State Budget Challenges Our Problem-Solving Skills

Recently several of us met with Representative Kelli Linville to discuss the realities facing the State Legislature in the 2010 session.  This will be another tough year for our state which is currently facing a 2.6 billion dollar deficit.  Whatcom County’s Rep. Linville (D-42nd), chair of the influencial Ways and Means Committee, talked recently to us about how she sees the budget process unfolding:

1. $500 million in cuts in the first 10 days of the session. 
2. Closing loopholes in the tax code: are tax incentives working, obsolete, or justified?
3. Suspend I-960, for perhaps 3 years, which requires a 2/3 majority vote for tax increases. This severally limits our states ability to raise revenue in these tough times.
4. Qualify for every federal dollar possible.

Representative Linville explained that she will focus on the values and goals of the current budget, rather than specific programs. For example, the Basic Health Plan is one program that furthers the goal of access to health care. Some programs may not survive, but the Democratic leadership will work to preserve what they were trying to accomplish.

Linville’s budget priorities are for those things only government can do:
•    Access to health care
•    Early -K-12 education system
•    Criminal justice
•    A lifeline for people in crisis

As soon as Governor Gregoire presented the “all cuts” budget in December, advocacy groups have been organizing to fight for their programs. The Governor doesn’t approve of the cuts either, but they will be necessary unless we can muster the political courage and support for some judicious tax increases.

Adopting an income tax has been mentioned by some, but even if this was politically palitable, it is not a solution to revenue shortfalls during this recession. State that rely on income tax are in worse financial shape than Washington is right now.

Conservatives are salivating in anticipation of the chance to slash programs, promoting privitization, and criticizing regulation as “job-killers” It will be a challenge for all of us to stay focused on our Democratic values as we work to balance the state budget.