the Civil War dead do not register when today’s

debate is over a so-called federal “stim-ulus package” that contains more pork than anything produced by Hormel or the Swift Company. So much so, in fact, that Evergreen Freedom Foundation co-founder and senior fellow Bob Williams, who has seen a lot of this kind of stuff, labeled it, “The worst type of legislation I have ever seen. No one was given a chance of reading the bill before they had to vote on it. It is a total reordering of priorities, and it moves America towards socialism.”

Instead of emulating those who’ve gone before, too many Americans now stand in line with their hands out, and they do so without the slightest hint of shame. Columnist Dan Kennedy recently noted this in a piece entitled Where Have All

a co

untr

y—a

free

cou

ntry

the Tough Guys Gone? Writing about leg-endary Cleveland Browns football player Jim Brown and actor/director Clint East-wood, Kennedy compared them to what

passes for manhood today.Recent Kennedy-quoted

Brown and Eastwood remarks—Brown’s in the January issue of Esquire magazine, Eastwood’s on the David Letterman show —rejected then derided the popular notion that having one’s hand out is a morally proper thing to do. Going further, each remarked in

words not usable here on how the modern culture has become devoid of personal responsibility and accountability.

Instead of owning up to mistakes, everyone from the corporate CEO on down to the soon-to-be-foreclosed-upon homeowner are quick to line up for a bail-

out rather than confessing to their part in the creation of their own misery. There is neither truth nor consequences, except, that is, for those who played by the rules and their children and grandchildren who will be left with the tab for the profligacy of others.

Some $800 billion, which is on top of countless other billions already borrowed and gone, is to be spent because so many wouldn’t or couldn’t man up to the truth of life. It’s good that Mr. Adams, or a cer-tain great-grandfather like Pvt. Albert C. Roberts of the 20th Maine Regiment of Volunteers, who crouched behind a low stone wall on Little Round Top at Get-tysburg back in July 1863, aren’t around to see how the legacy they left is being piddled away.

Were Adams alive, he wouldn’t be talk-ing about a free country—the bill is too expensive.

by Scott St. Clair

Page 11: Living Liberty March 2009

A PUBLICATION OF THE EVERGREEN FREEDOM FOUNDATION 11

Chamber, Rotary, or other clubs) and would like to have a speaker from EFF come to speak to your group, please call Laurie McNally at 360-956-3482 or email her at [email protected].

idea #5: Get EFF on radio, in the newspapers and on the internetThis is certainly a priority for our communications de-partment. We know that if we are only “preaching to the choir” it does us little good. We need to reach out to citizens in all walks of life. This is one of the rea-sons we are doing so many projects using new media, such as podcasts, videos, and social marketing websites. If you have a Facebook account, please join the group “Evergreen Freedom Foundation.” If you have your own blog or website, please post links to our work when it interests you. If you like to write, feel free to use our information to write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper. If you like talking, call in to your local talk radio program.

Thank you to everyone who took their valuable time to respond to our EFF Member Survey. Your comments and suggestions will help us make better use of scarce resources as we plan for the future of EFF.

diary

What does compassion look like? |

of a Freedom Loving Mom…b Y J u D Y p A r k I N s

Yes, I voted for Obama. No, I am not a socialist. I love getting the Evergreen Freedom Founda-

tion newspaper and reading my mom’s column, “Dia-ry of a Freedom Loving Mom.” I usually call her afterwards and we reminisce about childhood memories. Af-ter February’s column, howev-er, I felt the need to express my perspective—and the perspec-tive of most of my college-age friends. In her article “Con-necticut Avenue with a Hotel? Pay up, Bro,” my mom suggests that the way I play Monopoly is a reflection of my conservative po-litical roots. I don’t know about that but this is my struggle: How do I blend my conservative political beliefs and my compas-sion into one philosophy?

I know it broke my mother’s heart for me to run off to Oregon and become a “liberal-hippie,” but that’s not fair. I don’t consider myself a hippie, and in many ways I still hold to the core conservative values that were instilled in me since I was old enough to hold a picket sign.

