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March 18, 2011 in City
Washington state facing deeper cuts
New forecast pushes gap in 2011-13 budget to $5.1 billion
OLYMPIA – The gap between Washington’s projected state revenues and current expenses grew to about $5.1 billion for the coming biennium, prompting a call from Gov. Chris Gregoire for the Legislature to focus on painful cuts rather than budget “trims.”
Announcing a forecast that was about $780 million lower than the one produced just three months ago, the state’s chief economist Arun Raha said several factors are stifling economic recovery in the state: Uncertainty over oil prices, the tragedies in Japan and a slow housing market.
The economic outlook is “clouded with a great deal of uncertainty,” he said, in part because Japan is one of the state’s major trading partners. The current forecast has only “early and rough estimates” of the effects of the disasters in Japan, which is a major market for Washington wheat and apples.
The Legislature will use this forecast to craft a budget of about $31.9 billion for the two-year budgeting cycle that begins July 1. If lawmakers can’t do that before April 24, the scheduled end of the current legislative session, they’ll need a special session.
“We cannot trim our way out of it,” Gregoire said two hours after the forecast was announced. “Cuts will be felt everywhere around the state.”
Legislators aren’t going to be able to raise taxes, and they shouldn’t try some of the budget “gimmicks” being suggested by some Democrats, such as adding revenues from a “25th month” into the 2011-13 budget or borrowing money by selling more bonds, she said. Asked if she would veto any such plans, Gregoire replied: “Don’t bring it to me.”
She said she would consider increasing gambling options in the state, and even a proposal to license and regulate medical marijuana, which supporters say would bring in more revenue. Saving money in the Corrections Department by allowing early release of felons is “the last place I’d go,” she said.
As the economic forecast council was unanimously adopting the projections, some 1,000 protesters gathered in the Capitol Rotunda to demand the Legislature eliminate tax exemptions for businesses instead of programs for the poor. The marbled mezzanine echoed with shouts of “We’ll be back,” as they left with plans to return for more protests against budget cuts the first week of April.
In her budget proposal in December, Gregoire proposed eliminating state programs not required by federal law, including the Basic Health Program and the Disability Lifeline. Legislators balked, saying they’d rather shrink the programs by reducing the income levels that make a person or family eligible, and worked those changes into a supplemental budget that patched the shortfall through the end of June.
With the widening budget gap, Gregoire was doubtful they’d be able to continue that strategy in 2011-13, and she had little hope for the protesters that the Legislature would eliminate significant tax exemptions.
“It’s much easier said than done. How am I going to get a two-thirds vote?” she said. Closing tax exemptions are considered a tax increase, which requires a two-thirds majority in both houses under an initiative the voters passed in November.
Democrats and Republicans who serve on the forecast council clashed over several items involved in that two-year budget. GOP legislators, including the ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Joe Zarelli of Ridgefield, have called for rejecting contracts the governor’s office has negotiated with unionized state workers, to seek more reductions in wages or benefits.
If the Legislature rejects the contracts, unions receive their current pay and benefits schedule for another year, said Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, the House Ways and Means Committee chairman. That would cost the state more for the year starting July 1.
True, said Zarelli, but it could more than make up for that by demanding lower pay and higher benefit costs in the next year: “The Legislature would be free to do whatever it wants in the second year of the biennium, and … write a budget based on what we can afford to do.”
The contracts already have a 3 percent wage cut after several years without cost-of-living increases, furloughs and increases in health care costs, proof that “public employees have stepped up to the sacrifice,” Gregoire said. Any promise of a better deal in the second year of the budget cycle is “a hard promise to keep,” she said.
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, the forecast council chairman, said the Legislature needs to address budget problems by increasing jobs: “I don’t see enough concern to get Washington working again.”
Sen. Ed Murray, chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, shot back that the state’s economic problems are not the fault of its families or its Legislature: “The last time I checked, the fact that $2 trillion disappeared from the world economy and caused most of the countries’ and most of the states’ budgets to tank was not the fault of the Washington Legislature.”
