January 9, 2012 in News

WA Legislature likely to be heavy on budget debates

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OLYMPIA—Washington’s Legislature begins its 60-day session today with a budget that is out of balance and a looming debate over whether increased taxes are part of the solution to bringing it out of the red.

Legislators are being asked by Gov. Chris Gregoire to find as much as $1.5 billion in savings in the $32 billion budget. Cuts that deep will endanger key programs for schools, colleges, health care and public safety, she says, and voters should be asked to “buy back” about $500 million worth of cuts through a temporary increase in the sales tax.

But not all Democrats agree that the sales tax is the place to find new revenues, and most Republicans argue the Legislature should find savings through reforming state government before there’s any talk of a tax increase.

The session starts at noon today with a ceremonial opening. Gregoire will deliver her “state of the state” address on Tuesday.

Seven comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  catfuzz on January 09 at 12:15 p.m.

  They can very easily find the savings they need by simply cutting the waste and fraud. That’ll never happen though.

• 

  terrymr on January 09 at 1:22 p.m.

  New revenue idea : legalize and tax online poker.

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  meadman on January 09 at 4:57 p.m.

  Many people (self-described experts) alway says “cut waste and fraud” –- while you may think there are ‘billions and billions” of such dollars to be saved, you would be surprised what a tiny bit of the overall budget is actually lost to fraud.

  And re: “waste” ; what you consider a waste of money could be viewed by thousands of other people as essential. That pat answer of waste and fraud is not a real answer. The state financial situation is as bad as it has ever been in history and REAL answers are needed.

  We are at the point of having no real option but to increase revenues somehow….. taxes? Probably some degree of tax increase is needed, some additional cuts, but the “fat” has been cut out long ago. We are now cutting the bone…

  And NO it is not all the fault of Obama, Gregoire, Democrats, etc etc etc – there is plenty of blame to go around. Let’s start with the Wall Street bankers, etc. who started the ball rolling on the national econcomy. Why are none of them in prison?

• 

  jddavis on January 09 at 6:00 p.m.

  Meadman—I agree that some mix of taxes and spending cuts are needed. Not buying that we have cut all of the fat.

  Hopefully, the Governor will address spending cuts tomorrow.

• 

  woamike on January 09 at 6:51 p.m.

  “We are at the point of having no real option but to increase revenues somehow….. taxes? Probably some degree of tax increase is needed, some additional cuts, but the “fat” has been cut out long ago. We are now cutting the bone… ”

  “We are now cutting the bone”? On what planet? Planet craddle to grave welfare utopia? IF we are now “cutting the bone” (your deluded assertion), how can we possibly make “some additional cuts”?? Please make up your confused mind.

  BTW, there IS a ton of waste and fraud in government. Probably enough to fully fund a small country. To believe otherwise is to be willfully ignorant.

• 

  meadman on January 09 at 11:17 p.m.

  so tell me woamike … what is the source of your knowledge about the extent of fraud and waste? — be specific to the state of Washington. Provide verifiable proof of your assertion please. I”m not saying there is not a problem but don’t believe it is as widespread as you say. If it is so clear that this degree of F&W exists, why have the legislators not already dealt with it?

• 

  D Statler on January 10 at 8:21 p.m.

  There may be some major state agencies that could be combined,eliminated and or privatized (parks department comes to mind). All fish hatcheries could be privatized.One need look no further than Oregon to see it works.That would be one of the first places I would start. We have numerous state commissions that could easily be eliminated or down sized.The Utilities and Transportation could be eliminated. The top three officials there bring in a HALF MILLION DOLLARS themselves.There are 140 more state employees in that department alone. The Attourney General and DOT can absorb these responsibilities. Department of Corrections is very top heavy also.A short review of administrative staff will open some eyes to savings.What about the farm beaureaus?
  What we really need is somebody with common sense to sort this mess out,line by line.Then feel free to ask us for an increase.Time for fiscal responsibility and end to living beyond our means. So simple a janitor can figure it out ! :^)