Time to stop operating debt

Every man, woman and child in Washington is currently shouldering some $10,714.29 in public debt. On top of that, Gov. Inslee is pushing for an additional 10.5 cents to be added to the gas tax (making it the highest in the nation), with some hoping to have a state income tax in the offing, to boot!

Though I vote for individuals, not their party affiliation, it is interesting to note that the Democrats alone have controlled the governor’s mansion for almost 30 years (1985 was the last Republican governor), as well as having control over both houses of the Legislature for most of that same time.

My father used to say, “Figures don’t lie, but liars figure.” Well, I am a “numbers” guy, and though the Democrats can make all the claims they want about how Republican policies are the road to ruin, when reviewing the actual fiscal performance history of the Democrats during that same period (I am a lifelong resident of Washington), they have no room to talk. The Democratic control of our state has driven both the deficit and subsequent mandatory increases in taxes (Washington has a constitutional balanced budget requirement) the entire time. For example, former Gov. Gregoire entered office with a nearly $2 billion budget surplus in state coffers. By the time she left, our state was swimming in nearly $2 billion in debt.

Do you want to keep paying for these continued, failed ideas? I don’t and want a change in our state’s direction.

David Martson

Marysville

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