Looking back, I value my experience with the Republican Party. During the 2004 election I was phone

banking for President Bush and walking my precinct with the best of them. I do not believe the government should regulate the economy. I believe our civil liberties are what define us as a nation. I am a John Locke junkie and if you ask me, the Founding Fathers were clear about what they envisioned when they wrote the Constitution.

On the other hand, I find the ideology I identify with and the narrative of the American people to be at odds with one another. I do not believe in giving hand-outs to people who refuse to work, but I cannot sit back and

watch people in America starve, or children suffer because of no health insurance.

Wouldn’t it be great if Monopoly money could buy food?

In her February column my mom characterized me as acting like a conservative for not giving my brother any grace when he landed on Connecticut Avenue and couldn’t

pay up. I was not moved one bit by his manipulating statement, “If we want to

stay in the game, we have to somehow get your money.” I took his money, he left

the game and I felt great! Well, maybe I do play Monopoly like a conservative. However, in the game of life, it’s not quite that simple. In Monopoly if you can’t pay the rent, you lose the game, leave the table and go to your stocked refrigerator for a snack. If you’re a single mom working two jobs and still can’t pay the rent, trying to “stay in the game” means what? What is the conservative, compassionate answer?

I am 21 and struggling to work out my political beliefs. My dilemma between Monopoly and real life

Living Liberty readers, what would you say to Lauren in response? How would you address the issues she raised and the concerns she expressed? Express your thoughts in 250 words or less, and address them by mail, fax, or e-mail to:

Editor: Living LibertyEvergreen Freedom FoundationPO Box 552Olympia, WA 98507Fax: 360-352-1874E-mail: [email protected]

Letters will be published in next month’s edition. All submissions become the property of the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, must be accompanied by an address and phone number for verification purposes, and are subject to editing for length and content. Representative letters will be published, but on no account should it be presumed that submission of a letter guarantees publication.

idea #1: Share copies of Living LibertyMany of you said that sharing copies of our monthly newspaper Living Liberty was a great way to let people know about EFF. Specific suggestions included:• Giving a copy to a friend or neighbor after you have

read it.• Placing a copy in a doctor’s office waiting room.• Signing up friends and family for a complimentary

3-month subscription.• Requesting extra copies of Living Liberty to share

with co-workers.

idea #2: Talk about EFFTelling others about what EFF is doing ranked high on the list of suggestions. There are few things more pow-erful than hearing from a friend or co-worker about a great group you think they should check out. Another way to tell your friends about EFF is to forward inter-esting EFF emails to people in your address book. You are always welcome to invite friends to attend our EFF Member Events in your area.

idea #3: Mail out informationA few times a year we send out mailings to groups of people we have identified as potential EFF supporters. We always try to explain to people what EFF is and why what we are doing is important to them and their future. If you have a list of people who you think would like to hear more about what we are doing, please contact me at [email protected] or 360-956-3482.

idea #4: Have an EFF staff member speak to groupsSpeaking to community and service groups is a great way for us to reach people who may have never heard about EFF before. We have many great public speak-ers on staff who can talk about topics ranging from the budget to the Electoral College to education. If you are involved with a group that invites in speakers (such as

is that everyone doesn’t start out with equal money, equal opportunity or even the luck of having parents that care! How do conservatives respond to real, sincere needs that people cannot meet themselves? What does compassion look like? I was looking for the Republican answer during the election, and I just didn’t hear it.

TheDevelopment

CornerIn our recent member survey we asked you to give

us ideas for reaching like-minded friends who don’t

yet know about Evergreen Freedom Foundation.

Many very creative ideas were suggested. I want to

share with you a selection of the responses and en-

courage you to try some of them out. Please let me

know how they work!

by Lauren Barnhart

Judy’s note: My daughter, Lauren Barnhart, is a senior political science major at Willamette University. In her sophomore year of college, Lauren and a few friends raised $58,000 for displaced children in Uganda. This column is her “equal time” response to one I wrote about her last month.

by Juliana McMahan

Page 12: Living Liberty March 2009

12 LIVING LIBERTY

Legacy Spotlightby Irene Endicott

Planning for Life A complimentAry workshop for eff members And friends

purpose Protect assets from taxes (especially the death tax)

Learn about Charitable Remainder Trusts

Learn about Living Trusts, wills and annuities

Use your life values in estate planning

Choose the right tools for your particular situation

Learn where to get help

Topics

Alan W. Pratt, CEP, CAPFounder, Pratt Legacy Advisors, specializing in family wealth preservation through his Legacy Planning from the Heart seminars.

