CAPR's blog

By Cindy Alia

April 29, 2019

Congratulations are due to citizens for their citizen activism!  Citizens can make changes to law through hard work and dogged pursuit to better the lives of people trying to work and live under the regulatory system.

COOMWA, a citizens’ action group formed to protect citizens use and management of their septic systems, along with Citizens’ Alliance for Property Rights have worked to promote and ultimately have passed, a bill in the state legislature.  SB 5503, sponsored by Senators Das, Fortunato, Takko has been through the legislative process in Olympia, and is now law!  Here is a link to the bill Certification of Enrollment as passed the legislature on March 6, 2019! 

CAPR ACTION ALERT
In Spite of the repeated rejection by the public of carbon taxes to offset climate change, legislators have moved several bills into the legislative process to bypass the public will and replace it with their own.

Most unfortunately, Senator Carlyle’s Carbon Taxing Bill, SB 5116 has passed the Senate Chamber on a strict party line basis with democrats voting Yea and Republicans voting Nay. It is on its way to be heard in the House, as it is scheduled for public hearing in the House Committee on Environment & Energy at 8:00 AM in anticipation of other legislative action on Tuesday, March 5th!

By Cindy Alia                                                                                                                                                                              February 11, 2019

By Cindy Alia

January 27, 2019

As much as I would like to take credit for this article, a very savvy and critically thinking facebook follower often has very in depth and well thought out comments to articles posted there.  Grateful for this kind of response and the research behind it, I feel compelled in this case to share the thoughts and conclusions reached from the research the follower had done.

Guest Column by Debra Tash 

January 22, 2019

The Planning Commission’s public hearing will be on January 31st , 8:30 AM at the County Government Center, 800 So Victoria Ave. Ventura.  

After the pomp and circumstance was accomplished, the silliness began.  Reportedly the Senate ran an hour behind on their duties to swear in Senators though no explanation was given.  Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib had his Nancy Pelosi moment when he declared he did not feel safe because the Senate had not banned concealed carry weapons from the Senate Gallery.

Symbolism accomplished the legislators got down to the business of how to capture that most prized and coveted thing, other people’s money.

By Guest Columnist Steve Busch

December 27, 2018

December 2018

Help protect your property rights—add an ally

By Glen Morgan, Executive Director

It is obvious to most that there is strength in numbers. This is true with most endeavors in life, and protecting our freedoms and our property rights is no exception. Unfortunately, the challenge with protecting our freedoms or property rights is the usual paradox associated with concentrated costs and distributed benefits. Everyone benefits from strong property rights, but few are willing to lead the fight to protect them.

Until this summer, property owners have never been represented on the Washington State Department of Health Onsite Sewage System (OSS) policy and technical rule revision Committee (basically an ad hoc committee to determine Washington State’s rules regarding septic systems).

Historically, only bureaucrats, environmental extremists, and industry representatives (septic pumping, designers, etc.) were involved. This may have been one reason why these policies seem to keep getting worse and more hostile to property owners over the years.

by Cindy Alia, December 8, 2108

The Energy and tenacity of Citizens' Alliance for Property Rights (CAPR), Spokane Treasurer Rob Chase who pursued coordination under the  the National Environmental Policy Act of 1970, Idaho based Avista Customer Group, and many concerned and commenting citizens of both Washington and Idaho were very effective in putting pressure on the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Committee (WUTC), who in Washington State had the final say in determining if Avista, a United States owned utility company could be purchased by a Canadian utility company, Hydro One!