On the fast track now and this should be good as it comes in before the 2012. Ole you can bribe me but I ain't cheap Crissy crapped her drawers on this one I think.



September 8, 2011

To: All Honorable Members of the Washington Legislature

Re: Washington State Supreme Court has agreed to hear the AUTO suit challenging the constitutionality of tribal motor fuel compacts


The highest court in the State has just agreed to hear the AUTO suit that is challenging the legality of the tribal motor fuel compacts negotiated between Governor Gregoire and treaty tribes that operate retail service stations (attached). Since 2007, the tribes have received over $100 million under the compacts and over the next 10 years the amount is expected to exceed a half billion dollars.

By accepting the petition for a direct appeal filed on behalf of AUTO and its members by former Supreme Court Justice Phil Talmadge, the case avoids the appellate court process. The next step will be setting the schedule for the arguments before the court in Olympia. Since the fall quarter 2011 calendar is full at this point, the earliest the court could hear the case would be the first quarter of 2012.

The decision by the court is a major victory for the citizens and taxpayers of Washington state that are facing increased tolls, vehicle license fees, and motor fuel taxes as a result a growing deficit in the state's motor vehicle account which is the source of the payments to the tribal station operators. For more information on the suit and the tribal motor fuel compact controversy, please go to http://www.autowa.org/AUTOvGregoire.html

Respectfully,


Tim Hamilton
Executive Director
Automotive United Trades Organization (AUTO