OK, I'm prepared to hop into the fray.

First off Parker, I've read tons of your posts, and just from reading them I know that you know way more about fishing than I do. I appreciate your willingness to share good info. But on this one I have to disagree.....

It's not fair to put the blame on Tim E. or on the initiatives. None of the initiatives that have passed CUT taxes. They cut the rate at which the government can INCREASE our taxes. So, taxes will rise more slowly. Hey, if we can afford to increase the budget for artwork for the Port of Seattle and for the Port of Tacoma, I think we can afford the hatcheries. There are tons of dollars in the state budget for which there is no real scrutiny. Government is no different that private enterprise in that over a period of time without accountability, people will build up empires. In my county we're routinely held hostage on a Medic 1 vote. Not much gets me angrier. They (government leaders) take a necessity and put it on the chopping block because they know we'll vote to keep it. Ever see them put a luxury up for a vote? No. And you'll never get to vote to pass a levy for more artwork for government buildings. And of course, as 4SALT pointed out, this isn't likely to get better without an independant audit of the books.

That is why I've voted YES for most of those initiatives. No accountability.

And yep,.... I blame Gary Locke.

Holy cow, where di that come from?