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
polistra on March 18 at 4:43 a.m.
No point in lecturing the legislature. No legislature, state or fed, is ever going to cut spending or raise taxes to a meaningful degree. Ds will never cut spending, Rs will never raise taxes.
The only way to get this done is by temporary executive dictatorship.
DHF on March 18 at 6:07 a.m.
Start by getting rid of DSHS and its top heavy layers of management. This is the type of government that you get when you dont listen to the voters and have a rainy day fund. Then you spend more than you take in. The Gov and the Lib Dem’s have spent us into the poor house. Cant blame the Republicans for this one. I worked for the state almost 40 years and was appalled at some of the ways tax payer money was spent
berrybestfarm on March 18 at 7:12 a.m.
I too have seen first hand the waste and abuse of tax dollars in government funded programs. Not just those directly run by government but also those where money is passed through both non and for profit companies. Seeing it creates a highly emotional response. Stripping that away I still think somewhere between 5% and 15% could be saved without negatively affecting direct services. This will only happen with political will and executives that care more about the people they are supposed to serve than padding their own nests.
Dennis Patterson—Deer Park
jimvw2 on March 18 at 8:03 a.m.
Let’s start with some facts, not taking points from astroturf movements or business lobbies.
State spending per capita is the lowest it’s been in 20 years. Productivity of state workers is the highest it’s ever been, yes, even with unions.
In the meantime, the Legislature granted $3 billion in tax breaks. And Tim Eymann gifted us with another one of his ill-considered tax limitation efforts. Remember Jarvis and its impact on California?
International banksters who don’t pay taxes here, nonetheless included our state in their grand theft. Our economy is collateral damage.
We’re not going to patch the hole these corporate pirates blew in our budget by pretending that tax cuts and layoffs or pay reductions will close a $5 billion gap.
So let’s stop blaming public servants who work for a living. Let’s press our national legislators to hold the banksters accountable for their grand theft and take back most of the $1.5 trillion of our money they stole and are sitting on while we’we busy attacking each other.
Let’s stop the fiction that destroying state services and excusing the wealthiest amongst us from taxation is going to compel them to spend their untaxed wealth creatinmg jobs here. There’s no evidence this has ever been the case; although those who stand to benefit from it continue to propagate this myth.
This free market mythology is the real enemy. It has enabled the Wall Street assault on the working class and set their victims upon each other istead of them.
Don’t get me wrong. Longrun, a REAL free market economy is the answer. We won’t get back to that free market by shredding the social contract and attacking fellow victims.
We need to start holding the thieves accountable, and insist that they and their wealthy benefactors share in the sacrifice it will take to get our economy back on its feet.
johnclarke on March 18 at 8:25 a.m.
jimvw2;
Thanks for speaking to the facts.
SugarShane on March 18 at 8:25 a.m.
Hey, how about just pulling out of Absurdistan? Or maybe cut the national defense budget? Why do arts and education always get the axe first? Does this mean my tuition is going up again?
Orphan on March 18 at 8:39 a.m.
shane0312 You do know that the Washington State budget dosn’t have anything to do with Absurdistan or the national defence budget right????
Arts and education are luxuries not necessities, well you could argue that education is a necessity but not until the fat is removed.
mikeln on March 18 at 8:45 a.m.
It is time to demand that the people responsible for our economic woes pay up. We have been set upon each other to cover up these peoples thefts and as you can see that is not working out. People living paycheck to paycheck or worse yet, families on the street without a pot to piss in. I have always suspected this economic meltdown was planned with the already too wealthy coming out on top and the rest of us being told we are the ones at fault.
D Statler on March 18 at 8:52 a.m.
jimvw2, You obviously have done your homework! Thanks for your input on this matter.The rich few have pointed fingers at everyone besides themselves.Time to pay their share like the rest of us.
SpokaneLiberal on March 18 at 9:08 a.m.
The telling thing is that some people believe education is a luxury. Education is the thing that powered this country for the last 100 years. If it wasn’t for free schools we wouldn’t have had the educated class that led to victory in WWII. The postwar boom was a product of the GI bill and education. The solution is not education cuts.
