Sound Politics: Democrat legislature recklessly overspends; media applaud the restraint

April 22, 2007

Democrat legislature recklessly overspends; media applaud the restraint

Today's Seattle Times sums up the legislative session "Democrats spent big but showed restraint"

The Democrats put together a $33.4 billion two-year budget that spends $4 billion more than the previous biennium ... The budget adds nearly 3,000 new state jobs, spends about $800 million on pay raises for teachers and state workers,

But it's restraint!

Now the question is: Will Democrats pay a political price for their largesse?

Not if the local media can help it.

Posted by Stefan Sharkansky at April 22, 2007 12:17 PM | Email This

Comments

1. Yes

Posted by: George on April 22, 2007 12:21 PM

2. It is restraint! For a one-party, liberal-controlled government, there is no limit to the level of irresponsibility we could see. Without the checks and balances of an opposition party that Democrats have to negotiate with, the only restraint on Democrats in this state is the fear of a negative perception the voters will have of their actions. But with Liberal propaganda outlets such as the Times and PI downplaying any negative connotations when Liberals tax and spend, any restraint at all is a miracle.

An interesting test would be to see just how irresponsible Liberals would have to become before the Times or PI would react negatively to their actions? Given the daily outrages from both local and national Democrats and the near-silence from their left-wing allies in the media, there may be no limits to what the press would ignore.

Posted by: MJC on April 22, 2007 12:53 PM

3. Novel way to raise money for political campaigns. Increase the number of state workers, who are forced to pay dues to unions, then unions turn around and give the money to the Dems.

Good work if you can get it.

Posted by: Obi-Wan on April 22, 2007 01:45 PM

4. Just wondering how many different times we are going to have to pay for the 520 replacement.

1? 2? 3? 4?

9.5 Bil Gas tax - Not enough - nothing done on Viaduct or 520

31 Bil RTID and Sound Transit ripoff - Still Not enough

Endless pit of spending and waste.

Posted by: GS on April 22, 2007 02:08 PM

5. GS, The legislature just passed a measure delaying the math on the WASL. Thus, the Democrats have created another generation that can't figure out how the state is bending them over with threats of the Viaduct, 520 bridge and global warming. Genetic politics?

Posted by: Krannich on April 22, 2007 03:59 PM

6. Well and hiring 3000 new employees, even at a loaded cost of $50,000 is 150 million more. It is probably closer to $100,000 loaded, so closer to 300 Million more.

Maybe with this she thinks she has a chance in beating Rossi in 2008.

Posted by: GS on April 22, 2007 04:21 PM

7. Does anyone recall Gregoire's "Smoke-and-Mirrors" Pledge to CUT 1000 middle management positions???
Remember her PLEDGE that the news media never questioned or followed up on???
The CUTS were Gregoire included Retirees in the 1000 headcount....and merely created new positions and didn't call them "middle management"....that Shell-game.

Someone needs to compare the State FTE's plus CONSULTANT costs before Gregoire and today with this Budget.

The other shell-game bureaucrats like Gregoire love to play is with FTE's where they retire, get there full pension and come back as CONSULTANTS!

The KLOWNS are quite adept at FTE shell-games....and successful when you have a MSM like the P-I and Times who are too lazy, already co-opted, or too stupid to flush this stuff out.

I'd sure like to see David Postman take a look at this. Oops, that would mean holding Gregoire accountable. Wouldn't want David to start doing that. What would his white wine & Brie Cheese Krowd say???

It's easier to thump on Bush from afar....than to hold our own Governor & State Legislature accountable.

Posted by: Mr. Cynical on April 22, 2007 05:20 PM

8. The adjective form of Democrat (as in the party affiliation) is Democratic.

Posted by: Lincoln O on April 22, 2007 05:48 PM

9. It's right up with her pledge to do something about the massive property tax hikes. Mine are up over $1000 ove just last year.

Right up with her campaign page that said she had never raised taxes on the people of Washinton.

She's all talk, no action on any issue that does not bring her precious government body more money, influence, and inaction.

The Viaduct was an emergency, the 520 bridge was an emergency, and what has happened in nearly 3 years of her leadership on these emergencies.

Indecision and non action......

Posted by: GS on April 22, 2007 07:32 PM

10. 3000 new state jobs! My heavens; where are they all going? I can't believe that this state can be run from one year to the next with the same or fewer employees; talk about featherbedding!

It's shameful and unnecessary; the Legislature will rue the day it added so many employees during the next economic downturn. It's outrageous & totally unnecessary. The increased necessity for more taxes will cause even more companies & people to flee the state.

Posted by: Clean House on April 22, 2007 10:10 PM

11. They will not suffer because the republicans would have and do do the same thing. Until we start getting some true fiscal conservatives from one ANY party, we will continue to see bigger and bigger budgets.

Posted by: Travis Pahl on April 23, 2007 05:39 AM

12. You see, the Times had it right. A 10% increase in government is restraint for Gregoire. I am shocked it isn't closer to 50% which is her MO.

How much of that increased spending is on roads or are they relying on the RTID passing? And that only covers part of the problem. Very, very irresponsbile.

Posted by: swatter on April 23, 2007 07:03 AM

13. $33 BILLION, largest budget in state history, and they haven't even factored in their family leave boondoggle yet.

Posted by: Palouse on April 23, 2007 07:57 AM

14. I'd say that the total cost of a state employee, including pay, benefits, retirement, office space, etc., is somewhere between $125,000/year and $150,000/year.

That makes it around $400,000,000/year in additional state spending. And the $800M for union payoffs, oops, pay raises, is another $400,000,000/year, for a total of $800,000,000/year. Those are annual costs, not one time expenditures.

Posted by: Obi-Wan on April 23, 2007 08:10 AM

15. I wonder if the newsreaders pay attention to what they read.

This morning, I heard about the new budget and how it added transportation funding to, "Get projects back on track and to pay for huge cost overruns". Yet, they'll report to us that all of the gas tax and RTID projects are "on time and on budget".

Who is lying?

The state Dems just (I believe) voted to not participate in the Real ID program, partially because it is supposedly an "unfunded mandate". Yet, at the same time, they are high-fiving themselves for passing a family leave bill that does not address a funding source.

If you hate unfunded mandates, shouldn't you be consistent and hate ALL of them?

Posted by: SouthernRoots on April 23, 2007 08:10 AM

16. GS @ 34, the original $16 billion RTID bill has grown into the $134 billion RTC/RTID/PSRC "Destination 2030" plan that they are going to try to slide down - or - up our whatevers in November, and on page 39 of this RTC draft report;
http://www.psrtc.wa.gov/RTC%20-%20DRAFT%20REPORT%20Nov%2015,%202006.pdf

released 1 week after last November's vote, they are looking at a $62.6 billion shortfall.

Don't worry, they have $$$ways$$$ of getting the money out of us without making the new state employees suffer /s
I found it here - http://soundpolitics.com/archives/007511.html

Posted by: 4woodenboats on April 23, 2007 10:13 AM

17. To the question "will they pay for their largesse?"
It'll be more like be rewarded for their largeass.

Posted by: PC on April 23, 2007 05:07 PM