Well, folks, another election season has come and gone. Good riddance. It seems there will be something of a shift in the balance of power in Washington State. On the one hand, I am glad to see that quite a few incumbents are being shown the door. On the other, I am disappointed that it wasn't all of them, because I fear there will be enough career politicians still in office to ensure that we will see more of the same from the newbies over the years. I believe it's Dan who is fond of quoting Pete Townsend (not sure if he coined the phrase...), who once sang, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss."

So who wants to tell me how the newly-elected legislators will seek to resolve our state's budget crisis? I tried to get some ideas out of their campaign speeches and advertisements, but I had a hard time picking out the nuggets of strategy amidst the overpowering barrage of slander and mud-slinging. It seems clear that it won't be through increased or new taxes. Otherwise, I am at a loss.

In closing, I'll quote another Townsend line from the same classic:

"So I get on my knees and pray
We don't get fooled again!"

Incidentally, this got me thinking that The Who kicked out some serious rockers in their day....

Seems that the challengers from either party just went with the "I can't be as bad as the dude there already" style of campaigning, and didn't really say anything at all about what they'd do...standard fare in a midterm election...

Fish on...

Todd

Well it takes 2/3's to raise taxes so thats out. Look for user fees to fund state parks or they are toast. You might expect major increases in fish licenses to maintain hatcheries. Either that or no seasons, take that back BC here we come. The R's are not going to take a tax increase UNLESS that whiny ass governor excepts reining in the state workers wages / pensions.

Best guess is heavy on user fees everywhere, and after ripping parks, WDF&W, higher education, everything loose but employees, it will be a combination of across the board reductions based on a %. Then crap flies as the R's won't buy it.

A mix of the above.

I think Rivrguy is close. New taxes aren't possible. Maybe some user fees, but that won't even come close to closing the gap. I expect extreme hand wringing from the Democrats and the Republicans saying it shouldn't be across the board cuts, but across the board cuts are the only thing the Legislature will be able to agree on, but not until 5 minutes to midnight on the last day of the Legislative Session. State employee unions probably won't give an inch, so they'll take massive layoffs instead of salary or benefit reductions. State parks might close, as in all of them. No state hospice. No state funded pre-school or kindergarten. More cuts at colleges and universities. Highway projects go on the shelf, except those specifically funded by the gas tax increase from a few years ago. WDFW shuts down all hatcheries that don't produce treaty-caught fish, plus some that do. Lays off line staff but not many middle managers because layoff decisions are made by middle and senior managers, not line staff.

Those who wanted to downsize government should be happy. Everyone else, not so much.

Sg

school will be hit hard what with the roll back of the tax on pop candy and bottled water and with the short fall already being talked about i can see a 10% cut back in public school funding.

My guess is that even if your taxes go down, you'll pay more out-of-pocket per year to do the same things and get less. Increased user fees and closures/loss of areas/services will have to happen.

I thought this video clip was "good". In general (whether nationally or state-wide), we're a talking about across-the-board cuts. Except across-the-board will, naturally, not include many things.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=3Z-TGYWx5PE

Yup. The money's gotta come from somewhere. They'll get it from you somehow, or else deny you services.

Holy s---. Have you ever paid attention to urban crime and schools? Take a look at Baltimore if you have the guts. Urban life has many good things as do rural. City dwellers depend on government to survive in rural states not so much. In fact if you fish your in rural areas. ( mostly )

Frankly if you were raised rural stubborn, arrogant, and stupid.....off hand I would guess as a city dweller the three still apply but you did learn to write, oh yes that was a rural school. In time you will come to enjoy living like a lemming and breathing polluted air, now that might explain you advanced ailment that appears to lack a cure.

Standard losses for the house is 24 and 3 for the Senate.

This was the largest loss since like 1928 or something. Pat Caddell said today, its the first time Democrats have been below 200 in the house.

minimize all you want. Norm dicks has an ear mark on the books for fish or something in that regards. Im not counting on it.

I would doubt rather highly that the rural areas of Washington are money sucking areas compared to our urban areas, especially on a per-capita basis. There are more than a few of us college educated types who have seen what happens in the city. I'd rather carry a pistol because I want to instead of because I feel the need to. Go take a stroll in Belltown around midnight on a Friday or Saturday, unarmed. Not me.

Lived in the sh!thole known as Seattle for 7 years. Never again. Had more crime committed against me there than anywhere I ever lived, and I was in good neighborhoods.

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