Governor Zero's Budget Proposal

Ooooh... yes, more funds for us!

Source: ShiftWA.org

Rumor has it that Governor Inslee is expected to release his next budget proposal on Thursday, December 17th (he is constitutionally required to submit this by December 20th).  In the coming days, we will provide some good ideas which we do not expect to be included in the governor’s proposed July 2021 – June 2023 budget, and some bad ideas which we unfortunately do expect to be in that proposal.

Many Democrat legislative leaders have been encouraging Governor Inslee to include a capital gains income tax which he has proposed in the past, and many observers expect the governor’s proposed budget to again include this constitutionally questionable new source of revenue (to fund further growth in the size and power of state government).  Despite the two-year state budget being a record-breaking 19% larger in the current budget biennium than the previous one, and tax revenues projected to continue to grow further to fund the next budget, the greed of the Democrats and their supporters in the government employee unions will be in full display during the 2021 session, as they seek to make state government even larger.  While a state income tax is unconstitutional in Washington, many Democrats lawmakers ignore that all other states and the IRS consider a capital gains tax an income tax and think their tax scheme will pass muster with an all-Democrat Supreme Court. (Washington Policy Center)

With teachers no longer seeing students on a daily basis since Governor Inslee shut down public schools, reports from educators of children being neglected and abused has dropped dramatically.  The Washington State Department of Children, Youth, and Families reveals that reports of abuse dropped 87% after schools were closed last year.  This year, there are 59% fewer reports than a comparable time last year.  Educators are legally required to report signs of abuse and neglect to state authorities.  With the stress of economic hardship rising (and the significant increase in alcohol sales), it is very probable that significant unreported abuse is occurring.  (Seattle Times)

The CEO of the Washington Hospitality Association (WHA) called Governor Inslee’s latest extension of his shutdown orders through the holidays “heartbreaking and outrageous.”  The Washington State restaurant industry expects to lose $10 billion in 2020, but Governor Inslee feels he can alleviate the damage of his orders by offering $100 million (or 1% of the losses) from his federal CARES Act aid slush fund. The head of the WHA said the state aid can only help 2,500 business, yet the state reports over 16,000 applications have been filed thus far. The WHA also reports that over 2,300 restaurants and bars have already closed permanently (the governor’s latest restrictions will undoubtedly close even more).  The WHA states that the governor’s restrictions are misguided, for “less than one half percent of (COVID-19) cases were coming from our industry, showing that when you provide someone a safe outlet it can be done, and it can save lives.” (KOMO News and Seattle Times)

Senate Republican Leader John Braun (Centralia) and House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox (Yelm) issued a strong joint statement responding to Governor Inslee’s misguided extension of restrictions.  The lawmakers said, “The governor has no idea the anguish and desperation average people are feeling right now.”  Braun and Wilcox were also critical of the approach the governor has taken during the pandemic. “Instead of unfairly restricting (business operators’) ability to earn a living, we should be working with them to find ways to reduce the spread of the virus. We could achieve the same results by partnering with small-business owners instead of targeting them.” (Braun and Wilcox Joint Statement) 

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