The Tax Foundation on Gregoire's "Washington Monument Ploy" for bailout
Posted by Amber Gunn - January 09, 2009Gov. Chris Gregoire (D) is probably using the Washington Monument ploy to increase pressure for a federal bailout of the states when she dramatically announced $3 billion in reductions from the $33.5 billion biennial budget, including a suspension on teacher raises (already the subject of a lawsuit), class size reductions, health care cuts, and eliminating 13 state parks. Gregoire also warned that the gap could grow to $6 billion if revenues continue to decline. However, the budget is still a 1 percent spending increase over the previous one, meaning that what's being cut is spending growth, not spending. The plan also assumes receiving $1 billion in federal aid. Gregoire did not address questions of whether she would support tax increases or tax credit elimination.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has, at the outset, announced her intention to cut education and social-service programs. This is a usual political tactic in such circumstances, intended to generate a flurry of protest among those who benefit from such programs — and, thus, kindle support for cuts elsewhere or new taxes the governor is afraid to propose on her own.
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Elaine said on Jan 09 2009 at 4:03pm
Oh poor Gov. Gregoire. She must be disappointed that the huge revenues flowing in past years has dried up so she can't continue hiring hundreds more government employees to bulk up the union's coffers and repay her donors with cushy new spending programs.
Funny how during bad times liberals never, ever consider ending jobs and programs that are a waste of tax dollars but pull out the ploy that the only way to get through the mess is to cut educational and health care funds. At times, that isn't a bad idea since a lot of that money is also wasted. But they do it so the dumbed-down masses will rise up in protest and agree to more tax hikes. The liberal game has worked before so they always try it again.
Ryan said on Jan 09 2009 at 6:06pm
There isn't a lawsuit about teacher raises.
Mike Reitz said on Jan 09 2009 at 7:52pm
Ryan's right -- the three lawsuits dealing with 2009-11 public employee raises all cover state employees. However, there IS a WEA lawsuit about the adequacy of education funding that's been puttering through the legal hoops for the last two years.
said on Oct 29 2009 at 5:43pm
Elaine, where do you think Washington's tax dollars are being wasted?