by Jackie Juntti

Olympia, WA - 10/17/01 - I remind everyone who reads this:
The budget shortfall (revenue forecast) showing the possible Billion dollar
shortfall was 'written'   BEFORE   the September 11 terrorist attack
and        BEFORE    the Boeing announcement of layoffs.

I want everyone to remember that important fact and not allow Locke & Flock
to use any of those events as reasons for having to cut
programs.  OVERSPENDING IS WHY WE HAVE THIS PROBLEM.
FACT: We have had many expensive events happen this year beginning with the
Earthquake.
FACT: This budget crunch did not just arise this year, or last year or the
year before that.  Overspending is a bad habit that has increased each and
every year.   Locke still wants more for Transportation.

**TRUTH**  Locke & Flock refused to listen to reason on the budget - reason
which was brought forth by Clyde Ballard and the House
Republicans.  Ballard & Co. took horrendous heat for standing their ground
and not giving in to the intense political pressure that was hurled at them
daily/hourly.  If they had not stood strong we would be in a much bigger
mess than we are right now.

Now is the time to do what should have been done many years ago..... REDUCE
THE SIZE AND SCOPE OF GOVERNMENT.  Bureaucracy is so bloated it is about to
implode and drastic surgery, as is performed on the overly obese, is the
only solution to saving the legitimate parts of government.  Remove
government from every nook and cranny that actually belongs in the hands of
private enterprise.  Use that scalpel to cut back to only healthy flesh
(those areas the Constitution outlines for government to be responsible for).

Businesses have failed, closed, or left the state because of the burdensome
tax rate and regulations placed on them by state and local
government.  Government needs to get out of the way and let private
enterprise do what it does best - PRODUCE.  When the private sector is
healthy the tax revenue flows in.  Too many leftist bureaucrats then think
it gives them the right to expand more government programs instead of
lowering the tax burden.  It is not the job of government to provide
transportation (ferry/transit/trains). It is not the job of government to
sell booze.  It is not the job of government to provide day care or health
care.  In spite of all those who think they can't survive without
government paying for these things -  think of how much more money you
would have in your pocket if you didn't have to pay higher taxes to pay for
these things. Think of how many more private sector jobs there would be if
government wasn't running competition.  All government programs require
government employees which increase the need for more tax revenue.

Will it be uncomfortable for awhile?  YES, it will, but weaning a baby off
the nipple takes effort - in the long run both mother and baby are much
better off.  Baby screams and has fits and mommy feels a loss during the
process but they both recover and go onto enjoy life as it should be.

Jackie Juntti
WGEN  idzrus@earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~idzrus/index.html

[I-695 never went into effect - it was tossed out by the courts so stop
blaming that as the reason for everything that goes wrong.]

[Dem. Senate Approps Chair, Lisa Brown:  "I am convinced the $22.8 billion
budget passed by the Legislature is responsible and will not require higher
taxes."  [Guest column, The Tacoma News Tribune - 7/29/01]


http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/134354981_statebudget17m.html

Wednesday, October 17, 2001 - 12:00 a.m.  Pacific

State agencies warned of cuts: Expect entire programs to be killed, Locke says

By David Postman Seattle Times staff reporter

OLYMPIA - The governor's budget chief says state agencies should prepare to
eliminate entire programs and turn over others to private industry as they
try to figure out how to respond to a potential $1 billion deficit spurred
by terrorism and war.

Spending cuts will be necessary because Gov.  Gary Locke will not support
raising taxes to make up for lost revenue, according to a memorandum sent
to all state agencies yesterday.  College tuition and fees for some
government services could be increased.

Basic education is exempt from the governor's order, and Locke said he
still supported an increase in the gas tax to pay for transportation projects.

While nothing new is known about the potential for a budget deficit,
yesterday's memo gives the first detailed look at how Locke plans to
respond to what everyone agrees will be a serious economic downturn.

