Posted on 05/02/2006 1:57:08 PM PDT by truth49
It's always sad when you see a friend living a destructive lifestyle, especially when despite your best efforts, he doesn't change his ways. When it comes time for him to face the consequences of his poor decisions, there is no joy in saying "I told you so." Likewise, with the "breaking news" that Washington is facing a $718 million deficit heading into the next biennial budget, there is no consolation in the fact legislators were well warned that their irresponsible supplemental budget would lead to future deficits.
Throughout the 2006 Legislative Session the Evergreen Freedom Foundation pleaded with lawmakers and the governor to forgo the temptation to go on a spending spree in the supplemental budget (which is supposed to be reserved for unforeseen emergency needs). Instead, state officials enacted $1.3 billion in new "spending."
At the time the budget was adopted, Senate Majority leader Lisa Brown had this to say: "When we get back to town next January, we'll be in good fiscal shape."
With all due respect to the Senator, unsustainable spending is not a recipe for "good fiscal shape." Real fiscal accountability would be budgeting within the state's revenue forecast and spending limit while using performance-based budgeting. The 2006 supplemental budget is a laundry list of ways to spend our money—not a blueprint detailing the performance expectations for each dollar spent.
With the damage already done to the state's fiscal health, the key now is for both parties to commit to the following budget blueprint (thankfully it won't take a 12-step process to break the tax-and-spend habit):
1) Limit state appropriations to the official revenue forecast (stop using budget gimmicks and fund shifts to balance the budget on paper).
2) Dedicate staff time to reviewing the performance of current appropriations and prioritizing potential expenditures within the revenue forecast and spending limit (instead of spending time to figure out ways to raid other accounts and circumvent the spending limit). This is Priorities of Government (POG) 101.
3) Prohibit a budget from being voted on until 72 hours after its public introduction. Lawmakers and taxpayers need time to adequately review and comment on the details.
4) Use the budget as the legislature's opportunity to set performance indicators for each tax dollar spent by listing performance expectations in the budget next to the appropriations amount.
For Washington to get on the path towards real fiscal prudence, voters must demand their elected officials stop buying votes with tax dollars and start learning to just say "no" to unsustainable spending.
Conversely, if Washingtonians want elected officials to stop working to bring home the bacon at other taxpayers' expense, we have to get off our pork-filled diet and instead be content to feast on the fruits of a truly balanced performance-based budget.
Jason Mercier served as an advisor to the 2002 Washington State Tax Structure Committee and is often consulted by media outlets and legislative staff for issue briefs or policy analysis. He is the author or co-author of numerous policy highlighters and in-brief reports. His editorials have appeared in newspapers and magazines including The Washington Post and on FoxNews.com. He currently serves on the board of the Washington Coalition for Open Government and is a contributing editor of Heartland’s Budget & Tax News. Jason received a B.A. in Political Science from Washington State University.
ping
ping
Not gonna happen with the dems in charge and as long as there exists a Seattle, they will be.
And here we thought we were alone.
Give the Pres line item veto
State Senator Joe Zarelli was screaming that this was going to happen and the Dems wouldn't listen. We taxpayers are now the losers, again.
The President of Washington State? ...or would that be the Governor? ;-)
EFF is awesome... You should have seen the anger in the teachers' rooms about them! LOLOL
Washington State spending out of control??? What about Washington, D.C.?
Just like WA state, D.C. needs a spending limit, real balanced budget requirement, and elected officials more concerned with the core functions of government than with buying votes through out of control spending.
BTTT
I am totally confused. Are they saying that the $900 and some million I heard GAGoir bragging about that the first time in WA history she got put in the budget for FUTURE EMERGENCY NEEDS has now been spent by the Legislature?
You sure got that right unfortunately.
Must....hear......more....!!!
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