Up Front: Have there been enough cuts in the state budget?

americanwa said on November 22, 2010 at 12:21 AM

The problem with our State.We need jobs.Both political party's must agree on one thing,all these tech companies that have out soured american jobs should be taxed,if we get our tech jobs back,maybe the government will not tax them so high,the government must listen and see the real problems we our facing and solve it really fast,and we never needed new ferry's and they want to increase the fee's,not a good idea,we do not need a Alaskan tunnel,we need to repair it,that money should be going to the fire department of Seattle and the police force .

hourforum said on June 18, 2010 at 7:34 AM

a 4% reduction in all services is not the way to go taxexpert. A 4% increase in taxes exept those on smokers is not a bad idea. Roughly 25% of the new revenue for the state is though the high tax on smokes. SO a 4% increase in tax is not a bad thing- when you think of all the programs, social, government, economic, that exist in Washington state. SO for your home worth 200K, your tax would be 12%. Now dont fret here, this tax increase should ONLY be no more than one year- then it should be LOWER after that. This gives Olympia a break- and we the people of Washington some kind of Break. On the other hand here- the Taxes paid to Washington state should be less money paid in Federal taxes. SO, that being the case- we give Olympia cash in taxes- the Government then allows the write off giving the money back to us. It is a win win deal. Point solved. * smiley face goes here*

taxexpert said on March 9, 2010 at 8:05 PM

A 4% cut across the board would balance the budget and leave 200 million in a rainy day fund. the math is simple. We supposedly have a 2.6 billion dollar deficit and our gross spending budget is expected to approximate 70billion. Four percent of 70 billion is 2.8 billion. Problem solved with no new taxes!!!!!! Are you listening Olympia!!!!

choff said on March 7, 2010 at 4:57 PM

As a former school board member I can assure all that educaton is well overfunded if the objective is to be sure that every student can read, write, and count!

bazwest said on March 1, 2010 at 4:26 PM

The Olympia democrats have only made token cuts in spending in insignificant areas while proposing to spend an additional $1.5 billion to $1.8 billion in new net spending over the next budget cycle. This amount is on top of the budget deficit we are already in. Asking our current slate of democratic lawmakers to balance the budget is very much like asking an homeless alcoholic to manage their own rehabilitation. They haven't got the political will power to do it. They know that reducing services isn't going to be popular. This year alone they are planning for as many as 21,000 state workers to receive annual pay increases of up to 5% to the tune of $85 million in new spending as though we aren't in a recession. Its time for change we can believe in (to borrow a tired old phrase)!

josh_iii said on March 1, 2010 at 12:56 PM

OMG, get off of your soap box KerryP, and keep the religious BS out of it. As if you know what will keep anyone from getting into the supposed man made heaven idea anyway. Please! I'm all for cutting off social services for Illegals. Maybe if we cut them off, they will quit coming, and Spanish won't become our natiional language. While we're at it, why don't we post immigration officials at hospitals and walk in clinics. I bet the 3-5 hour wait would drop to 3-5 minutes.

fairoly said on February 28, 2010 at 10:35 PM

nemo08: Were we watching the same video? The organization featured was the Evergreen FREEDOM FOUNDATION, not the State College. The Freedom Foundation is a right-wing free market "think tank" with its fingers in tons of corporate interests. Try reading the words on the TV slowly or at least try doing your homework before making ignorant comments about "twisted political agendas." The Evergreen Freedom Foundation represents, to be sure, the "opposing view" of the Evergreen State College, a STATE FUNDED public liberal arts college in Olympia. That means your tax dollars at work educating Washington's workers and young people, not private interest at work trying to keep services like public schools from existing.

mis2ry said on February 28, 2010 at 6:46 PM

nemo08 you are right on! As usual King5 is twisted in how it represents state employees - very sad that the news stations never show the true picture, much less both sides of the story. Who the heck is that idiot looking at? Not state employees that's for sure. State employees have salaries far less than the private sector and the benefits are no where blown up as that guy claims. And I suppose you all conveniently 'forgot' that legislators never vote for cuts or freeze salaries for themselves - heaven forbid that they share the load! Get rid of the union that keeps causing problems (Locke and Greggie made a huge mistake making state employees union - that cost us dearly!) Split up DSHS - its a monster out of control and too big for itself - you can't fix it at that size. DOC is another one that needs to be split up too.

lhasas said on February 28, 2010 at 11:20 AM

Thousands come to this country and take the OATH to become a citizen. Yet there are triple that, that would sneak in and take advantage of our system to classify them as illegal aliens

nemo08 said on February 28, 2010 at 10:36 AM

I was outraged at the "up front" show today talking about state budget cuts. If you choose to feature people from The Evergreen State College, who have charged political agendas, can you either make sure they have actual facts to present, or have someone else on the show with an opposing view? Some of the "statistics" they reported are completely false. To say that the average state worker makes 19% more than a private sector worker could not be further from the truth. Private sector employees make a LOT more money for comparable jobs. And the issue of privatizing liquor sales-do you have any idea how much revenue this provides for the state? I normally have a lot of respect for KING 5, but this was very disappointing. Please do not provide a forum for one small group to promote their twisted political agenda. If you do, please at least provide an opposing view so viewers can get the FACTS.