There is very little fat in education. Unlike companies the division head (principal) usually does not have one or more personal assistants. It is also very much a boots on the ground profession. Schools spend less on exempt administrators than do almost any other subset of the economy. It isn’t a place with much middle management sucking away dollars.
How about real prison/criminal law reform so that we don’t put so many people in prison and then pay more than 40K a year to keep them there? I don’t smoke pot but I certainly feel like it is a waste to spend 50K putting a pothead into prison and then 40K a year keeping them there. Instead how about we just let the pothead sit in their basement, smoke, and do nothing.
The state also needs to not cover overages if an agency goes over its allocation. UW went 4 billion over its allocation last biennium.
Hcklbery on March 18 at 9:24 a.m.
State Salaries:
School superintendents. 200,000.00 + per year WITH many perks.
Library Directors: $100,000.00 + per year WITH many perks.
Many other State employees likewise.
It is hard to find sympathy for the spenders of our tax dollars with over bloated salaries that public servants are paid WITH very expensive perks.
The SR needs to do an expose on State employee salaries.
hawken on March 18 at 9:33 a.m.
Here are the simple facts:
1- Government spending is out of control.
2- Taxes on the American people have a limit.
3- WA voters said enough! No new taxes!
4- Liberals continue to whine over every, single cut.
5- We have a balanced budget law.
6- We have a Democrat Governor. Can you imagine what the vitriol on this string would be if we had a Republican Governor in office doing the same?
Anything else is purely academic.
Liberals need to grow up and accept the reality. We are broke.
Thank God that we do have a balanced budget amendment in place. Otherwise, we would be digging a deeper hole.
DickAdams on March 18 at 9:52 a.m.
Gregoire is a pathological liar. All anybody has to do is follow her reckless spending habits. That`s why the state of Washington is ranked as the 11th or 12th highest taxed states in the USofA. Stop the darn waste!!! Oh, and have her husband stop wasting money traveling as her PR rep. Pathetic.
SpokaneLiberal on March 18 at 9:57 a.m.
Here are the other simple facts.
1. The average full time state employee makes 42,000 INCLUDING benefits.
2. Superintendents and Head Librarians make good money. There are one per district. Education is one of the least top heavy professions in the country. For every superintendent making 200K + perks there are literally thousands of staff with boots on the ground. And due to education law the superintendent isn’t going anywhere. So cuts just cut boots on the ground.
3. Taxes do have a sort of limit but Washington is in the bottom 10 in terms of being a socialist state. We pay, as a percent of our income far less than most other states and a far smaller percent of our state economy is government.
4. Voters did say no new taxes. Which was mistake. It should be respected since it was voted on, but it still is a mistake.
5. If we really want to save money we need to restructure criminal law in this state and country. Prisons and police costs are bankrupting us.
SpokaneLiberal on March 18 at 10:02 a.m.
DickAdams
Stop spreading lies about our tax burden. As a percent we are near the bottom. In terms of state spending as a percent of the economy (socialism) we are in the bottom ten. The amount of actual dollars paid in taxes is a myth - we have a large enough population with a high enough average income that it skews it.
Example: If Omak has a 50% tax rate and raises $1,000 and Spokane has a .01% tax rate and raises $1,020 that doesn’t make Spokane the overtaxed place. Spokane does collect more but only a manipulator of facts would claim that Spokane is the one of the two that is overtaxing people.
libmark on March 18 at 10:15 a.m.
A quick clarification, Hcklbery: library systems (in Washington state at least) don’t receive direct state funds. Library budgets are purely local matters at the city/county level.
And by the by, the Spokane Public Library director is the CEO of 100+ FTE employees, 6 physical facilities that had nearly 1,000,000 members of the public walk through the doors last year (and all the issues that come with that!), is responsible for being on top of simple little issues like copyright law, Intellectual Freedom/First Amendment issues, wrangling the political world of the Mayor’s office and the City Council, etc. I think you’d be hard pressed to find a private sector CEO who is expected to cover the same acreage for the same salary.
greenlibertarian on March 18 at 10:41 a.m.
