Our Washington Legislature cut spending to the bone, but was reluctantly forced to raise taxes. Right?
FOOLED YOU.
State workers are sacrificing during this downturn in the economy. Right? WRONG
We have all heard that our Senate and House have cut spending to the bone; can't cut another penny. But they didn't cut; they increased spending. Increased it!
Since they increased spending they are forced, painfully forced to increase taxes. And you are supposed to fall for this line.
Spending
Evergreen Freedom Foundation digs deeply into the details. (pdf) They found that the Senate's proposed budget would raise spending $2.95 billion; the House only $2.7 billion.
They are using a bunch of gimmicks: one fund "borrowing" from another fund when it must be paid back; changing actuarial recommendations for short-term gain; using one-time federal stimulus funds for ongoing programs. Using one-time funding for ongoing programs is short sighted.
Salaries - Salaries for your state civil servants are $4,302 higher than private sector employees. Collective bargaining caused an increase of 25.4% from 2005 to 2009. Cut pay? Unthinkable.
Source: - Sen. Joe Zarelli (pdf)
Benefits - increased by 50.5% from 2005 to 2009. The state employee benefit fund is facing a $220 million deficit. Even Democrat State Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreider says that if this fund were a private company he would throw the book at its management. But of course he takes a lot of weasel words to say that.
State employees pay 12 per cent of their health care premiums. Even other states require more from the employees - four times more according to Washington Roundtable.
Pensions - It's so easy to promise more and put off paying the bill. After all, some of these employees won't retire for ten, 20, 30 years. So we can fund their pension next year. That's what they have been doing according to Wasahington State Actuary Mike Smith. He recommends tripling (that's 3 times) state contributions for the next 12 years.
Christine Gregoire wants you the tax payer to pay more to sustain these generous benefits, not her supporters, the state employees.
State debt - In addition to all the gimmicks and delays the state has doubled its debt since 2003. Moody's downgraded Washington's bond rating to "Negative" on 12/31/2009. That will cost you the taxpayer.
You
You, taxpayer, have been the problem. Olympia has to continue increasing spending, but you haven't paid enough. So your elected representatives are extending their stay in Olympia (at your expense) to increase your taxes.
But tax increases will slow our economy! They have heard that before. But funding more pay and benefits for state employees comes first.
Angie Vogt at Red State also covers this.
No, YOU, VOTER, have been and still are the problem. We can't expect anything different from Olympia by continuing to elect the same people. All they know is tax and spend. The problem is those voters who exist on state entitlements may by now outnumber voters who want change. If this is the case this state will soon join California as toast.
Posted by: Saltherring on March 15, 2010 08:37 AMIt's only a matter of time before everyone can see that the Democrat Emperors in Olympia are not wearing any clothes.
Posted by: Jeff B. on March 15, 2010 11:02 AMI'll answer your question with a two part response:
1. I visited the Issaquah jail when it was first opened. They had a public tour. Taxpayers paid a fortune for this small jail. The jail warden described the meals served, I saw the accomodation and it was nicer than any hotel in Issaquah. I think jails all over America are far too comfortable, and this leads to recidivism. Statistics don't lie, compare American recidivism with other countries. Prisons are a scam on the taxpayer.
2. Years ago I worked at a US embassy overseas. I helped deliver aid to Americans imprisoned there. I would not doubt if the tax burden cost per capita to run those prisons is 1% of what we spend. They issue shorter sentences, and like I said--when people get out they are truly reformed because very few EVER get jail sentences again. Think about it if you're able.
In this time of skyrocketing budget cost, we need to examine the absurd cost of our prisons, and the ridiculous fact that so many criminals go right back in after release.
Posted by: GV on March 15, 2010 12:10 PM"Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July, Democrats believe every day is April 15th. It's not right vs. left, it is right vs. wrong".
Tax on. . . tax on.
Posted by: The Duke on March 15, 2010 01:48 PMHe urges us to "make this a better place" and also urges us to shut up. I guess shutting up makes things better.
Posted by: Gary on March 15, 2010 01:49 PMIt might not fit on a bumper sticker, but a more representative analogy might be:
"Republicans believe every day is the 4th of July.
Democrats believe Republicans should assume every day is April 15, so Democrats can live as if every day was Christmas."
Excellent point! We pay taxes to run government -- our society's way of acting in unison -- throughout the year, and on April 15th we figure out how to fairly allocate those costs. On the 4th of July people get drunk and explode things. I wonder which date is more important to our nation's success...
Posted by: Bruce on March 15, 2010 02:47 PMon April 15th we figure out how to fairly allocate those costs
Hmm... Someone must be using the 1040EZ form if it only takes them a day to figure out their taxes. Doesn't sound like a very productive member of society there. Bet he thinks his "fair share" is an earned credit where he receives more back than he pays in.
