The Joys of Being in the Minority Party

Rep. Jaime Herrera:

"I continue to support a no-new-taxes budget that streamlines state government. This approach prioritizes public safety, transportation, education and safety-net services for our vulnerable citizens. At the same time, we must fundamentally change our budget process. For example, a constitutional spending limit, a balanced budget requirement and a system in which extraordinary revenue generated in good economic times is set aside. These are just a few proposals that would prevent current budget problems from ever happening again."

1) How do you prioritize public safety AND transportation AND education AND the safety net? It's kind of an either/or deal, innit?

2) I've read all of the House Republican ideas to help the budget process. There's some good thinking there. Not a one of them can make a difference this session, though.

3) Will Rep. Skip Priest and Rep. Glen Anderson, two of the signatories to HB2261 which would remake education, back off of that bill now given the size of the deficit and the costs incumbent in that bill?

Rep. Charles Ross:

"The Yakima Valley School is hanging in the balance as the Senate proposes to close the school, while the House proposes to keep it open. Putting out our most vulnerable from a high-care facility is not the way to solve our budget problems.

The best article I've read on the Yakima Valley School is here; my own district used to have a similar facility. I think that the community-placement advocates have gotten a bit out of hand; watching the testimony at the Senate Ways and Means Committee hearing yesterday was heartwrenching as the relations of people at YVS testified as to the good it has done. The school should stay open, but again--$9,000,000,000 is a lot of money.

Rep. Dammeier:

"It also means getting back to the basics by identifying the priorities of state government, which I see as education, public safety and the protection of our most vulnerable citizens."

Rep. Bailey:

"Our state faces tough choices and needs budget leadership. I believe this includes restructuring state government and focusing on priorities such as education, public safety and the protection of our most vulnerable populations."

I think someone in the communications department was getting in a bit of a rut.