A lot of help that attitude is.
The House Democrats have presented a package of cuts, which outweigh new revenue by a ratio of more than $4 to $1. The new tax revenue raised will come mostly from closing loopholes and “collecting more money from smokers, bankers, lawyers and accountants” as the AP reported.
What’s been the GOP response to the economic recession affecting our state budget? Defeatism. The Olympian reports on it permeating the GOP leadership:
Republicans in the Washington Legislature have united around a clear message that taxes are not needed to bridge a $2.8 billion state budget gap this year. But the minority party is refusing to show exactly how it could get to a budget balanced without new revenue… Top GOP budget writers said in interviews this week that it’s just not worth spelling out details for the public – or for majority Democrats, whom they blame for the state’s financial mess.Firstly, calling them GOP budget “writers” is a bit of a misnomer; one can only be called a budget writer when one actually writes a budget. Once upon a time, the Minority did write an alternate budget. Now, not so much.
Says Rep. Gary Alexander, the Minority Leader on House Ways & Means: "I could get to $2.8 billion if I was given the authority to do it. The point is, why would you come up with ideas when they (Democrats) have no intention to do anything with these proposals?”
Secondly, what ideas they have shared have been shown to do little to balance the budget, but a lot to harm working families, seniors, college students, and those who rely on state-funded medical assistance.
Nope. Apparently, their idea of responsible budgeting is saving up a few ideas for surprise amendments the morning of the final House Floor debate. Rep. Mark Ericks said it well: “Is that the way they want to offer suggestions? To wait to the last minute and offer amendments? If you were complaining about us not taking any ideas, wouldn’t you at least provide the list?”
Oh, Strange Brew...
