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 THURSDAY, MARCH 11, 2010 6:53 pm |
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Local News 
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Gregoire unveils budget with deep cuts, will press for tax hikes OLYMPIA — Gov. Chris Gregoire began making a case for new or higher taxes this morning after proposing a budget containing deep reductions she said she can’t live with.The plan put forth by the second-term governor would erase a projected $2.6 billion deficit by slashing funds for public schools and axing programs that serve the state’s poorest and most vulnerable residents. It eliminates the Basic Health Plan that provides subsidized health insurance for 65,000 low-income individuals and ends cash grants to thousands of the state’s poorest through the General Assistance-Unemployable program. It also reduces financial aid to college students and money for smaller class sizes in public schools and makes a number of smaller cuts, including funds to give students free tours of the Capitol. Overall, Gregoire blends $1.6 billion in cuts with $650 million in reserves and $420 million in transfers from other funds to get rid of the red ink. This plan covers spending through mid-2011. By law, it had to be balanced using the existing stream of taxes, fees and other sources of revenue collected by the state. Gregoire, in an open letter to residents, said she doesn’t like what she produced and will prepare a second version that raises revenue to avert some of the deepest cuts. “I am legally required to submit a budget that is balanced to current revenues, and that is what I have done. But I do so with the greatest reluctance,” she said in the letter. “Today’s document does not reflect our values as a state. It does not reflect the Washington I know and love or the Washington I want for our future and the future of our children and grandchildren. I am convinced it is not the plan for the future that Washingtonians would choose, either,” she wrote In the letter, Gregoire does not identify any sources for the additional funds she will seek. “With regard to revenue, we should first look at eliminating unfair and unproductive exemptions and loopholes,” she wrote in the letter. “We will explore every possible savings option and we will experience shared pain from the results. While it is evident we cannot cut our way out of this budget dilemma, it is just as certain we cannot tax our way out of it,” she said. |
- Tulalip man accused in a toddler's death is a no-show
- Everett routinely sees people break anti-dumping law
- Boeing to boost output of 787s
- Boeing tanker deal may be expedited
- It’s a pain getting old, but doctor’s ideas can help
- Man's apparent wrath turns destructive in Mountlake Terrace
- New high-tech tool aids searchers after avalanches
- Community Transit cuts will hurt; just ask a rider like Crystal
- Man charged in toddler's death suspected in Marysville robbery
- Boeing tanker creates up to 70k U.S. jobs – study
- Tulalip man accused in a toddler's death is a no-show
(33) - Cut through solid-white lines and it could cost you $411 (15)
- Special session likely to finish budget, tax increase (12)
- Everett routinely sees people break anti-dumping law (10)
- County to pay builders $1.7 million to settle suits (9)
- New high-tech tool aids searchers after avalanches (9)
- Fugitive charged in toddler's slaying accused of robbery (9)
- Marysville girl on bike in critical condition after struck by car (8)
- Community Transit cuts will hurt; just ask a rider like Crystal (7)
- Woman still in critical condition after Monday crash on Highway 9 (6)
- Meadowdale boys refuse to fold, but rally falls short in 3A state opener
- Prairie’s zone defense stymies Lynnwood at Class 3A state girls basketball tournament
- Ellensburg takes it to Archbishop Murphy girls at 2A tourney
- Beyond the ‘Woodstock Generation'
- Magical run for Jackson
- Schools, public debate budget cutting ideas
- Farrand watercolors on exhibit at MLT library
- FD1, FD7 could merge
- Boeing to Offer NewGen Tanker to US Air Force
- New CEO at Valley General Hospital
- Dan Koffman's ‘TopSpin' marketing astounds, inspires, motivates, produces — just for starters
- Economic forecasts for Snohomish County, Everett, Marysville offer some bright moments
- Government officials influencing home prices
- Massive EPA energy regulations meet challenge
- Washington state healthcare reforms also needed
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COMMENTS
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I am surprised that some people are so truly ignorant. Un American... leave if you don't like it.. Bush did this to our state... Many of us pay many taxes and have cut our spending and budgeted our money. Congress needs to do the same. The president needs to do the same. The governor needs to do the same. I don't mind paying extra money in taxes to help support the troops who keep us safe. I do object to paying for pork projects, roads to nowhere, colored TVs for prisons and illegal aliens getting free anything. Every state and federal office needs to track its spending and cut back. Bush may not be your favorite but he never never never consented to saddle this country and our children with trillions of dollars of debt and subsequently break our monetary system; allowed perverted homosexuals to be a safety school czar; allowed communists to advise him; circumvented the constitution and he never, never, never apologized for the United States. He kept this country safe despite what you think. If this state is broke - ask yourself who's been holding the purse strings? And why wait until now to think about cutting back? If you have $5,000 on your credit card - you don't charge $10,000 more if you want to get out of debt! You would have to be pretty ignorant not to figure that out. If you don't have it... don't spend it. Objections to being in Iraq are irrational. We've been thru it all before. Everything changed for this country on Sept 11th - war was declared on us. And yes it is a WAR. That's not what put our country in debt. Greedy congressmen who act like kids in a candy store, unlimited and out of control spending by the new president. Un American... I think not. Proud to be American and proud to fight to keep this country intact and out of the hands of socialists and communists and amoral progressives.
