That the power to tax involves the power to destroy ... [is] not to be denied.

Chief Justice John Marshall

1819

Readers of this column know I express on occasion differences with 33rd District Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Des Moines, most of them involving taxation and spending by the Legislature.

So when Sen. Keiser comes down solidly on the side of taxpayers, as she did last week, it is right to give credit where credit is due.

Sen. Keiser has introduced legislation to repeal the property tax authority of the Port of Seattle, which was hammered by a recent state performance audit that uncovered the waste of tens of millions of dollars, poor contracting procedures, and bad accounting and management practices.

The Port of Seattle should be "more accountable and less of a burden to property taxpayers," she said, noting it is the only major port on the West Coast that uses property tax levies as part of its revenue stream.

Sen. Keiser's proposal to end the port's dependence on the property tax is spot-on, as is her argument that it become self-supporting through revenue streams generated by aviation, marine cargo and cruise ship operations.

Financial and management reforms at the port, which should come in the wake of both the audit and this legislation, if approved, must make it a leaner, more competitive operation.

Competition from a widened Panama Canal that will offset a geographic advantage long held by the ports of Seattle and Tacoma makes this imperative.

Serious consideration also should be given to splitting the port into two separate, independent authorities-SeaTac International Airport (and a second regional airport?) and marine operations.

Had this been the case for the last 20 years, perhaps the exponential growth in spending at the airport, for everything from expansion of the main passenger terminal to construction of the third runway, could have been reined in.

Repealing the port's property tax authority is a good first step.

Sen. Keiser deserves thanks from all King County property taxpayers for this effort, in which she now should be joined by all Highline-area legislators.

AFTER INITIAL amusement at recent letter to the editor ("Columnist 'abuses' role," Jan. 2 Times/News), bemusement settled in.

What got me thinking was not that the writer disagrees with me. Although I don't state an opinion unless I believe in it, no columnist's views are presented ex cathedra. They are one person's opinion that, hopefully, will prompt and provoke a reasonable dialogue on matters of public policy.

Rather, it was his assertion that my political opinions are out of touch with "liberal ... South King County political values."

Perhaps because conservative views expressed on KVI and KTTH are not reflective of the majority of King County residents, he also will go after the FCC licenses of those radio stations.

So much for the free and open exchange in the marketplace of ideas.

Although conservative political leaders, commentators and voters are a minority in South King County-and all of western Washington-views from the right are necessary for balance in political discourse and a viable two-party system.

Suggested viewing for those on both the left and the right who may disagree with is the 1935 black-and-white film with English subtitles - a classic titled Triumph of the Will.

BEFORE CHRISTMAS fades too far into the past, a return to Eric Mathison's Dec. 26 column ("Yes, Virginia, Congress should focus on issues") is in order.

Eric meant well but missed the mark, for talking points can take one only so far.

He was responding to my criticism of Congressman Jim McDermott, who had voted against a resolution to recognize the importance of Christmas and Christianity.

Rep. McDermott voted no because "the Christmas resolution was designed to shift attention away from the big issues Congress is grapping with," Eric noted.

This fails to explain, however, why McDermott earlier found it appropriate to vote for resolutions recognizing holy days in the Muslim and Hindu religions, but chose to make his stand against Republican policies on a vote acknowledging the vital role of Christianity in American life-without which there would not have been a United States of America.

The views of Ralph Nichols are his own, and do not necessarily reflect those of Robinson Newspapers. He can be reached at ralphn@robinsonnews.com or 206-388-1857.