Andrew Garber poses some fair questions he'd like to ask House Speaker Frank Chopp...if he ever spoke to the press with any regularity:
- Will he oppose efforts to replace the Alaskan Way viaduct with a tunnel?
- Does he think the state should toll both the Highway 520 and the Interstate 90 bridges over Lake Washington to help pay for a new 520 bridge?
- What are his thoughts on how the state should deal with a $9 billion budget shortfall?
- Will he support efforts to send voters a tax package to help buy back state services lawmakers plan to cut?
Chopp has the right to dodge the media, but it's more than a little bizarre that a man who is arguably the most powerful single elected official in Olympia is so reticent to make known his views on a host of pressing issues in the midst of a much-watched legislative session.
Posted by Eric Earling at March 22, 2009 12:54 PM | Email ThisThat way we can't ask questions. All the talks have been behind closed doors. This could be a good thing, if the result is a cut in those items most wanted by the powerful special interest groups like the WEA and SEIU. But more likely it will result in big cuts to the most needed programs, and then a tax proposal to be put on the budget.
Either vote for a tax increase, or see the heart of the budget cut.
That would mean no hard decisions would be made, and everyone will have plausible deniability.
I hope I am wrong.
Posted by: janet s on March 22, 2009 12:39 PM