Normally the ascension to Chair of the Appropriations Committee in the state House is considered a promotion. It probably still is for new Chairwoman Kelli Linville, but in coming months it might seem more like a punishment.
The looming budget deficit, of much discussion during this campaign season, may well balloon to over $6 billion. Uncle.
What it means is that the gross overspending that has occurred in recent years, minus the sustainable revenue to avoid the predicted cycle of budgetary boom and bust, has come home to roost in a vicious way. And as the Seattle Times has already pointed out, closing the gap will not exactly be pain free.
This has all the makings of a bloodbath of a legislative session, with Democratic infighting over the "t word" bubbling beneath the surface...waiting to burst.
Posted by Eric Earling at November 25, 2008 07:22 AM | Email ThisIn this case, Dunshee doesn't have the purse strings and that is a good thing. Imagine a guy who has never run a successful business in charge of the most important committee. Thank goodness it ain't Dunshee.
Maybe one day we can get adults to run the asylum.
Posted by: swatter on November 25, 2008 07:32 AMTrue, both are small companies - just 31 employees between the two. But I'm sure there's hundreds of businesses following suit, adding to our already rapidly increasing unemployment and shrinking State revenue.
Don't worry, Duffman, when the asylum closes there won't be any need for anyone to be in charge!
BTW, you coming to the MOTM?
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on November 25, 2008 07:55 AMThat's some good Photoshop on Sarah; the edges around Barry need to be smoothed a bit, and his head needs to be enlarged (for photo purposes - not ego - only...:).
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on November 25, 2008 08:29 AMHave a great time and try to keep Duffie from drinking to much. LOL
By the way duff... Sarah would rip you a new one. (-:
Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on November 25, 2008 08:57 AMI'm surprised no one (including SP bloggers) has mentioned this little snag. It's not as though D's in our state legislature have the brains to do anything BUT raise taxes. It's not that they have an iota of self control or moral fortitude NOOOOOOO!- it's because they CANNOT DO IT W/OUT A 2/3 majority.
You have a valid point though- they could go after a million punitive tax increases on albino millionaires with size 7 feet.
The ol' round up jews in small numbers trick - dems like to always tax an evil minority too small to fight back and too unpopular to gain popular support amongst feel good dumbama voters who can't find Alaska nor Yakima on the map.
I saw they've already started upping car tab fees by $20 in several cities, without a vote either. It's just the beginning. And I would not underestimate the sheeples' desire to tax themselves. It was very self evident in the last election cycle, and the Democrats have a media cheering section and special interest voting bloc to pass it.
Posted by: Palouse on November 25, 2008 02:55 PMContinuing to cling to "Old Standards" is becoming more and more ridiculous.
They don't have our trust and they are no longer legitimate.
I propose for State Governors to establish a coalition of conditional surrender to the Chinese.
With the following conditions:
1) Americans will repay every penny of borrowed money.
2) Americans will suspend the constitution and accept Chinese Communist Martial Law, but only as it may apply to the Federal Government.
3) The States will retain the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution at the State level.
4) Chinese will oversee the dismantling, military trials, and sentencing at the Federal level.
5) The Coalition of States will negotiate the method, manner and reasonable terms of repayment.
(This note/letter is intended only to open up the issue for discussion "Of the People, By the People, and For the People" of the former United States of America.)
Before Saving the US
November 11,2008
by Xiang Songzuo
The nature of the current global financial crisis is the biggest debt crisis in America 's history. The issuer of the world's reserve currency, the US has been borrowing for quite a long time without any limit. America 's trade, international payment and fiscal deficits have existed for over 40 years (a fiscal dividend once occurred during Clinton 's administration but deficit soon returned). Statistics show that America 's internal and external debt exceeds $60 trillion, over 400% of the country's annual GDP of a bit over $14 trillion. Of that total, family debt (including mortgages), financial and non-financial firms' debt, and municipal and national debt come to about $15 trillion, $17 trillion, $22 trillion, $3.5 trillion, and $11 trillion, respectively, though it is hard to tell how these debts have been split up among foreign governments, financial firms, companies, and individuals.
To relieve the crisis, the US must repay its debts, and to do that it needs to live a more frugal life instead of asking others to continue lending it the money to maintain its over-consumption.
China Should Raise Conditions
But if the US must ask China to buy some portion of its national debt, what kind of conditions and principles should China we raise?
The principle should be the same as the basic principle upheld by the US and IMF when "saving" other countries in crisis: cut fiscal disbursement and both the government and the people should save money. Besides that, there are six points:
First, the US should cancel the limits on high-tech exports to China , and allow China to acquire advanced technology and high-tech companies from the US ;
Second, the US needs to open its financial system to Chinese financial institutions, allowing all Chinese financial firms to open branches and develop business in the US ;
Third, the US should not prevent Europe from canceling the ban against selling weapons to China ;
Fourth, the US should stop selling military weapons to Taiwan ;
Fifth, the US should loosen its limits on numbers of Chinese, and allow them to travel freely to the US ;
Sixth, the US should never restrain China 's exports to the US and force RMB appreciation in the name of domestic protectionism and employment pressure.
Posted by: anony-mouse on November 25, 2008 05:28 PMSigh. I have to put up with four more years of an ineffective women that doesn't know the first rule of leadership. Pleas tell me our daughters are not paying attention to this!
Posted by: skyeyedgal on November 25, 2008 09:28 PMSelling the house asap, King County is toast regardless of what the Tacoma Tribune publishes. Taxed to death, DOA.
Posted by: dl on November 26, 2008 12:10 AMDo you work for someone else? If so, what dl is doing (and what I did last year - the same thing) could happen to your company. And then you may find yourself out of a job, in a too-expensive place, and no options.
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on November 26, 2008 07:36 AMPeace to you! Enjoy your Thanksgiving, and good for you for working for yourself...:) And while I still live here a good chunk of my life, I've economically relocated to somewhere that I actually benefit from more if what I earn... Give it a few more tax hikes here in the State and you'll come around, too!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on November 27, 2008 10:48 AM