The Northwest Progressive Institute has an in-depth report on King County Executive candidate Susan Hutchison’s position on Tim Eyman’s I-1033, an initiative that would cap the state budget at current levels, adjusted for inflation (and mandate that any revenues that exceed current spending needs would go to reduce property taxes).
Here’s what former KIRO-TV anchor Hutchison (who has a track record of supporting the GOP, but claims to be nonpartisan) said at a candidate forum in Tukwila last night:
At a dinner hosted by the Suburban Cites Association in Tukwila, Hutchison responded to a question about Initiative 1033 by immediately declaring, “I think if it passes it would be a disaster,” adding that it “goes too far.”
What anchored Hutchison’s somewhat surprising declaration to her conservative politics was her caveat that she wasn’t against limiting government growth, but that she thought surpluses should go into a rainy day fund. She said:
“I think we could agree that we need to have revenue caps to an extent that do take into account reasonable inflation and employee compensation and health care … But instead of refunding surpluses .. we… need to protect all of our services that we provide when the economy takes a downturn, by being able to use those surpluses to fill up our rainy day funds.”
Her opponent, Democratic King County Council Member Dow Constantine, did not have any caveats about rainy-day funds. You can read his whole statement here, but here’s the crux:
Tweet“It’s the kind of legislation that would preclude policymakers from providing the high level of service that their citizens demand.”
Besides Susan’s previous donations, I am still awaiting proof she is anything but a moderate to liberal candidate…
A moderate to liberal candidate who donated to Mike Huckabee.
That wanted to run for senate as a Republican.
Just because she believes that the earth is 6,000 years old and that dinosaurs are an urban legend that does not make her a republican–those are non-partisan issues.
Hutchison was endorsed by the Alki Foundation (two of whose Board members are Cathy Allen and Wes Uhlman). Alki, of course, is a moderate to liberal foundation one of whose action points is:
“DEVELOP A COMPETITIVE AND STRATEGIC BUSINESS PLAN BASED ON PRIORITIES OF GOVERNMENT
Business leaders and community leaders must work closely with elected leaders to identify ways for our city and regional governments to more efficiently deliver services and save taxpayer resources. Elected officials can best help the community’s overall goals by adopting and implementing a clear “business plan” that sets government spending priorities beyond current budget cycles, defines opportunities for prosperous public/private partnerships and enhances the region’s competitive business climate by modernizing regulatory structures. As part of this business plan, government must adopt metrics and indicators to measure progress, define needs and identify the competitive strengths of other regions and countries.”
Government as lackey to business, definitely a moderate/liberal concept.
Hutchison was not endorsed by the Alki Foundation, Dow was.
1)Yeah, that’s right, the political arm of the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce is a hotbed of liberalism.
2)We endorsed Dow, not Susan. I was there.
3)You are dumb.
4)Where’s that goddamn ham sandwich.
A moderate to liberal candidate who donated to Mike Huckabee.