WA State Dems: Cut School Funding, Tax Beer and Candy

Washington State Democratic leadership has held the state hostage for 30 days of a special session in order to address the state budget crisis. After threats of 20% across the board cuts (wouldn't that be nice), and thirty days at a cost to the state of nearly $20,000 a day, the Democratic leadership seems to be passing a budget aimed at cutting funding for the most necessary functions of Government - schools and prisons, while placing nearly $800 Million in new taxes on beer, candy, services and bottled water.

Come November, however, the Republicans will be blamed for funding cuts to the schools - mark my words...

Let's take a look at my main points of contention with the approach the Democrats are taking.

First - the tax increases.

The tax on beer is not across the board. As a matter of fact, it targets low cost/high production beers... the type of beer most likely to be consumed by the working poor - the Coors Light, Rainier, PBR, Budweiser, etc. Exempt are the high-end micro brews, resulting in a tax exemption for the Seattlites who flock to microbreweries after a long day in the office. The tax is on the order of ten cents per can/bottle. A sizable expense to the poor, where every penny counts.

Tax increases were also directed at candy, soda, bottled water, and service businesses - directly hitting the working elements of our state. A tax boycott of candy, bottled water, and soda would directly impact the working distributors of those items, placing further pressure on the working families of this state!

Budget cuts -

There were cuts to the budget, to the tune of slightly more than the expected tax increases. However, these cuts were directed at universities, schools, and corrections. The very fundamentals of our state, and of the state's responsibility to support, were cut - leaving the health care and bloated state employee union wages untouched. The cut to K-12 education relies on the lottery funds to pick up the slack, a crutch that uses a supplemental fund as a primary source of funding... never a strong move. The cuts to universities and corrections further shows the disregard for the people of the state of Washington.

Democrats have, in putting forward this partisan budget, revealed their priorities and allegiances. They have placed special interest and state labor unions above the education of our next generation, and placed the burden of taxation on the hard workers of this state. Each and every representative or senator who is voting in favor of these horrendous budgetary changes needs to be reminded of their failures come November.

Where they refused to cut union wages, we will remember in November. Where they refused to back education, we will remember in November. Where they refused to represent the working poor, we will remember in November.

We will return the favor and refuse to cast our votes for them... and perhaps, by doing so, we can return the government of the State of Washington back to the people... the hard working people of this great state!

Passing the Buck - Democrats approach at governing

Washington state democrats, who currently hold a majority in the state, have overturned the peoples initiative I-960, which required a super majority to implement new taxes. The Democratic Gov, Gregiore, will sign the nullification bill tomorrow opening the flood gates for new taxes. In fact, Democrats are already proposing a billion dollar tax increase ranging from cigarettes and bottled water to a sales tax across the board (with the obvious proposed rebate for 'working class' families).

In fact, tax increases of this nature are nothing more than the Democratic leadership passing the buck. Instead of refusing pressures from union bosses, cutting state employees, and otherwise curbing spending, they are passing off the cost of their unproductive government programs to the taxpayers. When they should be fixing the problem, they are reinforcing their habits by spending OUR money.

The democratic style of governing is bankrupting cities, states, and the union itself. It doesn't work, it won't work, and it is going to back fire come election day. If only 2010 were also a gubernatorial year in WA...

WA Governor to raise taxes $600 Million?

Democratic governor of the state of Washington is looking to raise taxes by $605 Million as a way to bridge the $2.8 Billion deficit. The tax is mainly aimed at oil products (gas), pollution, cigarettes, and 'junk food'.

The portion of the taxes aimed at oil products and pollution are being openly embraced by radical environmentalists, while businesses and job creating industry, such as refineries) are opposed to a tax that would drive up costs to operate and drive down the ability to employ workers.

The tax increases are a proposed offset to cutting social welfare programs from the state's budget - programs that are over budget and under-performing, yet hold a special place in the hearts of liberal special interests.

Gov. Gregoire and the democrats in the state legislature first must repeal the people's initiative, I-960, passed in 2007 stating that a 2/3 majority is required to raise taxes in the legislature. Luckily Republicans are successfully stalling the bill to undermine the people's will in the state house (it passed easily in the state senate).

