"This is the first time since 1994 that a special session has been needed with one party in control of the Capitol," according to Politics Northwest at Seattle Times.
Even though they have one-party rule they can't use their time responsibly; they have been there full time since the first week in January. Now Christine Gregoire is leading. She told the Democrat-led Legislature yesterday to get done by Sunday or ....
They are working hard. It sure is hard finding ways to cut costs. Wrong. They are not doing that; they tried, sort of, a little. The Senate's proposed budget would raise spending $2.95 billion; the House only $2.7 billion. EFF (pdf)
Their union supporters see only small trimmings here and there. But no reductions in pay. And many employees get step increases while "pay is frozen." That's what we call an Olympia pay freeze = pay raises for some, but not for those who answer the phones.
Today in Olympa is all about increasing taxes. By majority vote your Legislature overrode Initiative 960 that required a 2/3 vote to raise taxes. They overrode it because it was "an emergency." If it were truly an emergency 2/3 of them would vot for the tax increases they need. So a bunch of Demos can run in November saying they voted against the tax increases. But they should not be allowed to hide: everyone who voted to gut I-960 was voting to increase taxes on individuals and businesses.
Posted by Ron Hebron at March 19, 2010 09:16 AM | Email ThisYou must have that wrong.
Now that the Ds are supposed to be in charge, they do not have the guts to make it happen. They have the big tent and no one goes against any other in that tent. Ergo, no one has the guts to do the necessary cuts and they want the Rs to do it for them.
Posted by: swatter on March 19, 2010 12:14 PMWhy not have open competition for all positions?
I'll bet you could get qualified folks to take some of these jobs for 1/2 the current TOTAL COMPENSATION?
Why have Unions? Why not Right to Work...especially with Government jobs.
How much sense does it make to have a political wonk Governor who was bought & Paid for by the Unions...negotiate contracts with the Unions that OWN her??
You want to know if a Politician is worth electing? Ask him if he is willing to submit/support legislation Outlawing the Unions within Government. If he will not answer or comply to a direct question/request then, he does not deserve the Vote of the People. If the People would ask/demand that of their Representatives running for office and those in office, there would be a lot more accountability in Government and service to the People and the Peoples' Right to Freedom and the Pursuit of Happiness will have gone a long way to being RECLAIMED!
State unions have a very enviable system in place. They get the State to collect millions of dollars from their members in dues and then use the money to elect the very people who determine their wages and benefits. Very few private sector workers have much if any say in who sits on the opposite side of table during wage negotiations. Until this incestuous relationship changes public sector unions will continue to bankrupt our state and country, and lead us all, including themselves, into socialist poverty.
There, fixed that for you.
Posted by: Jeff B. on March 19, 2010 10:49 PMCome on folks, I have been repeating this for a decade now! Let's get this done!
Posted by: AP on March 20, 2010 08:19 AM