I think the best way to summarize the dramatic legislative session in Olympia that just ended on Sunday—clearer than anything a political reporter like me could write or more incisive than anything the brilliant pundits could say on TV or radio—can be found in plain English in a bill last seen in committee on April 21.
Just head to sections 11 through 17 in Rep. Eric Pettigrew’s (D-37, S. Seattle) sales tax bill and take a look at the programs he was trying to save with his three-tenths of a cent sales tax—programs that are in free fall today because the money’s not there now.
Sure, we tried to capture the impact of this year’s harsh bottom line by documenting some other cuts in the budget, like the cuts to senior health care , cuts to women’s health services, and cuts to the state’s Basic Health Plan (and the Seattle Times had a front-page article on the Basic Health Plan cuts as well), but the ideological battle over taxes and government and how it was resolved when Pettigrew’s bill went down—with a $13 million cut to children’s health care, a $75 million cut to low-income care at hospitals, a $28 million cut to mental health care among other cuts—defines the 2009 session.
Here (full bill) is a picture of what went unfunded—a perfect snapshot of this year’s legislative session:
With my Party in control of both policy-making branches of state government, in a time of crisis calling for bold leadership (see: Obama; Washington, DC) — and all we have to show for it is a neo-Rossi state budget? I can’t tell which Party really won state elections last November.
I’m ashamed for my Party. I wonder if those in charge have any shame at all.
We praise Rep. Pettigrew for his leadership, and we bemoan the political cowardice displayed by many of his colleagues. Unfortunately, the no-new-taxes crowd was cheered on by the Seattle Times editorial page. Yes, the Legislature needed to make cuts. Yes, the Legislature needed to avoid burdening the economy with too many new taxes. But many state representatives and senators—and their Seattle Times cheerleaders—did not stop to ask which would be worse for our society and economy: drastic cuts in health care and education or a small increase in the sales tax and an income tax on the very wealthy.
Here is something that recently circulated the internet among UW faculty and administrators.
And now I’m off to a meeting at the UW to go talk about how we’re going to maintain educational opportunity after cutting over 1000 jobs.
———
FOR SALE: WORLD CLASS PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
The citizens of the state of Washington can no longer afford to support their flagship university and seek a qualified buyer (a state with an income tax) to assume ownership and responsibility. A good return on this investment is guaranteed.
THIS MISFORTUNE CAN BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY!
IDAHO! This is your chance to acquire the University you have long envied. OREGON! You degraded a fine university by underfunding it, now you have a chance to buy an even better one. ALASKA! Put those oil revenues to work and give your students more hours of daylight.
THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY EDUCATES NEARLY 48,000 STUDENTS while employing 27,000 people, including distinguished scientists, scholars, and physicians whose fees and grants contribute more than $2.2 billion dollars to the state economy.
PURCHASE INCLUDES:
3 campuses
2 hospitals
Medical School, Nursing School, Law School, Engineering School, Education School, Social Work School, Dental School, Business School, and six other professional schools
College of Arts and Sciences with 41 departments and academic fields
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, and other nationally ranked teams
20 Libraries
2 Museums
Husky Stadium and Bank of America Arena
Arboretum
Presidents mansion
BUYER MUST BE COMMITTED TO AND CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING CORE EDUCATIONAL FUNDING.
The citizens of Washington State have steadily decreased their commitment to higher education. Last year the state contributed only 12 percent of the total cost of running the University. Now, because of collapsing state revenues and the reluctance to tax incomes, state funds to the University have been cut an additional 25 percent. No state in the United States has fallen below this level of public support and for that reason the University of Washington must find a new owner.
DONT WAIT! THIS OFFER WILL NOT LAST
Here is something that recently circulated the internet among UW faculty and administrators.
And now I'm off to a meeting at the UW to go talk about how we're going to maintain educational opportunity after cutting over 1000 jobs.
———
FOR SALE: WORLD CLASS PUBLIC UNIVERSITY
The citizens of the state of Washington can no longer afford to support their flagship university and seek a qualified buyer (a state with an income tax) to assume ownership and responsibility. A good return on this investment is guaranteed.
THIS MISFORTUNE CAN BE YOUR OPPORTUNITY!
IDAHO! This is your chance to acquire the University you have long envied. OREGON! You degraded a fine university by underfunding it, now you have a chance to buy an even better one. ALASKA! Put those oil revenues to work and give your students more hours of daylight.
THIS GREAT UNIVERSITY EDUCATES NEARLY 48,000 STUDENTS while employing 27,000 people, including distinguished scientists, scholars, and physicians whose fees and grants contribute more than $2.2 billion dollars to the state economy.
PURCHASE INCLUDES:
3 campuses
2 hospitals
Medical School, Nursing School, Law School, Engineering School, Education School, Social Work School, Dental School, Business School, and six other professional schools
College of Arts and Sciences with 41 departments and academic fields
Football, Basketball, Baseball, Volleyball, and other nationally ranked teams
20 Libraries
2 Museums
Husky Stadium and Bank of America Arena
Arboretum
Presidents mansion
BUYER MUST BE COMMITTED TO AND CAPABLE OF SUSTAINING CORE EDUCATIONAL FUNDING.
The citizens of Washington State have steadily decreased their commitment to higher education. Last year the state contributed only 12 percent of the total cost of running the University. Now, because of collapsing state revenues and the reluctance to tax incomes, state funds to the University have been cut an additional 25 percent. No state in the United States has fallen below this level of public support and for that reason the University of Washington must find a new owner.
DONT WAIT! THIS OFFER WILL NOT LAST