Phil Fortunato in 2020 WA Governor's race
On Abortion:
F Grade from NARAL, sponsored anti-abortion bills
Phil Fortunato was one of the most vocal opponents of
our legislative priorities this year and co-sponsored several anti-abortion bills.
Source: 2020 Washington governor race Pro-Choice WA endorsements
Jan 1, 2019
On Budget & Economy:
Partial zero-based budgets; 1/4 of budget every two years
I am proposing that we implement zero-based budgets. That means that instead of just spending more than last time, we start from zero. Agencies will have to demonstrate that their current bloated budgets are necessary, and legislators will be able to
actually see the information before they approve the budget. The budget is too big to zero base budget all at once. There would not be enough time to review the entire budget from zero during session, but we could do ¬ every biennium (two years).
Source: 2020 Washington governor campaign website PhilForGov.org
Jan 6, 2020
On Budget & Economy:
Open up state to building housing of all kinds
Our state is facing a self-imposed housing crisis. The cost to build has skyrocketed because of excessive regulations, costs of permits and fees and misguided land-use rules. I will implement an aggressive program of opening up our state to build
more housing of all kinds. Our goal will be to move people through a continuum, from shelters, to transitional housing, to affordable rentals, with a goal of making home ownership a reality again for those that want it.
Source: 2020 Washington governor campaign website PhilForGov.org
Jan 6, 2020
On Crime:
Only "criminal homeless" should be incarcerated
Fortunato said he will make his formal announcement 1 p.m. Wednesday at Seattle City Hall, a location picked because he wants to spotlight the homelessness crisis in Seattle, especially what he calls the "criminal homeless." "They're criminals, you got
to get these people off the street, they've got to be incarcerated," he said, adding that they also need treatment for issues like drug addiction.
Source: Seattle Times on 2020 Washington gubernatorial race
Sep 16, 2019
On Crime:
Need to remove criminal homeless from the streets
Fortunato expressed his concern for public safety during the homelessness crisis. He was frustrated with instances in which homeless individuals with more than 30 criminal offenses on their record are released back onto the streets without prosecution.
Fortunato said he supported a policy to remove prosecutor discretion, forcing them to prosecute charges on homeless individuals after the first deferral. Fortunato said. "They need to be removed from the streets."
Fortunato suggested a policy that would allow law enforcement to pick out individuals who appear to be homeless with apparent poor hygiene and evaluate them for health and wellness. He acknowledged the policy's potential to allow for police to
profile individuals but implied the potential for helping people was worth the risk. "You must remove these people from the streets," Fortunato said. "If it takes more incarceration, that's what it takes."
Source: Redmond Reporter on 2020 Washington gubernatorial race
Feb 28, 2020
On Education:
Let local schools get waivers from unfunded state mandates
There are nearly 1,500 unfunded mandates from the state to our local schools. Those cost money in administrative overhead. I am proposing a policy that will keep more money in classrooms by allowing districts to obtain waivers from these costly
policies that don't directly contribute to the education of the student in the classroom. If we can reduce the costs of these mandates by just 5%, that is over $1.3 billion more for education without imposing more taxes.
Source: 2020 Washington governor campaign website PhilForGov.org
Jan 6, 2020
On Energy & Oil:
Questioned global warming: what if temperatures drop?
Republicans criticized the bill, saying that it would raise electricity costs without affecting global climate. Other Republicans pointed to the large proportion of the state's energy that already comes from non-carbon-emitting hydropower dams.
Sen. Phil Fortunato questioned global warming itself. "All the talk is about a temperature increase," Fortunato said. "But what happens if the temperatures start declining?"
Source: Lewiston Tribune on 2020 Washington gubernatorial race
Mar 2, 2019
On Gun Control:
Displayed sidearm while speaking on 2nd Amendment
Fortunato, 65, is an outspoken conservative presence both on the Senate floor, where he once ripped up a pocket Constitution to make a point,
and at pro-gun rallies in Olympia, where he has displayed a sidearm while giving a stemwinder on the Second Amendment.
