For three years our legislators have avoided the state’s mandate to balance the budget. Not only have they failed in their legislative responsibility, they have managed to escalate spending each year since our economy tanked in 2008.

For the last several years we have watched out state Legislature avoid cutting spending to match reduced revenues as if the problem would go away on its own.

The problem is now roughly a $1.1 billion deficit, and, at this rate, the state Budget Office is predicting it will amass to $1.9 billion by 2016 and $2.9 billion by 2017, as reported by the Freedom Foundation.
And neither, a regular legislative session, nor a special session has been able to thwart this ever-expanding trend.

According to the latest Living Liberty newsletter, published by the Freedom Foundation in Olympia, the biggest spenders contributing to our runaway deficit are right here in our own District 34. As reported in the March 2012 issue, the top ranking big spenders of proposed legislation in both the Washington Senate and House are Democrats.

Namely, Sen. Sharon Nelson holds the 5th highest proposed spending slot in the Senate with $2,445,488, 950 and freshman Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (former aide to Sen. Nelson) holds the 2nd highest proposed spending spot in the House with $10,801,288,283.

Currently, two credit rating firms have lowered the state’s credit rating outlook from “stable” to “negative” following the down-the-rabbit-hole as our federal government making lenders very nervous and reducing the potential of economic recover in Washington state.

Keep this in mind when you mark your absentee ballot later this year.

Frederick G. Novota
Burien