The only "fair" tax is a head tax!
Most of us understand that not all debt is created equally. Debt incurred to improve public infrastructure is justified; debt incurred to blow stuff up in Iraq is not. Since "conservatives" of our day spend our money like their diapered senator in a whore-house, we may as well get something for it.
Run the math - you'll find that if we assign all the cost of the Iraq war to simply subsidizing oil for commuting, you'll find it works out to about $4/trip for the average commuter. A bit less than we subsidize each bus rider and MUCH less than we subsidize each light rail rider...
Posted by: Shanghai Dan on March 15, 2010 08:37 PM====
Gov. Paterson said yesterday the feds have to help bail out cash-starved New York to help plug the more than $9 billion budget gap facing the state.
"We are struggling for survival to close this budget deficit," Paterson said during a town-hall meeting in White Plains, his second budget-focused event in the past week.
He added: "There is going to have to be federal relief here."
====
What do ya all say... do you want to bail out that other Blue state with our money? What, did New York blow stuff up in Iraq? Is that why they're broke?
I almost hate to ask this, but do you liberals know why we have states?
Posted by: Gary on March 16, 2010 07:46 AMThanks for being one of the honorable public servants who works for a non-union part of government. A part of government that is not using the force of government in collusion with Democrat politicians to establish a benefit package that is so fantastic and unrealistic that no one in the private sector could ever get. And not using that same government at the taxpayers expense to provide those benefits. And for not abusing that government for special favors, so that en masse with other unionized government employees, it becomes our bankrupt government, that is unable to provide for real needs of the citizens, such as fire fighters, roads, etc. And for not abusing that government so that the only option for all is to pay more, and get less.
And lastly, for not abusing the force of government as to artificially set unrealistic standards of living and benefits that raises inflation and the cost of goods and services for all, even in the private sector.
Too bad there is a growing number of those unlike you Michael, who, view a government job as hitting the lottery, instead of something that is merely a necessary service, and can not, nor never will be a net production for our nation.
Posted by: Jeff B. on March 16, 2010 12:08 PMI sense a real backlash against government unions coming soon. I wouldn't be at all surprised if it gets very, very ugly.
Since I do work for the State, I will not make any effort to defend WA employment practices.
As a citizen, I really feel poorly informed. Even if our payments to state employees are too high, what then? Aren't these contracts? Can they be violated?
Where does the tax dollar actually go?
Here are some hard ass questions:
1. We find a lot of college and university education. Schools at that level here are rated well.
How much does this actually cost us all per student? per degree?
What happens to our graduates? Are we spending money to educate kids i fields that do not lead to employment?
2. We are also spending a huge amount on prisons.
What does it cost us per prisoner?
How many of our prisoners are in prison as punishment and how many there to protect the rest of us?
3, Are we creating long term debts by deferring needed infrastructure costs?
The only meaningful comment is that the wages paid to sate employees are too high.
Sorry, SJ, but I think you are poorly informed due to your lack of reading comprehension. How did you miss these (as well as many other) meaningful comments in the report?!?
This year the governor said our state had another $2.8 billion budget shortfall. ... Yet the final proposals look like this: the Senate proposed budgets that would raise total spending by $2.95 billion and the House proposed budgets would raise spending by $2.7 billion. [emphasis in original]
[National Governors Association] Chairman and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas believes the worst [in state budget deficits] is probably yet to come.
Rather than fundamentally reshaping government to reflect declining state revenues for some time to come, [WA state] legislators are relying on accounting gimmicks, one-time funds, and federal stimulus money to balance the budget. In the process, they are artificially propping up a higher level of spending that can't be supported by the economy in the near-to-medium future.
The only meaningful comment is that the wages paid to sate employees are too high.
Sorry, SJ, but I think you are poorly informed due to your lack of reading comprehension. How did you miss these (as well as many other) meaningful comments in the report?!?
This year the governor said our state had another $2.8 billion budget shortfall. ... Yet the final proposals look like this: the Senate proposed budgets that would raise total spending by $2.95 billion and the House proposed budgets would raise spending by $2.7 billion. [emphasis in original]
[National Governors Association] Chairman and Vermont Governor Jim Douglas believes the worst [in state budget deficits] is probably yet to come.
Rather than fundamentally reshaping government to reflect declining state revenues for some time to come, [WA state] legislators are relying on accounting gimmicks, one-time funds, and federal stimulus money to balance the budget. In the process, they are artificially propping up a higher level of spending that can't be supported by the economy in the near-to-medium future.
"We've gone from passing bills without reading them to passing bills without voting one them."
Excellent work by EFF as well.