Source: Seattle Times on 2020 Washington gubernatorial race
Sep 16, 2019
On Gun Control:
Gun bill legislators should have to pass firearms training
Fortunato has introduced legislation that would require lawmakers who draft gun legislation to be trained and pass a test. "We have legislators drafting bills who have no idea how firearms work or any sense of firearm nomenclature,"
Fortunato said. "When decision makers want to restrict someone's constitutional rights, they shouldn't go off half-cocked." Fortunato's bill would require legislators who want to draft legislation to pass the state's criminal justice firearms training.
Source: Auburn Reporter on 2020 Washington gubernatorial race
Jan 14, 2019
On Tax Reform:
Fund transportation needs with inflation-linked sales tax
Our state's transportation system is in trouble and it keeps getting worse. I am proposing that we use an inflation-linked funding source with the taxes you already send to Olympia. By using the existing sales tax on motor vehicles, we can
fully fund our state's transportation needs. As cars become more fuel efficient, people take more transit, or more electric vehicles hit the roads, the gas tax won't be sufficient. It's a declining revenue source.
Source: 2020 Washington governor campaign website PhilForGov.org
Jan 6, 2020
On Tax Reform:
Introduced bill to exempt older seniors from property tax
Seniors are being taxed out of their homes and they have worked hard for the homes they own. At some point in time seniors have paid enough taxes. That is why I introduced legislation (SB 5535) that would exempt older senior citizens from property tax.
My goal here is to allow seniors to stay in their homes as long as possible. Seniors should not have to choose between paying property taxes or meeting their basic needs.
Source: 2020 Washington governor campaign website VoteFortunato.org
Jun 28, 2017
On Tax Reform:
Restructure property tax as relief for homeowners
Fortunato [is] pushing to amend the state's constitution to restructure Washington's property tax aimed at relief for homeowners. Senate Joint Resolution 8219 would freeze property valuations as of Jan. 1,
2020, and not be recalculated until there is a change of ownership. "We should enshrine this principle of fiscal restraint in our state's constitution."
Source: Auburn Reporter on 2020 Washington gubernatorial race
Mar 5, 2020
On Technology:
Fund transportation with existing sales tax
Since joining the Senate, I've been fighting for a solution that actually addresses the underlying problems with funding transportation in our state. The Legislature is taxing working people and families to death with usage-related policies when the
problem is inflation. If we simply used the existing sales tax on motor vehicles, we could fund all our transportation needs and then some, with money people already send to Olympia.
Source: Auburn Reporter on 2020 Washington gubernatorial race
Feb 28, 2020
On Technology:
Sound Transit 3 & Mileage Tax won't solve the problem
Fund Transportation with existing tax dollars and quit raising our taxes! You don't have to drive much to see that our transportation system needs work. Sound Transit 3, with all its taxes, won't solve the problem. They are out of ideas except for toll
lanes, which really are just fast-lanes for the rich, to transit that doesn't get people where they need to go, to the worst of all a Mileage Tax, then they can fix our roads. The only way a mileage can work is with a GPS in your car. I will fight
to stop this tax and intrusive GPS tracking which also keeps track if you are violating speed limits, Big Brother is watching!Here is how to Fund Transportation with the existing revenue you already give Olympia. As cars become more fuel efficient or
people drive more electric cars, gas-tax revenues will decline. Using your existing car sales tax to fund roads would provide a stable, inflation-linked funding source dedicated to transportation and solve the funding problem and reduce congestion.
Source: 2020 Washington governor campaign website VoteFortunato.org
Jan 1, 2018
On Welfare & Poverty:
Implement transitional housing for homeless
Poor Homeless--These are people living in their cars because they got evicted or fell on hard times. We must implement a transitional housing model that provides 2 years of housing with gradually escalating rents. Initially the rents may be only
$300 then $600, $900, $1200, depending on what they can afford. After that they have to make room for someone else and get help to move into market rate housing.
Source: 2020 Washington governor campaign website PhilForGov.org
Jan 6, 2020
Page last updated: Dec 17, 2023