Yesterday Governor Gregoire gave her annual State of the State Address and the message was clear: it’s not good. She also presented some reasonable ways to raise revenue, including closing tax loopholes and dipping into the rainy day fund. I appreciate the Governor taking our budget deficit seriously and realizing we can’t solve this crisis with only cuts.



On the other side, the Republican response was straight out of Herbert Hoover’s playbook - more privatization and deeper cuts to our essential state services. Given how well this turned out last time we faced a major recession, I’m not very excited about seeing the 21st century version.

Meanwhile, your friend and mine, Tim Eyman, kept talking about upholding will of the voters when it comes to government. I couldn’t agree more. Someone needs to remind Tim that just two months ago voters soundly rejected Initiative 1033 that would have done exactly what he is proposing now.


Senator Parlette yesterday reminded me of Mr. Potter from It’s a Wonderful Life who idealized a “thrifty working class.” She told a story of how her grandfather would come home during the great depression and ask her grandmother “what’s for dinner?” and she would always answer “potato soup!” This story was supposed to inspire optimism about the economic crisis because her grandfather would always respond, “I love potato soup!”



Well I for one don’t love potato soup.

We don’t have to accept another great depression and vastly diminished state services. There are better ways out of this budget crisis that don’t leave members of community out in the cold. We need to convince our leaders to have the political courage to stand up to the obstructionist minority in Olympia and support a balanced approach the budget. Repeating “no new taxes” and “cut government spending” over and over again is easy; finding real solutions to solve the budget deficit takes real leadership.