Susan Sutter | Dec 10, 2009 5:43 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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I was told today by a friend that illegal immigrants will be allowed to collect social security, even if they have never paid taxes or have just moved to the USA. Is this true?
Anne Hanson | Dec 9, 2009 9:23 pm | 1 replies | Request removal
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Just how does your friend think this would happen with out a Social Security Number?? Think it through ok? If it doesnt make sence, its most likely not true.
Mike Flavin | Dec 09, 2009 10:52 pm | Request removal
Ok so let me get this straight. A couple of ears ago our elected democrats suspended a voter mandated spebnding limit, so that they could spend some of the riches they were collecting in taxes? Now that those riches are not coming in they are going to suspend another voter madated tax initiative so that they can make that money up. How is this right?
Randy Moser | Dec 9, 2009 10:52 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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The true mark of a society is how it takes care of its poor and indegent. You can say not enough people are b eing thrown into the street through tax cuts, you can cry that schools are not getting enough money taken from them. Well since you arm chair economists know so much call Olympia. Be proactive, not reactive. So much conservative compassion huh?
Mike Flavin | Dec 9, 2009 11:12 am | 1 replies | Request removal
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i have called and called and called. They do not want to listen
brian pray | Dec 09, 2009 7:12 pm | Request removal
First of all, to all the anti Tim eyeman people:This is exactly why we need more accountability from the local everyday people concerning cutting spending waste creatively. Now maybey some of his ideas were not perfect but never the less someone has to keep them on their toes. Of course as usual instead of creatively cutting waste at the highest levels of government spending we'll all wave the sky is falling on the poor and needy flags. Instead of cutting unecessity's out of the spending budget we'll scare everyone into conformity and raise taxes. I would like To see every Leader of our local government look into the eyes of the people getting cut out of benefits and the people who are struggling during this holiday season, right as their doing this and having their big taxpayers paid for holiday parties and gatherings. What a wonderrful thing for our elected officials to announce during not only obviously a huge financial chrisis for all families at every level, but also an announce ment of more hopelessness to the under priveledged and needy during the Holiday season. And by the way The majority of voters have none to blame but themselves for voting her in a second term. Now it is time for all of you to rise up get away from the non essentials of wasting your own time and money on frivilous activities and take a stand make your voices heard get involved and put the pressure where it belongs. Let's make these people do their job instead of dumping it in our laps and stealing from our stockings that hold our future.
george geddis | Dec 9, 2009 4:24 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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I'll gladly tell you...
As my mother works at the prison in Monroe, she tells me the horror stories on a daily basis...
1.) Your money is being spent on prisons...(since all you right-wingers want to lock everyone up)...The prison is providing name brand (not generic) drugs to prisoners. The prison is providing psychologists and psychiatrists to prisoners. The state is providing cable tv to the prisoners. The state must provide medical care to the prisoners, so, they get to go to the hospital for expensive tests. If we would spend our time locking up the dangerous criminals and stop locking up those with non-violent offenses, we could save money...