That`s why the state of Washington is ranked as the 11th or 12th highest taxed states in the USofA.
As usual, DickAdams presents his malformed opinion as fact, to wit:
http://www.taxfoundation.org/research/topic/65.html
Decrease the ignorance, please. Or at least quit spouting untruths.
west on March 18 at 10:53 a.m.
hclebery:
http://www.seattlepi.com/data/databases/state-salaries.asp
WillyPeter on March 18 at 10:59 a.m.
This is all fun to read….but, the secret is to spend only whatcha got. If more is needed, go to the voters, explain the “dire” consequences, and ask them to agree…with their votes. Anyone who says that “we-the-people” aren’t responsible for our state’s current financial debacle is wrong. We’ve given state government, run by Democrats, the ability to spend us into indentured, poor-house status. Democrats - can we all agree on this - love to spend to “make things better.” And leaving them in power in Olympia for 20 years has caught up with us. This last election showed promise that Evergreen State voters are now realizing what our legislature and governors have done to us. Good, we’ve got nowhere to go but up.
Of course public education is corrupt. All you need to know is that our u-dub prez “gits” over $1,000,000 plus bennies, annually. And students now pay $100 each for some of their text-books; yes, it’s possible to spend $1,000 a year for required books! And illegal aliens/immigrants now pay in-state tuition (imagine!) to attend our colleges and universities. Our AG says allowing that is against federal law! But our legislature says “so what, we got lots of money,” screw the feds.
District 81 is beyond hope. Many of the “boots-on-the-ground” teachers in Spokane joke about the District’s headquarters; full of teachers who don’t teach - ‘cause they don’t want to - but want to dictate policy to overworked, underappreciated ones who do. And our overseers for this group of incompetents is a clueless Board-of-Education. Approving more spending/levies is the worst thing citizens of Spokaloo can do; it won’t be spent on our kids. Unless voters find the current drop-out rate desireable.
And to answer the question, which I’m sure is just rhetorical - yes, your tuition is going up…a lot.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 18 at 11:14 a.m.
Clarkie..jimvw spews forth ……..those aren’t real facts.those are propaganda items for a speech. Broad union strokes to make the state look competent. Not going to happen with what’s before your eyes. LQQK!
All time high spending on foolish things have caused this. 20 years worth of Liberal Dems do that. Never changes, “See whatta great job we’re doing Daddy!!!”…..typical state union worker line while they fleece the system
Here’s the deal: what they are NOW doing and what they HAVE done in the past has brought us to this. Things much change . lil jimmyvw might not like it but it’s necessary to cut deep.. All the propaganda in the world won’t change facts:> WA St is deeeep in the hole and is nearly broke. I suspect it already IS broke but politically that wold be a death knell for the Dems.
What to do? Either increase income ( not skillful enough to do that) or cut…..the DSHS cuts are fine but won’t solve the problem What will solve the problem is cut the unions off. Stop funding those huge pensions, cut their salaries and benefits. Wisconsin has the right idea. Tis is about the only thing that will work within 3 years. Jimmyvw doesn’t like that.
Like I said though.twist and manipulate all you want: Bottom line is that Wa St is out of money. Solution.cut the unions back to where normal peoeple are. Nothing else will work. Trouble is that Gregoire was elected with big union money. She owes.
Open gampbling up…..Indian Casinos have a free ride according to the audits. Give the locals the same deal the Indians have…….make the people competitive. Bet the Indians wouldn’t like Gregoire doing that. Kinda might take the shine of their lil honeypots…the exclusive honeypots she gave them. Oh…they’re her 3rd largest supporter.
Get rid of these Democrats! ..including Verner.
mikeln on March 18 at 12:04 p.m.
Lets follow the money, how much of what the state takes in goes to things the people need and how much goes to profit. There is nothing wrong with making a profit but I have the feeling people with the right connections are making way more then they deserve for what we get in return.
