Seattle money spreads east

The Office of Financial Management released a report entitled “State Expenditures and Revenue for the year 2013.” I read it at the online edition of the Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 1. The report points to 23 Washington counties that receive more in state revenue than they contribute. All of the counties in Eastern Washington fall into this category.

Eastern Washington legislators like to place the blame for anything and everything having to do with the state’s woes on the Seattle liberals. While this may please some of their conservative constituents, it fails to identify the truth of the matter.

Were the Democrats to take them up on their constant rants to reduce taxes at the state level, the Seattle liberals would have more money to spend and Eastern Washington residents would have less. Less money for schools, social programs, law enforcement, roads and a host of other tax funded programs.

They should be careful what they wish for. Unintended consequences can be the result of poorly thought out legislative decisions. Better to make decisions based upon facts than political driven ideology.

Allen Roberts

St. John