Sound Politics: The Latest Democratic Dodge on Taxes

October 08, 2008

The Latest Democratic Dodge on Taxes

The TNT's Joe Turner catches Senate Democrats playing the Christine Gregoire game of dodge, duck, dip, dive...and dodge on the topic of tax increases.

The gist: Democratic talking points for responding to queries about tax increases to solve the looming budget shortfall advise the answer of, "The governor has said no."

Turner goes on:

Not, "No way in heck!" Not, "No, I'm a state senator and I don't want to raise your taxes." Not, "Maybe, because I might have to raise your taxes to keep from laying off Federation union members and to give teachers the 5 percent pay raise they're expecting."
No, they're supposed to duck the question. Because it's very much an option for a Senate whose Democrats currently outnumber Republicans 32-17. Oh, yeah. Members also are supposed to be noncommittal about spending the rainy day fund, too.

Seems only one remedy to this problem: give Dino Rossi a veto pen to combat the tax hikes everyone knows are otherwise coming.

Posted by Eric Earling at October 08, 2008 09:25 PM | Email This

Comments

1. We could also get out there and work to vote in as many Republicans to the state legislature as possible. The stakes are high enough for voters to consider options. I think the public is now aware that the state is on the verge of an budget crisis, due to the absence of easy money because the economy is soft. The timing is good for a seventh inning rally. Heck, maybe some old-fashioned GOP grass roots action could even generate some buzz that the McCain campaign could latch onto in Washington.

Posted by: TheSenator2012 on October 8, 2008 09:35 PM

2. I like both solutions. Why not Rossi, and more Republican Senators! That's what I call a back-up plan.

Posted by: Amy on October 8, 2008 09:48 PM

3. I have been in a number of meetings with gov't officials of both stripes over the last couple weeks. I can confidently tell you this: if the governor is re-elected there will be a tax increase. No way around it. only question is the size. There's absolutely now way they fill what will eventually be a $4 billion gap w/o raising taxes.

Don't get me wrong now. I'm NOT saying they NEED the money. I'm saying they THINK they do.

If you want to keep taxes from going up, there's really only one option: elect Dino Rossi.

It doesn't take a big brain. Gov has never said no. Legislative leaders have never been asked. Important constituencies like education are going to make it hard to cut. So it will be tough. And business will be in a tough spot because they have failed to say what they think the lower priorities are (since they agree education is important).

But consider this: if education gets held harmless, the gov't is looking at cuts of 15% or more to other programs...and that's just simply not going to fly.

Rossi is really the only thing standing between Washington and higher taxes.

Just the facts,

Posted by: GovtMole on October 8, 2008 10:55 PM

4. There is no way to avoid raising taxes without drastic cuts.

Since the state is the largest employer cutting jobs at the state level will have a big impact on the overall economy. There are no private sector jobs for those people to go to.

The demand for help from the state will go up and there will be fewer resources there. No matter what it is a no win situation.

The people we elect this time around will have a very tough battle. They need to fully understand how the economy works and how to get out of the way of business growth. None of those are strong points for the Democrats. Socialism is not going to fix anything.

Posted by: Vince on October 9, 2008 05:25 AM

5. Since the state is the largest employer cutting jobs at the state level will have a big impact on the overall economy.

Correct, it will remove deadwood in unproductive jobs and move those moneys into the private sector, producing more wealth and more jobs for all.

Posted by: Cliff on October 9, 2008 06:51 AM

6. I can just hear CG now when they're raising taxes. She'll say something like this: "I know I said we had a surplus and established a rainy day fund. But that's when I was campaigning. That's all over now and I have to face the facts. The Bush economy makes it impossible to balance the budget without a tax hike"

Posted by: PC on October 9, 2008 07:12 AM

7. Looks like Raines is enjoying OUR money..

Where is Obama?

Franklin Raines, the former top man at Fannie Mae, bought a three-bedroom, seven-bath penthouse condominium in the West End's Ritz-Carlton Residences for $4.9 million. The condo has a rooftop terrace with a hot tub, a butler's pantry, and three parking spaces. Raines, director of the US Office of Management and Budget under President Clinton, was CEO of Fannie Mae from 1999 to 2004.

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on October 9, 2008 08:28 AM

8. Cliff

Since the state is the largest employer cutting jobs at the state level will have a big impact on the overall economy.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Don't we wish, but I'll bet she will say we need an income tax because we need these gov people.

Yuck. )-:

Posted by: Army Medic/Vet on October 9, 2008 08:35 AM

9. I can pretty much gurantee Democrats are going to raise taxes. With the deflated home values hitting, property assessments are going to have to go down drastically as this recession and real estate value correction takes place. Anyone who thinks Democrats are going to tighten their belts and cut programs and waste are dreaming. Remember, to Democrats a "cut" is a "slower than predicted growth" in government. They are going to be faced with REAL revenue declines like we've never seen before. There will have to be REAL DRASTIC cuts in government across the board. No "cut in growth". They will not have the revenue to "maintain current government size". So YES they will be raising taxes. They won't be cutting the government to match revenues. All you have to do is look at Califorina. This is what happened to them and it's why they are asking the Feds for a bailout.

Posted by: scott on October 9, 2008 11:47 AM

10. I just got notice of my L&I charges. With no accidents in years, I am going up 3%. L&I is a tax. Ergo, taxes are already going up. It is officially a lie for the Queen to deny taxes won't be raised.

Posted by: swatter on October 9, 2008 01:17 PM

11. THAT'S A HARSH CHARGE?

Jim, what planet are you on right now?

Posted by: Bob Clark on October 9, 2008 02:32 PM

12. Prediction: if Gregoire gets re-elected they will move towards an income tax without removing the sales tax or the property taxes. We'll be just like California with all three.

Posted by: blindman on October 9, 2008 03:54 PM