Free Republic

OLYMPIA—The coalition fighting to save the provisions of I-601 requiring a two-thirds vote to raise taxes announced today that three more groups have joined their cause — one as a plaintiff and two others by filing amicus curiae briefs. Citing its longstanding ideals of fiscal responsibility in the government and honoring the will of the voters, the Washington Association of REALTORS® has joined the Saving I-601 Coalition as a plaintiff. Both the Institute for Justice and the Association of Washington Business (AWB) have demonstrated their support by filing amicus curiae (friend of the court) briefs in support of saving I-601....

OLYMPIA— The State Supreme Court today agreed to hear the case protecting the people’s rights to file a referendum on legislative actions, guaranteed by the state constitution. The hearing is scheduled for June 30, 2005. Last month, the Washington Farm Bureau, the Building Industry Association, the Washington State Grange, the National Federation of Independent Business and the Evergreen Freedom Foundation filed a lawsuit challenging the Secretary of State’s denial of the referendum filed by the Farm Bureau on SB 6078. SB 6078 suspended the voter-approved Initiative 601 that limited government spending and required a two-thirds vote in both houses to...

Feeling restricted by having to budget within a voter-approved spending limit? Tired of having to follow the will of the people? Worry no more! Now you too can be a contestant on the latest craze to hit Washington’s legislature: Budget Shell Games 101. It’s easy to play. First thing you do is roll the 2005 supplemental budget into next biennium’s (2005-07) operating budget while not providing any details about the supplemental. This may help dissuade the curious from learning about your budget slight of hand. Then you pray that no one takes the time to read line-by-line the fund shifts...

OLYMPIA—On April 20, Governor Christine Gregoire issued a press release highlighting the state being a finalist for Harvard’s “Innovation in Government Award.” Washington was nominated for the award because of its use of the priorities of government (POG) budget model in crafting a no-new-taxes budget in 2003. Then-Senator Dino Rossi used POG to write the 2003-05 budget, which he prioritized within available revenue despite facing more than a $2 billion budget deficit. Gregoire’s release read in-part: “Washington’s pioneering budgeting method—which follows a process to prioritize state services within available resources—is among 18 government initiatives from across the nation to emerge...

OLYMPIA—By a vote of 25 to 23, the Senate today adopted a budget that all but guarantees a "deficit" of more than a billion dollars for the state's next budget cycle (2007-09). In crafting its budget, the Senate did not consider the voter-approved I-601 spending limit. Instead, Senate Democrats relied on tax increases, one-time revenue raids and other accounting gimmicks to "balance" their budget.On March 29, the Evergreen Freedom Foundation asked the professional staff of the Senate Ways and Means: "What I-601 spending limit level does the Senate budget assume for 2005-07?" The response was (in-part): "We are simply assuming...

Not withstanding the arrogance of some state officials, Washington's Constitution, in no uncertain terms, defines the state's hierarchy of political and legislative powers this way: The people come first, the legislature second. Article 1, Section 1—Political Power: All political power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights.Article 2, Section 1—Legislative Powers, Where Vested: The legislative authority of the state of Washington shall be vested in the legislature, consisting of a senate and house of representatives, which shall be called the legislature...

Governor Christine Gregoire has chosen not to proceed with former Governor Locke's widely acclaimed priorities of government (POG) budget model. Instead Gregoire drafted a $25.8 billion budget for 2005-07 that sets up serious fiscal problems for the 2007-09 budget, and which she herself calls "unsustainable." Forecasted revenue for the 2005-07 budget is projected to be $1.7 billion higher than the current biennium. But Gregoire's 2005-07 budget proposal increases spending by $2.6 billion (including her requested 2005 $219 million "emergency" supplemental budget). This increase is more than three-times the expected rate of inflation. Expenditures (All dollars in millions) 2003-05 (current) $23,246...

OLYMPIA—Today Governor Christine Gregoire released a self-proclaimed "unsustainable budget." Despite saying she "produced a no-new taxes budget," Gregoire requests tax increases of $203 million (cigarette and partial reinstatement of the estate tax previously thrown out by the state Supreme Court). Not mentioned at her press conference are her plans to increase spending for the current budget by $219 million. This $219 million 2005 spending increase combined with her 2005-07 budget request means Gregoire hopes to increase state spending by $2.6 billion or more than three times the rate of inflation. To reach her record spending level of $25.8 billion, however,...

OLYMPIA—Today the state's chief economist, Dr. Chang Mook Sohn, told lawmakers they will have an increase of nearly $1.7 billion to spend for the next budget. This 7.1 percent increase in revenue is more than double the rate of inflation projected for the 2005-07 biennium.Forecasted revenue (All dollars in millions) 2003-05 $23,231 2005-07 $24,885 Difference $1,654 2005-07 projected infaltion 2005-07 inflation 3.3% 2005-07 revenue increase 7.1% Including the $836 million ending fund balance the state is projected to have on June 30, 2005, state officials will have $25,721 million in available revenue for the 2005-07 budget. Under current law, this...

The billion dollar question facing Washingtonians for the 2005-07 budget is whether or not Initiative 601's (I-601) remaining spending restrictions escape further weakening or outright repeal by state officials. Under current state law, Washington is forecasted to have a budget surplus of approximately $193 million. Forecasted revenue for 2005-07 is expected to be nearly $1.7 billion more than was available for the 2003-05 budget (a seven percent increase). This means that if the governor and legislature follow the Priorities of Government budget model (POG) that was used to develop the 2003-05 budget, they will prioritize spending within the I-601 spending...