This was a busy week for community outreach, activism, and another devastating revenue update. I will focus on these, but please continue your prayers, thoughts and donations for those suffering in Japan. The devastation they are experiencing puts the challenges we face in an important context.
Thank you to those who joined us Saturday at Garfield Elementary for our town hall meeting. We had almost 200 participants. The energy was great and the prevailing message was powerful – raise revenue to save critical programs and services for the vulnerable, K-12, higher education, and more. Just yesterday I sponsored HB 2022 that would close a tax break provided to those who purchase elective cosmetic surgery. The funds would be dedicated to a special account to help very low-income senior citizens to pay for prescription drug co-payments. It’s a pretty simple choice; we value vulnerable senior citizens over Botox, or not!
Yesterday, 1,500 activists from around the state came to Olympia to rally for fair taxation, closing loopholes, and putting people first. The rally was timely in that our revenue forecast took another $800 million hit between now and 2013 (Economic and Revenue Forecast Council). This brings the overall budget deficit to approximately $5.4 billion.
The diminution of public services is clearly heightened but it is not new in Washington. In the chart below I have provided the forty-year decline in state and local government spending as a share of our State’s Gross Product. In short, as our overall economy grows, our investment in critical public services (education, environmental protection, and human services) is shrinking. This would be troubling by itself, but it’s even more disturbing when we reflect on the income inequality that plagues Washington State and the nation.
Distribution of income in the United States, 1982-2006
Over the next thirty days, the 2011 Legislature will be making a critical decision to either move forward with an all-cuts budget or take bold action to raise revenue; either by a vote here or by sending something to voters. I hope you will take the time to contact other legislators to let them know your thoughts on this choice. Click here to find the email addresses of every House and Senate member:
It’s hard to imagine the enormity of this challenge. Look at these numbers:
- We could cut our entire public higher education system – all six of the four-year institutions and all 34 of the two-year community and technical colleges – and we’d solve just about 50% of the shortfall.
- We could close down our entire state corrections system – all nine prisons, three minimum custody camps, and fifteen work release centers – and we’d solve about 33% of the shortfall.
- We could eliminate all state environmental efforts – all programs to promote clean air and water, clean up pollution, encourage conservation, and preserve our natural resources – and we’d solve less that 10% of the shortfall.
- We could do ALL of these things and it still wouldn’t bring our budget into balance.
It will take a lot of work to meet this challenge, but it’s our job to make responsible decisions for these tough times.
Fast fact: The Washington state budget is less now, on a per-person basis, than it has been since 1986!
To close this week’s newsletter, let me say thank you once again for the incredible honor it is to serve the 22nd District. Please stay committed to your activism, and let’s keep working together to change the direction of Washington State!