Orphan on March 18 at 12:07 p.m.
Spokane Liberal Education is a luxury for the state. I wonder how people got through college before the State subsidized education. It seems to me the more we subsidize education the less educated we become.
SpokaneLiberal on March 18 at 12:25 p.m.
Orphan Education is not a luxury. It is a Constitutional funding requirement.
And that simply isn’t true. When we started subsidizing education more we became more educated. Do some research about free public education and literacy rates, free public education and educational attainment, the GI bill.
The really ridiculous thing about cutting education is we are cutting our own throats in a global economy where everyone else is giving more free education, in spite of the costs, for global competitiveness.
How about instead of demonizing union pensions we say that any company that accepts any tax break, credit, or taxpayer loan cannot pay the CEO more than 20X the lowest paid 30+ hr. worker. And CEOs get no bonuses - that bonus money goes to pay back the loan/tax incentive first.
nslopeofw on March 18 at 1:05 p.m.
Jimvw2-
Sorry to let you in on this little secret, but corp.’s dont receive any benefits from the state. They pay taxes, and get tax breaks, but unlike the people who live here, they dont receive any free government services. They pay taxes. Now you, on the other hand, pay way less taxes, and are eligible to receive benefits from the state. So drop the “poor me, the businesses are to blame” game.
Another fact from the same web site, Greenlib-
The tax burdon per capita has dropped because of job losses, not tax drops.
http://www.taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/486.html
Stop with your misinformation, too. If our state had gained jobs, our tax burden would be higher. Its a #’s game.
Bottom line:
1.) Voters dont want new taxes.
2.) Government spends more than they take in.
3.) We have a balance the budget amendment, so they have to cut spending.
4.) Where are we spending, that gives little or no return to the tax paying citizens? SOCIAL PROGRAMS!
SpokaneLiberal on March 18 at 1:22 p.m.
Government services used by employers:
1. Skilled workforce aka education
2. Commerce aka money aka roads aka rules that govern trade
3. Healthy Employees aka nutrition programs, EPA, FDA, medicare/medicaid
4. Recourse aka courts
5. Protection aka police, prisons, military etc.
Many businesses pay taxes, but many businesses don’t. They use loopholes to pay a lower tax rate than we do.
libmark on March 18 at 1:55 p.m.
Hey all — a poll for you: Quick, in your own mind, note the immediate answer that pops to mind to this question: Over the past 100 years, when was America at it’s global peak of power, prominence, and optimism?
All right… now that you’ve done that, I’ve asked this question a number of times in different settings with different people and the usual winner — in a landslide — is the 1950s.
Keeping that in mind, take a look at the historical tax rates:
http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/taxfacts/displayafact.cfm?Docid=213
Oh, to only return to those radical socialist ‘50s! Back when corporations didn’t offshore their headquarters to avoid paying for the infrastructure that allowed them be be profitable. Back when there was a middle class. Back when unions were strong (scroll down and take a gander at Table 4 here: http://eh.net/encyclopedia/article/friedman.unions.us)
I don’t buy this argument that government today is bloated. It just flat out contradicts the historical data. Was government in the radical socialist ‘50s bloated? That’s not an argument you hear too often…
MrNatural on March 18 at 1:55 p.m.
Fried Venison Medallions with Feta Dipping Sauce
Ingredients
Feta Sauce:
• 8 ounces feta, crumbled
• 12 ounces sour cream
• 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
• 2 tablespoons freshly chopped dill leaves
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Venison:
• 2 (12-ounce) venison tenderloins
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup dry mustard powder
• 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 teaspoons grey salt
• 1 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
• 1 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
• 3/4 cup olive oil
For the sauce:
Directions
In a small bowl fold together the feta, sour cream, garlic, and dill until combined. Serve on the side with the medallions.
For the venison:
Slice the venison tenderloin into 1/3-inch slices.
In a shallow dish, mix together the flour, mustard powder, cayenne, salt and pepper. In a separate shallow dish, mix together the buttermilk and whole-grain mustard. Dredge the medallions in the buttermilk mixture for a minute. Then coat with the flour mixture.
