The arrogance of 49th Legislative District Representative, Jim Moeller is well known amongst both supporters and opponents. In fact, he is about the most arrogant person I have ever met and I have met a lot of people over my years. His deeds and actions are classic examples of a Megalomaniac, someone “characterized by delusional fantasies of power, relevance, or omnipotence with an inflated sense of self-esteem and overestimation of their powers and beliefs.”
But his arrogant ‘shot across the bow’ aimed at the Columbian and editor Lou Brancaccio in Lou’s Saturday, October 27, 2012 Press Talk column, I love the 49th District!!! is so blatant it initially even took me by surprise.
Considering that the Columbian has endorsed Jim Moeller in every single one of his successful bids for state office, they frequently editorialize in opposition to his stance on many issues, mostly tax increases and wage and benefit increases for public union employees, while the private sector continues to struggle and tighten our belts.
They also, from time to time poke a little fun at Jim, deservedly so in my opinion.
That is what it seems Brancaccio did in his column today when he said, “Jim isn’t your average ‘let’s move closer to the center’ kind of Democrat,” “He’d make filmmaker Michael Moore look normal” and wrote of a recent video interview where Moeller was asked the question, “If this election were only about saving taxpayers money and you had to vote, would you vote for you or Carolyn [Crain]?”
Without hesitation, Moeller answered, “I’d vote for me” leaving the impression, naturally, that Jim Moeller really doesn’t care about how much taxpayers struggle, as we all know, considering he is currently suing to invalidate our votes in the two-thirds majority tax increase.
We also must remember that in 2009, as the economic doldrums were hitting us full bore, the Columbian joined in with other newspapers in the state and successfully lobbied for a 40% reduction in their business tax to stay afloat as they maneuvered through a Chapter 11 Bankruptcy restructure, losing the brand new multi-million dollar building publisher Scott Campbell had built and they had just moved into.
Since that time, the industry has come under fire for still receiving that reduction as the economy sees little if any real improvement.
At the time, Jim Moeller voted for EHB 2122, the “Newspaper industry B & O tax” measure that granted the newspapers the 40% reduction in their business tax and has been elected Speaker Pro Tempore of the House, “the second highest leadership position” there that undoubtedly adds to his already arrogant megalomania.
Considering that elected officials are often the brunt of criticism and some good old fashioned ribbing, as Lou Brancaccio did in today’s column, seeing Jim Moeller’s comment under the article floored me.
He wrote, saying since the question was “hypothetical,” his answer also was “hypothetical,” “Kind of like me asking you ‘hypothetically’ of course, if newspapers didn’t get a B&O tax credit from the state on the cost of their newsprint, would they be able to stay in business?”
If you don’t consider that comment as a “shot across the bow,” Moeller added, “everyone knows you think public workers get too much in salary and benefits and you’ve taken it on as a personal crusade to reduce that. And it’s pretty clear that The Columbian has opposed just about every tax increase that has been proposed – the library, C-Tran, parks district, etc.”
An everyday sort of Joe saying that in the comments would be laughed at and ignored. But, the person possessing second highest leadership position in the state legislature saying that is a warning to the Columbian to reel in their criticism of him and his desired rape of taxpayers that we continually see from Jim Moeller every session.
Far from an innocent joking around comment, Jim Moeller not so subtly reminded the newspaper that their continued profitability rests with his staying in the legislature, as someone in his position could easily support a measure to end that.
His opponent, Carolyn Crain was also asked the same question and since it concerned saving taxpayers money, also answered herself, realizing Jim Moeller doesn’t want to see taxpayers being saved money and instead wanting to confiscate as much as we have to use as he sees fit.
She also left as comment addressing Brancaccio’s comment in the column on her of, “she doesn’t play well with others,” “I never consider actively pursuing the protection of residents, tax payers, and people in general rights a game. I find it an extremely serious and important act therefore often there is no way that a person cannot be rough or firm when addressing issues like these. I appreciate the fact that you understand me as a representative of the people who would hold the line in their best interest whenever possible.”
Far different than firing a shot across the Columbian’s bow or arrogantly dressing Brancaccio down, Mrs. Crain admits why liberals see her as “not playing well with others” in actually looking out for the people in the 49th district.
Jim Moeller has been in the majority ever since he was first elected 10 years ago. Far from his facetious claim of “I save the taxpayers’ money,” he has supported just about every tax increase I can recall being proposed on us and as said above, even wrote and passed the ill-fated, confusing ‘Candy Tax’ that would have cost those of you with a sweet tooth more than you should have to pay and recently saw our vehicle licensing and driving fees nearly double.
His arrogant megalomania is not conducive to our welfare as we struggle to climb out of this economic morass he would love to keep us in by taxing us to death.
And now, he’s let the local newspaper that supports him know that they better watch their words.
Brancaccio also notes, “Jim has about as much chance of losing this race as I do of having a landslide of voters writing my name in for president,” which is very true unless more of you in the 49th wake-up and throw this arrogant megalomaniac out on his well worn bum.
Never mind the shot across his bow; it is time to ‘fire for effect!’
