Thanks to state Sen. Christine Rolfes for championing the extension of the Self-Employment Assistance Bill (SEAP) which makes it possible for those who are qualified and are receiving state unemployment bene-fits to continue to receive benefits while dev-eloping their own small business start-ups.

Rolfes’ senate bill was inspired by a program active in Kitsap County called Washington Community Alliance for Self-Help — also known as Washington C.A.S.H. Whether people have been laid off in the middle of their career, have just exited military service or have an idea for a new product, the program helps them match their dreams with a workable business plan. read more »

As the largest investor in Green technology companies from the Island (and one of the most active in the USA), and someone who is actively making an impact on the world clean-energy mix through green companies, I thought you might be interested in an opinion contrary to that of the proposed platic bag ban.

I have several thoughts.

1. The primary reason that you should defer this, is that it is not the role of a local city council, who is already mired in high priority budget matters of an almost-bankrupt city, to make environmental choices for me. I can make them myself, and do not need the nanny-state to make them because their big brother Seattle did. read more »

As a small business owner, an advocate of other small business owners, and a one-time victim of a smear campaign, you are, no doubt, aware of the detrimental impact that negative press can have. I hope you will extend me the courtesy of reprinting the following letter in its entirety in the next issue of Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal. Should you need any further information or validation of the remarks herein, please do not hesitate to contact me.

I write to you today out of my concern for the potential damage — even if unintentional — that your recent opinion column, “Random Thoughts… and post-election comments,” in the January 2012 edition of the Business Journal may cause. read more »

I don’t know how far reaching this problem is. However, over the last 3 to 4 years I have been battleing Centurylink Phone Company for charging me KING County Sales tax and KING County 911 Services tax on my telephone bill instead of KITSAP County tax rates.

Because of this charging me for the wrong county taxes and 911 service, I am overchanged on the tax rate PLUS Kitsap County is not getting the sales tax revenue source nor the 911 service revenue funds so badly needed. read more »

Does the arrogance of the Bainbridge Island City Council know no bounds? Its most recent foray into nanny statism over plastic bags is proof that these elitists sincerely believe they have been anointed with a superior form of intelligence, and therefore know what is best for the obviously uneducated masses better than we do.

They cite no scientific evidence that people don’t recycle, and/or reuse plastic bags — because there isn’t any. We do it every day. read more »

One of the reasons I have been proud to be a Washington resident is that for the most part, especially Kitsap County, we have an honest elections system. That is in contrast to King County’s reputation. I am sorely disappointed that the Democrat leadership has so little faith their ability to garner majorities that they stoop to measures that undermine the integrity of elections by introducing a bill to legalize Election Day registration in Washington state (HB 2204). read more »

The so-called “payroll tax” is money taken out of your paycheck by the government and put into the Social Security Trust Fund (SSTF) to fund your Social Security retirement income. The employees’ payroll tax rate was reduced in 2011 from 6.2 percent to 4.2 percent. This meant more take-home pay, but it also meant over $100 billion didn’t go into the SSTF. Congress previously passed a law requiring the 2 percent shortfall be taken from the General Fund and put into the SSTF — adding more than $100 billion to the national debt. read more »

Missing from the announcement of KPS’s abandonment of the individual market, is that before another carrier will write you, you will have to pass the litmus of screening by filling out a Standard Health Questionnaire. It doesn’t matter how many years you have been on the plan, if you amass too many points due to pre-existing conditions, you will be shunted into the expensive high-risk pool. read more »

Your tax expert is not keeping up with his profession. The article in the December Business Journal “Tax Planning” on page 27 contains erroneous information.

The requirement to report 1099-k (credit card income) has been postponed until 2012. There is no special requirement to report this on a 2011 tax return. The IRS specifically states that you should put zero on the line for reporting merchant card and third party payments. There are still a lot of issues that have to be worked out on the credit card payments. read more »