Subscribe now

Poor values tilt spending

Shawn Vestal’s (May 27) sarcastic diatribe concerning Rep. Kevin Parker’s statement that “we have a spending and not a revenue problem” was laughable. His reference to suffering parties (recipients of state services and largess) failed to mention that certain medical programs (such as Apple) do not require recipients to be state residents or that higher education has been receiving less funding for many years while DSHS funding (welfare in one form or another) has grown.

Shawn, it’s a matter of the Democrats’ legislative and philosophical priorities, not a lack of revenue. Last biennium, the majority party raided reserve accounts (Uniform Health Plan and Liquor Control Board) to fund their spending. Health Plan members, Liquor Board customers and higher education parents and students are now paying higher prices to fund this folly.

Rep. Parker is correct, this state has a spending problem and it’s spelled Olympia Democrats!

Ed Walther

Spokane

Letters policy

The Spokesman-Review invites original letters on local topics of public interest. Your letter must adhere to the following rules:

  • No more than 250 words
  • We reserve the right to reject letters that are not factually correct, racist or are written with malice.
  • We cannot accept more than one letter a month from the same writer.
  • With each letter, include your daytime phone number and street address.
  • The Spokesman-Review retains the nonexclusive right to archive and re-publish any material submitted for publication.

Unfortunately, we don’t have space to publish all letters received, nor are we able to acknowledge their receipt. (Learn more.)

Submit letters using any of the following:

Our online form
Submit your letter here
Mail
Letters to the Editor
The Spokesman-Review
999 W. Riverside Ave.
Spokane, WA 99201
Email
editor@spokesman.com
Fax
(509) 459-3815
Phone
(509) 459-5430

Read more about how we crafted our Letters to the Editor policy