Send budget figures lower

Gary Crooks has dropped his Smart Bombs last Sunday on the Republicans’ proposed federal budget. Crooks reports that Rep. Paul Ryan proposes specific changes to “reduce the deficit from 9 percent of the total economy to 1.6 percent by 2021.”

Crooks notes this is according to friendly math by the Heritage Foundation. Heck, even if they are so friendly they’re off by a factor of two we’d be headed in the right direction to shave the deficit from 9 percent to 3.2 percent.

This budget will require debate and compromise. Budgets are always based in values, as anyone who has ever had a joint checking account can attest. The debate will be about both values and numbers. Let’s hope in this next budget battle that the Democrats are willing to bring something to the table besides the name-calling we heard as Congress worked on tying up Pelosi’s loose ends.

Sue Lani W. Madsen

Edwall, Wash.