To those who refuse to acknowledge that Gov. Gregoire is the root cause of our state’s budget problems, to the people who tell us to read books on economics, or tell us it is our fault for not spending more money to generate sales tax revenue: Andrew Garber of the Seattle Times wrote a great story in July 2008 about Gregoire’s spending increases and how it was completely unsustainable. From 2005 to 2008 Gregoire increased spending $8 billion, up 33 percent.

Elected officials need to be more responsible with our money. The problem is government leaders and bureaucrats are much like spoiled brats, they always want more and will never give back. We regular folks sometimes do not know that government budgets are designed so that managers must spend all of the money or they lose it next year. There is no incentive for managers in government to save money.

I believe that state government needs to cut programs that are redundant and wasteful. I also believe that if the state is feeling an economic boom that extra money should be saved or taxes refunded. I believe Tim Eyman should keep fighting the good fight, but shouldn’t write initiatives that may hurt education — people don’t like those.

I also believe that ordinary folks would do us all good to stay informed and educated on how government is spending money, and remember that on election days.

Dave Fish
Lake Stevens