This Washington
Gov. Gregoire's Budget Déjà Vu
In the wake of the election, Gov. Chris Gregoire is posturing in a way that should seem familiar to voters. She held a conference call this afternoon with reporters (the Olympian's Brad Shannon has the complete write up
) saying she reads the election results as a sign voters want an all-cuts budget.
It's the same thing Gregoire did last year —threatening an all-cuts budget as political theater to give the Democratic legislators cover and justification for raising taxes. The scheme technically worked—Dems passed the sales tax on candy, soda, and bottled water in order to raise an additional $30.5 million. But that action in turn nurtured the fierce anti-tax sentiment that lead to the repeal of the candy tax on Tuesday. That has compounded the $4.5 shortfall, crippling the budget. A vicious circle.
Gregoire seems to be engaging in political theater again, a kind of dramatic thesis statement that the GOP call for no taxes is dangerous. The Democrats certainly aren't going to raise taxes this session, and in turn, Gregoire's farce may become a real tragedy.
It's the same thing Gregoire did last year —threatening an all-cuts budget as political theater to give the Democratic legislators cover and justification for raising taxes. The scheme technically worked—Dems passed the sales tax on candy, soda, and bottled water in order to raise an additional $30.5 million. But that action in turn nurtured the fierce anti-tax sentiment that lead to the repeal of the candy tax on Tuesday. That has compounded the $4.5 shortfall, crippling the budget. A vicious circle.
Gregoire seems to be engaging in political theater again, a kind of dramatic thesis statement that the GOP call for no taxes is dangerous. The Democrats certainly aren't going to raise taxes this session, and in turn, Gregoire's farce may become a real tragedy.