In a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat, heat the oil. Fry the venison until golden brown on both sides. Place on a paper towel lined plate to drain. Serve with feta sauce.
This makes more sense than what I’ve been reading so far…
eagleproducer on March 18 at 2:48 p.m.
The idea that “we’re” broke is a joke.
If we are “broke,” it’s because the money the taxpayers gave to Wall Street hasn’t “trickled down” to the economy.
Take it back and fill our budget holes.
Last but not least, ignore the morons like Hawken who want to ruin what’s left of the U.S.
Byrdie714 on March 18 at 3:17 p.m.
Do we need ODHH?
WSHRC?
There are many offices in our state government that we don’t need.
ODHH has employees of 19 inidivudals and are telling the non profit organizations that they support to be expecting cut backs and yet they are not cutting any fat from their office.
WSHRC—seriously? They take your complaints to investigate them only to drag it out for 2-3 years because they can’t make up their mind or that your complaint is assigned to the wrong person, etc, etc.
Our government is fat and it’s time to take the scissors and start cutting this fat off.
DickAdams on March 18 at 3:30 p.m.
SpokaneLiberal: I now know why there are more horses asses than horses, calling me a liar. Your message reminds me of digested food though the bull. Obviously, you did not even read all the material you posted. I`m also convinced you fall in the 47% that do not pay federal income taxes. There is no doubt in my mind having read your liberal posts for awhile, you may even be a free loader. I`ve paid federal income taxes for over 60 years. I also pay over $8,000.00 annually for my medical insurance. I contribute more than most of you liberals to the poor who can`t afford insurance. My costs go up annually because so many people go the emergency room for a runny nose and don`t have insurance. There other ways to do it that are free to them. Many don`t
seem to care. If its truly an emergency, I have no problem paying extra providing they “can`t afford” it.
And greenie, as someone told you the other day, you should read some of your own posts to see how dumb they look.
I give a ats ase.
DickAdams on March 18 at 3:55 p.m.
Spokane Liberal: I may have been wrong about you. I`m told you are a government worker. That explains a lot. I don`t know what greenie is. With all his moronic logic its hard to tell. Probably another person not paying any federal income.
Dazzeetrader11 on March 18 at 3:56 p.m.
Eagle………lol…bottom line is that there’s no money to fund this. Reasons only matter if someone’s going to jail or if we need to correct it. Probably both in this case.
How to fix it? Change politicans as the ones in Wa St are obviously incompetent. Other way is to MAKE them cut spending. Not the productive sectors ( Unions aren’t…. no matter what jimvw .the public union employee says) but the parasitics pieces.
CUT THE SPENDING. This is a disaster when we can’t take care of the desitute, mental incompetent people, dispossessed children, or the education piece( sans the union parasites). Party’s over. Time’s up. Reduce the spending. CUT!
SpokaneLiberal on March 18 at 4:24 p.m.
I have worked for the government in the past but am not currently. I have paid taxes every year since I graduated college. Anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand. I get a refund, but never close to what I pay. I pay about 2000 for my medical and my employer pays the rest.
And Dick look at my example and then look at all the statistics provided here. Washington is one of the least socialist states with the lowest tax rate in the country. Paying more in $$ is a false presentation of the truth. The tax RATE is what matters.
If we want to change spending how about we change the way we enforce laws so we can save on lawyers, judges, prisons, etc.?
Orphan on March 18 at 5:18 p.m.
Wow Spokane Liberal you get a tax refund but never as much back as you pay in, BAAAAAA HA HA HA. That is freaking hilarious you dont get it all back ROTFLMAS. DickAdams is correct you are in the 47% that dont pay any taxes or maybe you are in the next 10% that dont pay much in taxes either way you are not contributing your share not even close.
I have also paid taxes for years, tens of thousands per year to hundreds of thousands per year depending on the year. I am one of those people that you want more taxes from. What do you contribute a couple of hundred dollars per year, thats not even a drop in the bucket compared to what most small business owners pay. You dont pay as much in taxes during the whole year as most small business owners do in a week.
