Got some great pictures of Baron Sunday in the tulip fields of the Skagit Valley. He may be featured in an upcoming calendar. Check out all the photos here.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Baron in the Tulip Fields
Got some great pictures of Baron Sunday in the tulip fields of the Skagit Valley. He may be featured in an upcoming calendar. Check out all the photos here.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Pizza Tonight!
I can't wait to give it a try - my new "special"... sausage, onions, green peppers, pineapple, and tomatoes... YUM!
Monday, April 13, 2009
Tuesday, April 07, 2009
What Are the Folks In Olympia Thinking?
Every day, I hear a new example of the lawmakers in Olympia coming up with "novel" and "clever" ways to stimulate the economy, which has gone to pot in Washington State.
The latest is from Rep. Hans Dunshee (D - Snohomish), who is floating a bill that would - if approved - would put a $3 billion statewide school bond before voters in the fall. Rep. Dunshee is quoted as saying the bill would provide much-needed improvements to schools, and would provide a couple thousand jobs.
If one were to take that at face value, that sounds like a well-intentioned, feel-good bill. The problem with that bill, though, is economic feasability. Washington state has the highest tax rate among western states in the US, and ranks 42 out of 50 in taxpayer satisfaction, according to a recent survey. Those taxpayers who would take this proposal of Dunshee's seriously would either have no idea how bad the tax burden is on their fellow citizens, or simply don't care about the fiscal consequences. Putting a bill like this before the voters circumvents the blame on the voting public, not the legislature. If the legislature were to pass such a bill without going to the voters, any lawmaker who supported the bill would be hung from the rafters.
I'm also of the opinion that state taxes should not be guised as infrastructure improvements with the purpose of creating jobs. That's not what state government is for. Far too many times of late, the state has touted government programs as "job creators". The bulk of those programs, however, have led to unfinished projects, government waste, and little band for the taxpayers buck. Sure, the state has a load of transportation projects started, but years after the state promised those projects would be done, they're not.
Just two years ago, Washington state enjoyed a rare, $2 billion budget surplus. Republicans in the legislature shouted to the hilltops to save that money for poor financial times, and the majority party (the Democrats) not only ignored those warnings, but added more and more state programs and projects, that now result in a $9 billion budget deficit. Do the math - that's $11 billion in spending beyond the state's incoming revenue!
And now a lawmaker wants to tax the state another $3 billion to improve schools?!?!?
When I was a student, the schools weren't great to look at, but we got the education we needed. We didn't complain about our schools, and neither did our parents or teachers. The schools, as they were, served their purpose.
Perhaps Rep. Dunshee should think again about even suggesting this bill.
The latest is from Rep. Hans Dunshee (D - Snohomish), who is floating a bill that would - if approved - would put a $3 billion statewide school bond before voters in the fall. Rep. Dunshee is quoted as saying the bill would provide much-needed improvements to schools, and would provide a couple thousand jobs.
If one were to take that at face value, that sounds like a well-intentioned, feel-good bill. The problem with that bill, though, is economic feasability. Washington state has the highest tax rate among western states in the US, and ranks 42 out of 50 in taxpayer satisfaction, according to a recent survey. Those taxpayers who would take this proposal of Dunshee's seriously would either have no idea how bad the tax burden is on their fellow citizens, or simply don't care about the fiscal consequences. Putting a bill like this before the voters circumvents the blame on the voting public, not the legislature. If the legislature were to pass such a bill without going to the voters, any lawmaker who supported the bill would be hung from the rafters.
I'm also of the opinion that state taxes should not be guised as infrastructure improvements with the purpose of creating jobs. That's not what state government is for. Far too many times of late, the state has touted government programs as "job creators". The bulk of those programs, however, have led to unfinished projects, government waste, and little band for the taxpayers buck. Sure, the state has a load of transportation projects started, but years after the state promised those projects would be done, they're not.
Just two years ago, Washington state enjoyed a rare, $2 billion budget surplus. Republicans in the legislature shouted to the hilltops to save that money for poor financial times, and the majority party (the Democrats) not only ignored those warnings, but added more and more state programs and projects, that now result in a $9 billion budget deficit. Do the math - that's $11 billion in spending beyond the state's incoming revenue!
And now a lawmaker wants to tax the state another $3 billion to improve schools?!?!?
When I was a student, the schools weren't great to look at, but we got the education we needed. We didn't complain about our schools, and neither did our parents or teachers. The schools, as they were, served their purpose.
Perhaps Rep. Dunshee should think again about even suggesting this bill.
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