Proposed Budget Cuts

[TeacherMan]

You should see what our governor has done in the education world. The education budget cuts this year are nearing 300 million. The little school of Curlew is expected to have 172-332,000 cut from out state contribution. 

[MountainMan7640]

  Somebody correct me if I am wrong but did not washington pass the "loto" for the moneies raised to support schools and state highways? If so why is so much being cut from school budgets and why are we going to have another gas tax to help roads in this state? Where is all these billions of "lotto" dollars going? hmmm Now you donot need to be a "Rocket Scientist" to figure this one out. Someones or a few pocket's are getting a pretty good linning.

[logger]

  Also timber tax from private land owners is also supposed to go towards schools as well as most state timber sale revenues.

[whacker1]

Agreed that schools are losing State Funding, but if you look at the budget after this legislative session comes to a end - I bet the State budget dollars will still be similar to the last biennium.  Since a single party controls all three legs of a budget decision making process.  You can bet that we will see some tax shifting / increases and program downsizing, but you won't see a budget that is actually fiscally responsible.  This party in question isn't very good at eliminating programs, because it is in their nature to increase the size of government and government run programs.  So they will probably just short fund all of them instead of actually making the big changes that are needed. 

[NWTFhunter]

I have been a constant thorn in the govenors side since her re election sending her email after email. I also send them to the legislative branch.  The gov has only replied to one of my mails, maybe because it wasnt bashing her head into a wall ! Canwell has replied to 2, and Hastings none!  Sen Hewitt on the other hand replies to most.  Here is his last regarding my rant about the govenors spending spree and budget.  I hope that EVERY ONE of you contact your elected officials about this budget.

"Cameron, Thank you for contacting me. The Governor knew before the end of the last legislative session that she had spent us into a projected $2.5 billion dollar budget deficit, because the non-partisan Senate Ways & Means Committee, of which I am a member, had run the numbers on the new policy spending proposals.  State government's financial crisis was caused primarily by a 33% increase in spending over four years which was much more than even a strong state economy could support. It's not appropriate to blame all of state government's financial issues on the national economy. Washington was already headed for a historically large budget deficit when the national economic troubles hit. Although the national problems have exacerbated the state-level issues, the deficit would be much more manageable if there hadn't been year after year of overspending. I did not support most of the choices which led to this crisis. The first step we should take in solving this crisis is to pass a revised 2007-09 budget during the first week of session, and I will be meeting with leadership to get to work on this immediately. The governor's supplemental only continues prior proposed savings (hiring freeze, etc.), but does not make policy changes that will lead to significant savings in 2009-11. Every dollar saved in the final quarter of the biennium through policy changes translates to a savings of about four dollars in the new budget.Passing a supplemental budget with policy changes should be the Legislature's first priority. The state is also expecting some help from the federal government, but mainly for investments in infrastructure, such as transportation, and then specifically for expediting those projects that are in the final planning stages, or that are ready to go. We do not have official numbers yet, but the talk is that the state will receive upwards of a billion dollars earmarked as stimulus money. If we can rework and amend the supplemental budget to compound savings, and if the federal government provides more funding than we expect, perhaps we can mitigate the effects of this awful budget deficit.  Much of my time will be consumed with nothing else for the next several months. I will be fighting for our community, against tax increases, and doing my best to reign in and eliminate the expansion of progressive programs that we could not afford and cannot continue to fund. Those are prime examples of why these tough cuts are upon us.  I encourage you to contact the Executive branch and the Majority leaders, and let them know exactly how this affects your lives and your families. Please know that I understand your concerns, and if I can be of any further service, contact me. Regards, MikeSenator Mike HewittSenate Republican Leader; 16th District360-786-7630 w"