Need to stay focused on THIS.
No need for other Rabbit Trails.
When voters look at this Website
http://www.biaw.com/WAStateEmployeeWages.aspx
And see things like 663 Dept of Ecology Employees with TOTAL COMPENSATION over $99,000/yr., they ought to go nuts.
This is the truth that the Unions desperately want to avoid discussing.
Keep the floodlight on it Ron.
The Unions response early on was if State Employees take a cut IT WILL HURT THE ECONOMY WORSE! WTF!!!
Give me the money and let me spend it...or let taxpayers keep more of their money and spend it.
The Unions are bold & abrasive....and in big trouble if voters stay focused on the ultimate RIP-OFF of public money.
I said a month or 2 ago that cutting Salaries 10% and benefits/paid time-off by 20% will cut the deficit by $1.25 BILLION...plus allow lay-offs once employees start getting less than 44 days off with pay for Vacation, Sick Leave, Holidays & Personal Leave.
It's out of control
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 16, 2010 09:26 PMDaniel--
The Dummocrats cannot inflate their way out of the mess they have created because so many wages, pensions and other costs are tied to cost of living. State Employees are insulated from any negative impacts of the economy.
And as Obam-Mao has shown, since Washington cannot borrow money to balance the Budget...the l'il messiah Obam-Mao will do it for Gregoire and the Union Democrats.
Ponzi scheme for sure.
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 16, 2010 09:30 PMWe have a place with acreage in Montana.
I have 6 neighbors within a couple miles and we all get along great.
Frankly, we could survive without much government.
We have a wood stove and 9 cords of firewood to both heat and cook on. Propane generator and gas generator for light, wellpump & freezers.
12' X 15' Pantry & root celler in basement that is always cool and filled with canned fruit & veggies, potatoes, beets....elk jerky.
Wine cellar.....very important.
We could survive for a loooong time.
The Seattle Atheist Progressives would start crying in about 2 days without government wiping their a$$.
It really doesn't take much to prepare for the worst without becoming excessive about it.
Posted by: Mr. Cynical on March 17, 2010 09:01 AMThat's a good deal, isn't it Duffman?
Posted by: Gary on March 17, 2010 12:55 PM"You would be overwhelmed in no time at all by those who want what you have. They would find you and take it from you."
They might get some of Cynical's stash, but I'm guessing they'd have to wade through a storm of lead first.
"@40, Mr. Cynical...I admire your resources. However, the vast majority do not have access to such resources."
Certainly you do, Daniel. You don't have to raise your own food, you can buy it prepared (or unprepared) and create your own storehouse. You can also set up a generator for the lights and freezer and fill large containers of water. No excuse for not being prepared for short-term (one-month or less) natural or man-made disasters.
Duffman, you've tipped it over. Too much government will also achieve chaos. They are creating laws that people are not required to follow.
At some point it comes apart.
Fear, not facts.
Posted by: John Jensen on March 17, 2010 04:39 PMYeah, and a government that taxes those who work to pay for healthcare for those who have chosen not to work and those who are in this country illegally. That same government will also determine who has access to such care and who doesn't. And that's just the beginning.
Posted by: Saltherring on March 17, 2010 05:45 PMHowever hopefully, I don't think such conditions will occur in the near future, but it is Biblical predicted to happen in the end times.
Please tell me how that will be funded.
Thanks.
Posted by: Gary on March 18, 2010 08:42 AMSounds familiar...
Joe Biden today:
"You know we're going to control the insurance companies."
Private, John?
Under the bill, government will cap insurance prices, cap insurance company profits, provide both minimum and maximum insurance company services, require everyone to buy insurance ... to say this isn't a government takeover is about the dumbest thing anyone can say about anything.
I am a big fan of this site - but come on folks - put the blame where it belongs.
The Governor and the unions are joined at the hip. The state employees had no say in whether or not they had to join. Don't blame that on the state employees.
Just because someone works for the state, that does not make them a slacker, a democrat, pro union, dishonest or unethical.
Some state workers are over paid. Some should be fired for being slackers and are protected by the unions. The unions have created an environment of "us and them" that will continue to divide the work force across the country if it isn't stopped.
It's no different at Boeing.
I'm not saying that things are being run well - I am just asking that you take a closer look at where the system needs to be fixed and asking that you not villify everyone that works for the state. Some of us are probably doing exactly what you would want us to do - working our tails off, taking work home at night and doing it on weekends and during our vacations - trying to do a good job - because it's the right thing to do.
By the way - for the poster way above - the Issaquah jail is not a state jail. If you want to talk about how prisoners are - or should be treated - get the ACLU out of the picture.
Posted by: Julie on March 21, 2010 09:09 AM