In addition to the no-new-taxes pledge, the memo from Marty Brown, director
of the Office of Financial Management, said the state's seven largest
agencies needed to show how their budgets could be cut up to 15 percent
next year.

But even that would save only about $577 million, and more would have to be
done if the deficit reached $1 billion.

Layoffs would be necessary, Brown told reporters.

And budget officials say the cuts should be focused.  No longer will it be
enough to propose restrictions in travels, consultants or equipment purchases.

"We've been bleeding that stuff out.  Now we're at the point where the big
stuff has to go," said Financial Management Deputy Director Wolfgang Opitz.

Brown told the directors of the largest agencies that he wanted to see
"recommended reductions that eliminate whole programs rather than make
incremental cuts."

Budget officials say that even before Sept.  11 there were problems with
the 2001-03 budget approved by this year's Legislature.  About $350 million
in the budget was subject to what Opitz described as "spending pressures,"
which basically means there isn't money to pay for the services.

Last month's terrorist attacks on the East Coast have added
pressures.  Most of that comes from the news that Boeing, saying it was
responding to a downturn in the airline industry, would lay off up to
30,000 workers in its commercial-aircraft division.

The Office of Financial Management estimates that the layoffs could mean a
drop of state revenues of up to $900 million.  But for now they are working
with a more moderate projection of a $600 million shortfall because of Boeing.

Details of the revenue loss from Boeing and generally depressed consumer
spending won't be known until Nov.  20, when the state's chief economist
releases his next official projection.

The 2001-03 operating budget is $22.7 billion.

Any cuts would have to wait until the Legislature convenes again next
January.  Any changes would likely not go into effect until July 1, the
start of the second budget year.

Democratic and Republican budget writers said yesterday that they agreed
with the Democratic governor's approach to begin looking at budget-cutting
options now.

"All the better for people to understand how serious the situation
is,"  said Senate Ways and Means Chairwoman Lisa Brown, D-Spokane.  She
said that when the public saw what 15 percent cuts would mean to state
services, "it would be considered by some as Draconian."

She and House Appropriations Committee Co-Chairman Barry Sehlin, R-Oak
Harbor, said they agreed with Locke's call for agencies to find entire
programs to eliminate.

"If you're going to cut 15 percent, you're not going to do it by some
nickel-and-dime approaches," Sehlin said.

"It's always easy to start up some program that someone thinks is important
and really critical, but then they get a life of their own.  It might take
a budget situation like we're looking at to force us to take a really
serious look at programs that may not be serving a critically important
function."

Sen.  Brown also agreed with Financial Management Director Brown, no
relation, that the Legislature has approved too many general cuts that
leave the administration to "take the heat."

"That generally means the Legislature gets out of town, and then the hammer
falls and you see the impacts," Sen.  Brown said.

Agency officials can also play politics with budget cuts.  Marty Brown said
agencies would not be allowed to present plans that are designed to be so
politically untenable as to not be feasible.

"It won't just be every fish hatchery in the majority leader's district,"
he said.

The largest agencies that will see the deepest cuts are the departments of
Social and Health Services, Corrections, Community Development, Health,
Ecology, and Fish and Wildlife, as well as the Office of Trade and Economic
Development.

Brown said some of those could be cut by more than 15 percent and others
less.  He made no specific predictions about what would be eliminated but
said social services would surely be hit, because - quoting famous criminal
Willie Sutton about why he robbed banks - "that's where the money is."


David Postman can be reached at 360-943-9882 or dpostman@seattletimes.com.

Copyright © 2001 The Seattle Times Company
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Washington Grassroots Electronic Network (WGEN) Email Division
idzrus@earthlink.net (Jackie Juntti, moderator) WGEN
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Too many Americans are in the Witless Protection Program.....   Jackie
Juntti 9/6/01

"There will always be death and taxes; however, death doesn't get worse
every year."

In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use without profit or payment for non-profit research and educational purposes only. [Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml]