Political questions to ponder as we ring in the new year

2012 arrives today with a load of questions awaiting answers by the public and the politicians.

Here’s a handful to mull over and a year from now we’ll see how these turned out.

Would you rather have Mitt Romney or Newt Gingrich as the Republican nominee for president?

With this week’s caucuses in Iowa, the Republican presidential candidates enter the elimination phase of their heated competition. Prevailing punditry is Mitt and Newt will be atop the heap of hopefuls when Washington’s Republicans finally caucus in June, and one will move on as the nominee.

Would you rather have Barack Obama for another term or whichever Republican is up against him?

The national election lets voters give a thumbs-up or thumbs-down on Obama’s job performance. But which way they point will certainly depend on the strength and clarity of the Republican message and the person delivering it.

Would you rather extend the payroll tax deduction by increasing taxes on millionaires or cutting federal spending to cover the cost?

A ceasefire in this political conflict ends in less than two months with no sign of a lasting peace. One side wants the nation’s top 1 percent to pay more so workers keep paying less. The other side wants the federal government put on a tougher spending diet. Fallout from this fight may be felt this fall.

Would you rather have the federal health care law be found constitutional or unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court?

Justices will hear arguments for three days in late March and issue a ruling as early as June. If the majority finds the law went too far, Democrats who put it in place will be defending themselves this fall. If justices say the law’s okay, those same Democrats will be smiling.

Would you rather have U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee resign from Congress or remain in office while campaigning for governor?

In the minds of pundits and the tallies of pollsters, Inslee trails Republican Rob McKenna at this juncture. Inslee realizes each hour he sits in Congress is one less hour he spends on the campaign. There is a cost of leaving too soon and for staying too long and he’s looking for the spot where it’s a wash.

Would you rather legalize and regulate marijuana use by adults or keep it illegal?

This question will be answered by the state’s voters because an initiative making recreational use of marijuana legal is en route to the November 2012 ballot.

Would you rather vote on legalizing gay marriage in 2012 or leave the existing domestic partnership law unchanged?

This question will be decided by state lawmakers in the next couple months. Members backing a ballot measure are numerous. So, too, are those who do not want this matter before voters. It could be a matter decided in the 11th hour of the regular session.

Would you rather hike the sales tax or slash deeper into spending to help reduce the state budget shortfall?

Gov. Chris Gregoire wants lawmakers to let voters consider adding a half-cent to the sales tax and pouring the new dollars into education, public safety and human services. Lawmakers ignored the request in the special session and we’ll see if they continue doing so when the 2012 session starts next week.

Would you rather shorten the school year by four days or reduce subsidies to rural school districts as a means of trimming public school funding?

Both options are on the table to help the state plug a $1.5 billion hole in the budget. Lawmakers have heard from the governor, school superintendents and teachers. What parents and the rest of the public say may determine if either is pursued.

For now, Happy New Year.

Political reporter Jerry Cornfield’s blog, The Petri Dish, is at www.heraldnet.com. Contact him at 360-352-8623 or jcornfield@heraldnet.com.