It’s easy: Cut, don’t tax

Each day I read more about how our state government is looking for ways to increase taxes to balance the budget. So, I recently wrote to Reps. Kevin Parker and John Driscoll and Sen. Chris Marr about Washington state budget and taxes.

Simply put in three words: Make the cuts.

Result in three words: Balance the budget.

I retired but then went back to work because I needed to. Lawmakers should not increase any taxes at all. They expect the citizens to do with less – how about government?

In business, we have to look at both sides of the equation: revenue and expense. In business, revenue is difficult to increase, so expense cuts are usually the norm.

Conversely, with government, they always seem to look at the revenue side. Why is this? Because government can increase taxes. To date, our Legislature has failed to grasp the need to reprioritize our state spending.

Expense cuts take leadership. Leaders should do the right things: Make the cuts. Balance the budget.

Richard Devenport

Spokane