Typical Liberal I dont pay anything but I sure as heck will step up with my hand out and ask someone else thats already paying huge amounts to pay somemore. I am so glad you posted how much you pay in taxes it lets me understand exactly where you are coming from, Gimme Gimme Gimme.
greenlibertarian on March 18 at 10:19 p.m.
DickAdams on March 18 at 3:55 p.m.
Spokane Liberal: I may have been wrong about you. I`m told you are a government worker. That explains a lot. I don`t know what greenie is. With all his moronic logic its hard to tell. Probably another person not paying any federal income
I see, Dick just assumes that someone works for the government, and so makes Dick’s mal-formed opinion about taxes correct.
He can’t refute that the CONSERVATIVE, ANTI-TAX Tax Foundations finds that WA state taxes its residents at a LOWER than average rate for all states. He can’t refute that WA State’s Business Climate si the 11th BEST in the country.
He can’t refute that in the aggregate, citizens and companies in this state pay more in federal taxes than federal monies they get back from the federal government.
Why, because Dick chooses to argue from emotion, ranting, and an always factless set of assertions which HE NEVER backs up with documented facts.
SpokaneLiberal on March 20 at 9:13 p.m.
This year i will pay 4K in taxes - I just completed them tonight. I don’t mind if they are higher. I live in safety, with clean water, in relative consistency. If you paid more than me - and if you really paid a 100K in taxes in a year then you could afford it - and you are wasting your time on this board - instead spend you millions for enjoyment and live a full life instead of clearly becoming irritated and losing some of that fullness on an online board.
But again greenlibertarian is right and there is no right wing answer because the facts are that this state is one of the least socialist, lowest tax burden, business friendly states in the country.
the only answer: nu uh… . I pay taxes!!!
nslopeofw on March 21 at 4:38 p.m.
4K? Either you dont make much or your percentage is tiny and you have massive write offs! Imagine paying 5-10 times that much, then see if you feel it’s a great deal. Especially knowing there are people that pay no taxes and are still getting the ” I live in safety, with clean water, in relative consistency.”
That is why the flat tax is so important. 20% for all. Poof, budget balanced, rich still pay more than the poor, and most of us would get a tax reduction!! NO freebies. NONE. If one is on food stamps, one needs to work picking garbage by the side of the road to pay their own way. If people had to pick up trash at minimum wage to pay off their welfare, i bet they’d dump welfare and get a real job.
SpokaneLiberal on March 22 at 12:37 p.m.
I do have some decent deductions, but I also don’t make that much (50K between my wife and myself) if you are paying 10X that much you are making good money or have a bad accountant.
nslopeofw on March 22 at 12:54 p.m.
No, i dont make 10x that, but i do make more. You pay less than 10%, I pay more than 30%. I have write offs, a house and 2 kids, and a good accountant. But because its the law of our land, i pay what they ask, and dont cheat. I dont like it, but i do.
I’m sure you are a wonderful person, and good citizen, but unless you are a way better citizen than me, it isnt fair that i pay 30%+, and you pay less than 10%. Whould it not be more fair if we both paid 15 or 20%?
nslopeofw on March 23 at 12:39 a.m.
Here is an interesting chart that The New York Times article http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/21/on-twitter-conservative-by-association/ has reported.
A Duke University study of researchers rank politicians and other public figures by political ideology as measured by a formula that incorporates whom they follow on Twitter, and who follows them. http://newsbusters.org/sites/default/files/file_attach/twitter-study.pdf
Interesting that MSNBC is more left than Jane Fonda, and barely less than the daily KOS.
Even more interesting is the up and coming challenger politicians are mostly right, and center, with VERY few lefties. I think that reflects the mood of the country. Kind of puts a bit of sand in the shorts of the liberal posters on this site. If the majority of people shooting for office are right or center, then where are all these left leaning people? My guess is they are few, but have very loud voices. They cloud the issues with cries of racism, and hateful insults.