Democrats seem to misunderstand the role of government, the dangers of state sponsored welfare, and the impact that taxation has on the economy. Gregoire and the team of WA Democrats have spent the last two decades driving up regulation and taxes to the point where businesses are leaving the region, taking essential tech and higher education jobs, and thus driving up unemployment and negatively impacting any hope of a rebound in the regional housing market. Their recipe is one of disaster.

What is the answer?

Smarter government. Leaner government. simpler government.

Reduce the size and complexity of the state government to the bare essentials - education, defense, infrastructure. Everything else is negotiable, and will be allowed only if it is a proven and cost effective program with positive societal results. We cannot simply employ the standard practice of 'budgetary increase' on an annual basis and without review. This leads to an extraordinary amount of waste! We must operate smarter!

Just like any business that is in financially hard times, it is sometimes necessary to lay off workers. Unless you are the Washington state government - in which case your idea of 'economic growth' is creating government jobs - and thus increasing government spending and state deficit! The government should evaluate the committees, the regulatory boards, and every individual on the state payroll - an audit that will examine just what and who needs to be cut. By cutting overhead costs, the leaner governmental body can operate smarter and faster.

During the downsizing of the regulatory boards it is necessary to ensure that one agency, a NECESSARY agency, is the surviving keeper of the remaining regulatory items. There is no viable reason for many boards to hold jurisdiction over the same issue or concern. Simplify the government, streamline the regulation, and create a more business friendly environment in the meantime.

Washington state is, much like many other states of the union, in a very bad place... mainly because the state governments have followed the examples of the 'other' Washington and grown/spent beyond their useful means. These trends must not simply be stopped, but reversed... returning this state to one of productivity, ingenuity, and innovative solutions for our unique habitat.

WA State Dems - 2010: 'tis the Decade of Taxation!

Happy New Year to you, my faithful readers and likeminded freedom lovers! After a week and a half of recharging the ole batteries, I reconnect to the newsfeed to get more of the same: Democrats in Washington State want to raise taxes…

Washington State Democratic Gov. Christine Gregoire and her Democrat team of Flying Monkeys have run this state so far into the red that no 'gimmick' or federal bail-out is going to help them in 2010. Democrat special interests and big government spending have sunk the state deficit to $2.6 Billion through mid 2011.

Gregoire may not be up for re-election in '10, but her Democratic led State House will be placed into a tough spot in an election year - TAX INCREASES. We are not talking your run-of-the-mill Washington State Sales tax - We are talking the dirtiest of all taxes: State Income Tax - though a sales tax increase will be billed as the sensible alternative. In a state where sales tax already reaches into the 8.9% range, gas tax is pushing $0.40 per gallon, and businesses are taxed to death, one has to wonder why the Democrats, instead of cutting budget and living within fiscal restraint, figure that a recession is the perfect time to tax the people.

True to their nature, the Democrats have 'cut as much as we can cut' and are starting the legislative season selling the same old story of “gutting the education budget”, etc, to rally support for taxes – of course, think of the children. Liberal fear mongering at it's worst!

The reality of the matter is that this proposed tax is nothing more than our punishment for continually electing Democratic Majorities into the state house in Olympia. Time and again they spend beyond their means, and we are left footing a larger and larger bill. To what end?

Even if we see tax ‘cuts’ in certain areas as a way to appear ‘tax revenue neutral’, (other than the Billions they’re trying to overcome), there is no stopping the eliminated taxes from returning when Democrats spend us into another corner in the future – again I ask, TO WHAT END?

Instead of rolling up the sleeves and doing the dirty work, the easy answer is simply to take more money from the loyal subjects of the state of Washington. Unfortunately the trends are similar in every state and at the federal level: unrestrained spending, mortgaging the future for fruitless delusions. The Democrats understand nothing about sound fiscal judgment.

What is needed is a simple tax system, a series of protections against future spending and future tax increases, and a serious look at the regulatory structure of the State of Washington. We can get there by limiting government special welfare programs, consolidating regulatory agencies, and cutting the government size and payroll significantly. Cut the SIZE of the government to within the budgetary means, not increase revenue to feed the larger beast - What a Novel Concept!!

The leaders in our state, as well as our federal, governments should understand that economic and social prosperity comes not under the heavy burden of taxes and overregulation, rather under the encouragement of innovation and individual success. Another burdensome tax will merely deepen the underlying problem – Democratic State Spending!