These are things that should be fixed by the State Legislature, not the Governor, since they would need to be written into law (prisoners would sue unless it was a law). Of course, now that there have been 5 cops killed, the Legislature is going to be lobbied hard to crack-down even more on crime and lock even more people up...so, your costs go up...
2.) Next, your money is being spent on WA State Need Grants for college and community college students. As a former financial aid officer, I have first-hand knowledge of this process. Students who qualify are provided with a Need Grant check in their name. The check is mailed to the college and given to the student. The student is supposed to be spending this money on their tuition AND books. Not so...The students refuse to listen to their financial aid officers and demand their Need Grant checks anyway, as is their right. They then go out and party with this money. This is a program that could be cut and the Governor has proposed doing just that.
3.) The State is spending a huge amount on WA State Ferries. As a resident of Whidbey Island, I have first-hand knowledge of this. This agency has grown beyond all expectations, however, service provided has dropped and rates have skyrocketed. This agency maintains a planning department and all kinds of middle and upper management. This is something the Governor could cut (however, due to the union that represents the office workers, the Governor would find herself in the hot seat). This agency could also shift the burden of higher fares to the tourists rather than locals. However, the best fix would be to just build a bridge from Mukilteo to Clinton, however, it is opposed by just about everyone...
Bottom line,
There are things the Governor could do and then there are things she cannot do...As a Progressive Democrat, I did not support my party's nomination of Gregoire because she is a "conservadem". The rumor is, Jay Inslee is going to be nominated by the State Democratic Party to run after Gregoire's term expires...
Anthony Vicari | Dec 9, 2009 12:41 pm | 1 replies | Request removal
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Anthony,
Obviously you are not listening to the "Right Wingers".
Prisons are part of law enforcement which should not be deprived, Though as you pointed out money could be spent wisely. Frankly I think prisons should be run like the Japanise prison system, no windows bread and water, no amenities. Guess whay very little repeat business. HJow about taking lessons from Sherriff Joe Arpio? He seems to have the right system!
As for the ferries, I lived on the Island for most of my life and frankly believe the ferry systen should NOT be subsdidised and maybe should be privatized.
As for Tuitions that too could be looked at and money spent reduced say not giving Illegal aliens in state or free tuition. We may even need to kill the grants, there are still alot of private grants out there.
Frankly I think the Republicans are as bad as the democrats. Until they realize that they work for us and not vice versa.
Unfortunately, the system we have now if we gave 100% to government they would still tell us to get 2nd and 3rd jobs because that isn't enough.
Being Liberal is easy, give everything to everybody. Being fiscally Conservative is tough because you have to be able to pay for this stuff without going into hoc.
Todd Westby | Dec 09, 2009 2:09 pm | Request removal
If the Governor was serious about cutting she would have started alot sooner than this.
We need to freeze ALL State spending at last years levels and hold it there till the budget is balanced. We also need top punish those who got us in this mess in the first place, the Governor and the Legislature, by cutting their salaries by at lease 50% and holding those there till the budget is balanced. Also Freeze ALL new hiring and don't backfill retirees.
We can also get the State out of the liquor business. Sure it makes some profit but how about all the taxes that aren't paid by the state that must be by private companies.
We also need to cut the State workforce, minus Teachers, basic hHealthcare, and law enforcement by at least 10%. Remember when government was shut sown for a week and no one noticed? Sorry to those of you government employees who think they have a lifetime guaranteed job.
In stead her highness plans on cutting those programs that should be the priority in the first place.
Remember the rainy day fund that we had and had to spend? Guess what, if the legislature would have kept their greedy hands off it then we could have used it when the monsoon came.
When are the voters in this state going to wake up and fire all these corrupt elected officials Democrat and Republicans.
We need to flush this toilet, it is backed up and has been stinking for years.
Don't fall for the hype, they havent begun to cut back!
Todd Westby | Dec 9, 2009 12:33 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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Instead of me arguing that people are becoming less self-reliant and demand more of what others earn, ask yourselves why people have become less self-reliant and brainwashed into believing they are entitled to what others work for and earn?