William C. Larson, MBA, AIFATwenty years of wealth management, helping clients transform complexity into opportunity and build a lasting legacy consistent with their values.

PRESENTERS

Responding to requests from EFF mem-bers, this workshop is presented for those who want to know how to make plans to protect hard-earned assets now as well as when the end of life comes. Perhaps you have never gotten around to doing this. Maybe you have a plan that needs a tune-up. If you are unsure that your estate plan is complete and up to date, this workshop will give you new ideas and tools that work. The presenters have been carefully selected. Each is expert in his field. And they both love liberty!

Please feel free to bring your attorney or other professional family advisor. No ser-vices are sold at this workshop. No one will ask you to sign up for anything. The entire day is free, including lunch. It will be a day full of great information and good conversation. We look forward to having you with us.

L ast year, at an Evergreen Free-dom Foundation Planning

for Life workshop, we met Mrs. Yvonne Conway, who has a unique and compassionate vocation. She owns and operates Yvonne’s Mobile Hair and Beauty Service and travels in her car to the homes of clients who cannot come to her. She makes them beautiful and lifts their spirits by her cheerful attitude.

Yvonne says, “The idea came from my mother, a faithful nursing home visitor, who remarked that so many residents are lonely and can’t get out to have their hair done. She thought it would be a good thing to take the beauty shop to them and to other people who can’t leave their homes. With a bit of creativity and a lot of desire, I’ve been doing just that for twenty-seven years.”

Yvonne says the thank you notes she receives mean a lot to her: comments like, “Yvonne – you were a bright light in Mother’s week. You made her feel so perky!” and “My wife’s illness denied her pleasurable trips to the salon, but you came right to our door, suggested a new style that is easy to manage and caused my wife no pain. Thank you!”

Yvonne has been married to Phillip Conway for 57 years. Phillip’s motto is also service to others. He is master of many trades and in twenty-five years as a business owner, he survived three severe economic downturns.

Phillip started a birthday club at a Fred Meyer store. “I discovered that many older people who shopped there hadn’t had a birthday cake in a long time, so once a month, I arrange to have a decorated cake and a card for everyone to sign for whoever has a birthday that month.” He and Yvonne also worked hard gathering signatures for Initiatives 601 and 608. Phillip’s blue Chevy pickup has been seen often, encouraging people to take part in whatever civic effort he was supporting.

Yvonne and Phillip have subscribed to Living Liberty for many years. The ad for the Planning for Life workshop drew Yvonne’s attention. “The workshop was very informative, educational and surprisingly enjoyable. It is a service to EFF members, there is no charge, no sales pitch and the event included lunch. We prepared a will years ago, but the workshop helped us realize that we needed to rethink and update our plan. I was especially interested in the new ways to protect what we have and in learning how to plan. I got all of my questions answered.

“Now that I am approaching age 77, I regrettably stopped taking new clients this year. I will keep going as long as I can. I am glad I attended the Planning for Life workshop because now I have peace of mind that my estate plan is in order. We’re not wealthy, but we want to help people while we are living and after we’re gone. We learned how to do that and we are grateful.”

March 5 Bellevue

May 14 Olympia

June 25 Vancouver

September 17 Spokane

October 8 N. Seattle/Everett

November 5 Silverdale

To be determined Bellingham

2009 schedule

If you haven’t attended a free EFF Planning for Life workshop, call Laurie McNally at 1-800-769-6617 for information on upcoming dates and locations.

Yvonne’s

Mobile Hair

& Beauty Service

For Those Confined To Home, Office or Jail

Mrs. Yvonne Conway