Former GOP Governor John Spellman: Raise Taxes
Support for a saner, more balanced approach for dealing with the growing state budget deficit—one that would include consideration of tax increases—is coming from some unlikely places. For instance: John Spellman, the last Republican governor of Washington State, appeared on TVW recently and pointed out that when he confronted a crushing revenue shortfall—a $1.6 billion deficit at a time when the entire budget was $6 billion—he implemented a large tax increase that ensured government continued to provide adequate levels of key services.
Spellman served one term as governor, winning election in November 1980. He took office the following January and immediately confronted a budget shortfall comparable to the current $6 billion (and likely to rise) shortfall. ”I didn’t get elected to balance the budget. I got elected to serve the people, and at a certain point you’ve got to do what’s necessary —raising taxes,” Spellman tells host Austin Jenkins on Inside Olympia.
Spellman added that Governor Gregoire ought to consider abandoning the “no new taxes” pledge she made during last year’s campaign against Republican Dino Rossi. ”You better consider it, and if I were there I suspect that we would be planning on it,” Spellman says. Later in the conversation he added that were Gregoire to abandon her pledge, “I think it’s doing what must be done… I’m sure she meant it when she said it, I hope she would be successful in going ahead without taxes, but I have a big question mark about that.”
Watch the video here (clip starts at 38:47).
As I argued earlier this week, spending—not cutting—is the way to deal with the shattered economy.
Josh reported yesterday that legislators in Olympia are mulling over sending a spending package to voters.
That interview is fascinating because it also involves former House Speaker Bill Polk, a Republican too.
Those two men represent the transition of the Republican party. Spellman represents the old Dan Evans style Republicans where taxes are part of doing business. Bill Polk is Reagan style where taxes are horrid.
Those two had to work together with clashing philosophies which resulted in several special sessions as discussed in the interview.
Spellman in 2012!
I’ve been very happy with Gregoire pushing her no new tax pledge for two reasons:
First, it’s requiring the most insanely close look at our budget perhaps ever. I imagine a lot of priorities will change.
Second, she’s asking Washington residents to take on the issue of taxation personally. She will not implement taxes to cover this shortfall. However, citizens could vote to implement taxes on themselves (and businesses) to alleviate some of the shortfall.
This seems to satisfy the recurring demands by folks who want less tax. It’s the ideal situation. I don’t want to see many to most of these cuts take place. I am willing to vote to tax myself.
One could argue Gregoire is taking the easy way out by not leading, but I believe she was elected on a mandate that’s partly underpinned by this tax pledge.
Citizens have to release themselves from the pledge; not her. If the situation were bankruptcy for the state (a la California) or other more dire, long-term effects, I believe she’d make the hard choices.
Right now, we’re looking at awful cuts, especially in education, but so is every other state in the union.
That interview is fascinating because it also involves former House Speaker Bill Polk, a Republican too.
Those two men represent the transition of the Republican party. Spellman represents the old Dan Evans style Republicans where taxes are part of doing business. Bill Polk is Reagan style where taxes are horrid.
Those two had to work together with clashing philosophies which resulted in several special sessions as discussed in the interview.