Governor Gregoire said this week, in backing a new bond measure, that "it ... prepares us for the next version after this recession so we're ready to really kick-start the economy now. But we're also investing in the economic future both for our kids and for all of us."
So we do what you say and when the next downturn comes, we'll be ready for it, eh? That sounds familiar. Perhaps like something she said just three years ago.
Our state budgeting has been like a roller coaster. We spend when we have a surplus and we struggle to make painful cuts when the economy slumps. It's time we even out the road. When the roller coaster, while it's fun at an amusement park, it is no place and no model for state budgeting. By treating our budget like a family's budget, we will ensure stability, we will avoid tax increases, and we will avoid Draconian cuts.
Not for nothing, but how's that working out for you? It seems to me -- tell me if I'm wrong here, because that would be really funny -- that what she said we should not do in her State of the State Address in 2006, is precisely what she and the Democrats in the legislature did for her first four years in office. We had big spending with the surplus (33 percent increase), and now we face tax increases or Draconian cuts.
Even as recently as a year ago, Gregoire had the gall to say that this was actually working:
Just like families, we are making wise investments for the future and we are saving for the less prosperous times. For too long state government has spent in the good times, and then made painful cuts when our economy would slow. We're getting off that roller coaster, and we're making progress.
Anything she says about preparing us better for the future that does not actually significantly curb the growth in spending -- not just now, but for the future -- is beyond belief.
Cross-posted on <pudge/*>.
Posted by pudge at March 25, 2009 08:54 PM | Email ThisRemember the Gregoire rainy day fund? Well it's raining. Oops, they blew that too.
And note how Goldy over at HA is playing the violin about the "painful" cuts, as he and the rest of the media chorus pave the way for a WA income tax.
And what will they do with all of the new revenue? Fix the deficits? Balance the budget? Nope, they will squander that too.
Posted by: Jeff B. on March 25, 2009 09:15 PMhttp://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/2009/03/hurtful-words-and-point-of.html#comments
Sen. Mike H. - There's not much to smile about is there!(First Video)
New Bonds,
New Fees
Massive Property tax hikes
Same B different day
NOW she is calling it Bonds eh thats NEW TAXES
I just got an $1100 increase in my property taxes eh thats NEW TAXES
And they now are all besides themselves how to word their new fee hikes and taxes eh thats just NEW TAXES
Cut 25% out of government and no one would even notice.
Put a bunch of Bonds and crap on the ballot and watch them die!
Posted by: gs on March 25, 2009 10:37 PMNOW she is calling it Bonds eh thats NEW TAXES
I just got an $1100 increase in my property taxes eh thats NEW TAXES
And they now are all besides themselves how to word their new fee hikes and taxes eh thats just NEW TAXES
Cut 25% out of government and no one would even notice.
Put a bunch of Bonds and crap on the ballot and watch them die!
Posted by: gs on March 25, 2009 10:37 PMNot. Working.
Posted by: Michele on March 25, 2009 11:21 PMGet ready for lots of stories about kids dying, old folks starving and freezing to death due to global warming, and all kinds of desirable things being held for ransom....the ransom being voter approval of a major bond (BORROWING)
Tax, Borrow & SQUANDER...it's the Washington Democrats way!
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 25, 2009 11:32 PMSince I believe that you get the government you deserve, I can only look for an exit strategy out of here and wish the Californians that fled that state for the past 25 years (..and fled here only to recreate the same atmosphere in this state) good luck in finding the next state to F&*K up with their collective insanity. Just don't make it the one I'm going to.
Posted by: Rick D. on March 26, 2009 06:23 AMIt also seems like Democrats got together and strategized how best to disguise the word "spend", so they came up with "investment", which sounds a lot more palatable to the average plebe.
Posted by: Palouse on March 26, 2009 08:16 AMNow now #14 let's try to keep this conversation above belt and acceptable to a general audience.
Posted by: PIFan on March 26, 2009 08:26 AMShove it down our throats ala Obama and the Dems on the "stimulus which ain't" package?
Posted by: swatter on March 26, 2009 08:45 AMI disagree completely, it's working like a charm. She got re-elected didn't she and by a comfortable margin this time. Obama got elected, is implementing his program to Chavez-ize the U.S. of A. and he's STILL is enjoying great poll numbers. The people that don't pay taxes or receive a government check (What? 5 out of 10 now?) will re-elect these bums even if the few skeptical voters left won't.
The problem is that we have hit the tipping point. Two or three generations of indoctrination by the government run maddrassas has completely changed the equation and now those very same maddrassas (in this state at least) are pimping for one billion more (got the postcard in the mail yesterday) to keep up the propaganda campaign that allows these know nothing, business hating, condescending creeps to stay in office indefinitely . . . while protecting the planet of course.
Look at Barney Fwank. He's got the names and addresses of people that got retention bonuses and he's sent the marching hordes to their front doors! Barney Fwank is the one they should be marching against . . . but the maddrassas don't teach simple economics, simple math or how markets work in a free society so Congressional damage gets a complete pass. A complete pass and made into the only savior!
We are in deep doo doo folks and not to many seem to care at this point.
Posted by: G Jiggy on March 26, 2009 11:13 AM
OH, in that case...plaster us with all kinds of "surcharges". We just don't want any increases dammit!
LISTEN..The biggest fight in Washington Political History is unfolding. It was not the Rossi contest....IT IS THIS TAX INCREASE EXTORTION.
Whether it is a bond or a tax increase, we need to mobilize and deliver the message HELL NO!
The only way to rein in these KLOWNS is to TAKE AWAY THE MONEY!
If you vote YES or don't fight twice as hard as you did for Rossi, you deserve the consequences.
The Ultimate Battle is upon us.
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 26, 2009 01:02 PMLet them cut the 8 Billion she blew
She stopped the hiring freeze for C Sake
How serious is she about cutting anything.
It is fun to watch her wiggle, as staggering unemployment and businesses are failing.
And she wants More MOre More More More
"This is NOT the time to be raising taxes"
Her exact words!
so, what can you say.....Gregorire was glorified and took all the credit when we were running good and she insisted on spending our massive budget surplus on her teacher buddies and casino buddies, but now, now that we have this huge deficit.....its not her problem, its' Bush's I guess....his fault....and instead of changing the way govt runs...by cutting govt and saving money for emergencies....we instead are going to keep knocking our heads against the wall and keep taxing, taxing, taxing...
Posted by: lee on March 26, 2009 10:00 PMRobert Samuelson of "News"week (2 March 2009 issue), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Obama, has similar concerns: "By using the stimulus for unrelated political and policy goals, Obama mandates delays. Obama brags that there are no 'earmarks' in the package. ... But hundreds of billions are 'earmarked' for identifiable constituencies. ... Politics cannot be removed from the political process. But here, politics ran roughshod over pragmatic economic policy."
Posted by: The Volcano Lover & The Sontag Archipelago on March 30, 2009 01:38 PM