kerryp said on February 28, 2010 at 10:25 AM

Sure, let's get rid of all the illegal aliens or at least deny them any services. So, let's start with ourselves, since unless you're Original Nations native you're illegal. Nobody invited us here, we just came and took and took and now we're wallowing in our wastes and destruction. So look yourself in the mirror, then go buy a bus ticket to whatever border you or your relatives came in from and keep going. And for anybody claiming to be a Christian or whatever, how do think JC would view you jumping up and screaming "You lie", get rid of aliens, keep them out of our hospitals, keep them out of our schools, keep them out of our country, keep them in ghettos, keep them in tin shacks, keep them hungry with their babies with swollen bellies. Good luck with getting into heaven.

rreece7381351466 said on February 28, 2010 at 10:25 AM

Elected Olympia representatives in the name of the poor and needy have betrayed the taxpaying voters of the State of Washington without realistic justification. The repeal of Initiative 960 is our wake up call that the will of the people does not count any more. Our State’s action demands all of us voters to “stick together” as our Governor says. Sticking together for a higher cause means “vote the bums out” in the name of a representative democracy. Our representatives just do not get it. The majority vote rules, not a governor, legislator, judge or bureaucrat. There will be a price to pay for the blatant disregard of our founding principles. VOTE THE BUMS OUT!!!!! Sincerely, Lets have a Tea Party

kerryp said on February 28, 2010 at 10:17 AM

We need to get rid of sales taxes and institute a state income tax. If you are not making much money, you're problems are solved: you don't have to pay as much tax, if any. If you are making money then pay your fair share. It's pretty simple. But now if you're out of work you are paying a lot more than I am for the things that you need. Is that fair or makes sense? And this constant whining about property taxes does not ring true. My phone bill is more than my property taxes and I'm in a mid level property in one of the fastest growing areas of the state. Your property taxes are not the problem, it's your house payment. Bring on an income tax, get rid of sales taxes, lower or get rid of busines taxes. And get rid of Tim Eyman, the biggest whining baby in the state. He makes his living from insulting public servants. Get a job, buddy, and quit trying to turn Washington into a junk state.

ajax30 said on February 28, 2010 at 10:14 AM

I have no problem taxing liquor, cigatettes etc, but do think liquor should be independent of the gov't. Neither party seems willing to cut and tax effectively. The Reps want to eliminate social services to an extreme - kind of to heck with those in need; we don't want more taxes. The Dems need to slice much more and the biggest need is to revamp social services. That will take too much time for this legislature but desperately needs a dump and start over to be effective both in serving the needy and to cut costs. I am pro an income tax as I believe that those who are very succesful are basically off the hook when it comes to supporting WA State. I realize that this debate has been going on for years, yet one of the reasons we cannot afford an excellent educational system, etc is because we are not able to collect from all fairly. Obviously I get guff from my family and friends, but fair is fair and it's time to cough up some of that success!!! ajax30

tigger2511 said on February 28, 2010 at 10:07 AM

Time for Government to think about the people! I am extremely frustrated with the Washington Government. They should think about the people who voted them in to protect our interests instead of their own. There are ways to trim the budget. Why don't you ask US what we want OUR money spent on. Let's start with all the money that is provided to the health and education of aliens who come to our state just so we pay their expenses. I have to work hard to keep my family housed, fed, clothed and have medical insurance, which I pay dearly for. No one is helping me as a single parent. Let's look at all these commissions and boards. What is more important - the migratory patterns of birds or keeping the budget trimmed so that we can afford to live here. Raise our taxes to pay for all these unnecessary boards and we are faced with loosing our homes just to keep ourselves fed. Where are their priorities. Who has their pockets lined with the board $?? Let's investigate that!

brewerer said on February 27, 2010 at 4:25 PM

Cut the size of government by the amount citizens have had to cut their budgets and we might come up with a balanced budget. We need to learn to live within our means as citizens and as government. I agree no new taxes.

unhappy said on February 27, 2010 at 1:29 PM

Why dont we just cut all the programs and welfare to non productive illegals who should not be getting them anyway.. i bet that would balance the budget

unhappy said on February 27, 2010 at 12:57 PM

why dont they look at how much money in welfare, health care, crime costs, and other expenses our state pays for illegals. why dont we cut them off and balance the budget. It's amazing how i could never go to another country and get what they get here.

anonymoususer said on February 26, 2010 at 9:42 PM

Do away with the idiotic under capacity tunnel nobody wants and there will be enough money (and then some) to fund everything they ant to fund. The fault line runs through seattle and it is just waiting to collapse a worthless tunnel into the water table / puget sound.

hawihi said on February 26, 2010 at 9:08 PM

There should be no tax increases or new taxes for any reason. Government is simply too big. Reduce the size of Government to meet the budget. Cuts such as closing Parks, but keeping all the employees on the payroll are a joke. A bad one!