As state budget D-Day approaches (tomorrow, the state's chief economist Arun Raha is announcing the latest revenue forecast), Rep. Reuven Carlyle (D-36, Queen Anne), a member of the house ways and means committee, has posted a "zero-based-budgeting" manifesto for how to approach the budget. (As of today the state  is $4.6 billion short for the 2011-2013 budget cycle, which starts July 1).

Rep. Carlyle's candid post concludes with a series of provocative rhetorical questions.

Should health care costs for public employees be greater than the 15% suggested by the governor? Yes. Should special interest tax exemptions that can’t prove their return on investment be closed? Yes. Should some critical taxing decisions be sent to the local level in categories where the state can no longer sustain programs? Yes. Should we reform how our state treats indemnity and demand both greater risk management focus and modifications of immunity guidelines? Yes. Should we reform how local school districts commit to payroll increases without knowing their revenues? Yes. Should we reform levy equalization so that we don’t send close to $630 million to more than 200 of the 295 districts statewide? Yes. Should we reduce salaries for state employees making more than double or triple the state medium family income? Yes. Should we force some of the 295 school districts to merge? Yes. Should we stop raiding dedicated accounts in the environmental arena to subsidize the general fund? Yes. Should we stop subsidizing policies and programs from the general fund that are more efficiently paid for by user fees? Yes. Should we reconsider taxation of non profit health care organizations that fail to provide sufficient indigent care services? Yes. Should we reconsider senior citizen discounts for ferries and other services that are not income-based? Yes.