Liberals in America are destroying America by educating Americans into believing that government dependency is admirable, and stealing from those who work for a living is a right. And who promotes this? We have a party in power that has bought that power with lies and other people's money.
Government has never taxed so much, spent so much, and done so little to improve lives. Government is a false-crutch. Government is a drug that destroys everything and everyone it touches, and half this nation has been convinced that the drug dealers in Olympia or DC are the good guys. Wake up! They are the villains!
If you don't think you're already overtaxed, then it's likely you are one of the parasites sucking the life out of our economy and blaming everyone else for your failures. Here's a harsh reality. Your failures, bad decisions, choices in education, career, etc., are your decisions and the consequences are yours. Those who pay the taxes pay more taxes today than ever in history. This state's spending has grown at an average annual rate of 7% for the last 3 decades and the suggestion that it needs more is absurd.
DSHS and other social spending is the largest component in this state's budget and will grow until there is nothing left for anything else. Again, ask yourself how we got here? Government is the drug and government welfare is turning more and more people into government addicts every day. And if it doesn't stop and reverse, no government, state, or nation can survive the sucking of piglets on the dried up teets of government.
Mike C | Dec 9, 2009 12:29 pm | 0 replies | Request removal
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...want to know. Where is the Gov and legislature spending all the money? Criminals are roaming the streets assassinating cops, the roads are falling apart, traffic is the worst in the country, the schools (not just here, mind you) are pathetic and the education system substandard, Boeing is on the way out. So where is the money going? I fully support providing assisatance to the truly poor and disadvantaged. However, there are far too many entitelement programs and handouts for deadbeats and people who need to get off their fat rear ends and work for a living. Blaming Bush and the Republicans? How does this flaming left wing, liberal, perpetually Democratic state blame anyone but themselves? That's part of the problem. As with many things lately, those who need to be accountable and responsible would rather shift, share or deflect the blame to someone else.
So, let's not really seriously address spending. Let's craft a plan that cuts programs which will elicit an emotional response from the public and then use that to argue for new/higher taxes. Brilliant...no, actually stupid. You can't fool all of the people all of the time. Tax and spend, tax and spend...doesn't work, does it?
ekunigon | Dec 9, 2009 11:50 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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So Anthony, when are you going to sign over your house to the state? All talk and lots of BS.
K Dog | Dec 9, 2009 11:26 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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If those who posted negative comments to this article lived during WWII, they would have been called un-American for their selfishness. It's called shared sacrafice. The Republican Bush Administration got our State into this mess and every State in the Union is facing this crisis. As a homeowner, I feel it is my duty and obligation to pay more in taxes. The conservative right-wingers are truly un-American. They believe that our government functions on magic dust. I would go even further by having everyone pay a war tax to pay for this immoral and illegal Iraq War and now the immoral and unsustainable Afganistan build-up. I would like to quote these right-wingers, since this was shouted to me all during the last 8 years, "If you don't like it, leave"...
Anthony Vicari | Dec 9, 2009 11:11 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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First of all, the deficit will hit 5 BILLION by next July. So lots of red ink to cover.
Did Queenie talk about cutting her and legislative staff (by 40%)? NO!! Did she talk about cutting salaries---NO!! In Ca, legislature twas forced to take an 18% reduction. Where are those pet projects they have ongoing? How about the tunnel to nowhere? These people need to make a serious effort to CUT without scaring anyone. They do just the opposite.
I see that in CA, there will be an initiative to make the legislature part time. Reduce staff!! Cut per diem!! Let's get serious folks---we all know where they spend their PORK.
K Dog | Dec 9, 2009 11:00 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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Queen Gregie and Ahnald ought to get together and create a new breed of total doublespeak idiots.
Make sure all the welfare and illegals get everything they think they need and tax the working and responsible people to pay for it.
I cant wait for the next election, time to clean house folks.
Jon Cannelo | Dec 9, 2009 10:31 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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We need a recall to get rid of this mental deadbeat. The economic situation will NOT get better in 2010, so where does she think the next round of red ink will be covered with. Yes, she will once again pull out the magic solution---need to raise taxes once again, again, and again...
K Dog | Dec 9, 2009 9:30 am | 0 replies | Request removal
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