Gov. Christine Gregoire seeks to transform state budget - serious effort or shell game? Part III
Posted by Scott "The Piper" St. Clair - July 27, 2010Suzanne Petersen, Vice President of External Affairs, Children’s Hospital – Nothing sucks down tax dollars more than health care, and nobody advocates on behalf of more and larger handouts than hospital executives. “Strong federal financial support is especially important to Seattle Children’s Hospital and the patients we serve,” said Peterson in a Children’s press release. Need we say more? Grade: MINUS – When asking what to do for those who constantly have their hands out, is it wise to ask those who constantly have their hands out?
Chief Don Pierce, Executive Director, Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs – With nearly 40 years in law enforcement, Chief Pierce has seen more than his share of budget imbroglios. While one might expect him to be someone who always wants more, there isn’t enough information available on the Internet to make an evaluation. Grade: QUESTION – Cops deserve a massive benefit of the doubt.
Stephen Reynolds, Chairman, President, and CEO, Puget Sound Energy – A career natural gas and electric power executive, Reynolds is also big on community involvement. While a lot of executives with regulated industries really like the cozy relationship they have with government, including keeping out the competition, there’s nothing to indicate that Reynolds would be anything other than the businessman he is. Grade: PLUS – Really, I just don’t want to risk getting my Puget Sound Energy bill jacked any more than it already is.
David Rolf, President, SEIU 775NW – Is this explanation really necessary? Rolf’s union represents tens of thousands of health care workers who are completely dependent upon state funding. Of course there’s no interest in reforming a system that plops largesse in his lap. Grade: MINUS, MINUS, MINUS – Fox/guard/chicken coop.
Orin Smith, former Chief Financial Officer of Starbucks and former director of Office of Financial Management – A Seattle scion if ever there was one, Smith served as director of the state Office of Financial Management under governors Dixie Lee Ray and Booth Gardner. He’s on more civic and business boards than five gallons of paint. Grade: PLUS – Noblesse oblige but with knowledge of a balance sheet.
Lyn Tangen, Director of Government and Community Relations, Vulcan – That she’s a Patty Murray campaign supporter pretty much says it all. I could say that her list of Facebook friends reads like a who’s-who of big-time pro-government-spending types, but I have a lot of the same folks as my FB friends – tolerance is a virtue. Grade: MINUS – Did I mention she supports Patty Murray?
Melinda Travis, Spokane community leader – The exact definition of “community leader” is unknown at this time. What is known is that Ms. Travis has a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Berkeley; works to create “a sustainable, equitable and regional community,” whatever that is; and pumped well over $8,000 into Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. Grade: MINUS – It’s that whole sustainable/equitable thing.
Remy Trupin, Executive Director, Washington State Budget and Policy Center – WBPC is described on its website as “an independent, progressive policy organization.” While that’s enough to flunk him, add the remarks he made upon being appointed to the panel: “One Fundamental reform that should be considered is justifying millions of dollars in tax breaks…In looking for savings, we should not abandon our values nor forget about our long-term well-being…The effects of the recession cannot be solely managed through cuts – it requires a balanced approach that includes revenue.” Translate: big government and high taxes forever. Grade: MINUS – My meds will have to be seriously adjusted for any of this to make sense.
Marilyn Watkins, Policy Director, Economic Opportunity Institute – EOI talks about “building public structures for the greater good,” which translates into single-payer health care and a high minimum wage. Never mind their effect upon the economy at large, you can always increase taxes. Dr. Watkins – she has a PhD in U.S. history – studies “the community basis of political reform movements.” Uh oh. Grade: MINUS – How about pondering the thesis is that the greater good is enhanced when fewer public structures are built and the people have more liberty and freedom?
Senator Joe Zarelli, Senate Republican Caucus – According to VoteSmart.org, in 2005 Sen. Zarelli supported the interests of the Freedom Foundation 100 percent. And he’s gotten good marks from many pro-taxpayer groups and bad marks from many pro-big-government groups. During the last legislative session, he was a voice of sanity. Grade: PLUS – There are a few legislators who aren’t solely interested in erecting monuments to their own folly.
David A. Zeeck, President and Publisher, The News Tribune – When it comes to the media, we always hope for objectivity and no evidence of partisan leaning. With Zeeck, we might have that since his long and distinguished career in the newspaper business is exceeded only by a total absence of information that evidences his opinion on anything other than journalism. Grade: ZERO – Zeeck is the only toss-up I could find.
The final total: eight PLUS, 18 MINUS, 5 QUESTION and one ZERO.
May I see the hands of anyone who thought the result would show a balanced panel? What…no hands? The deck chairs on the Titanic are being rearranged all over again.
The Piper
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