Broken promises burden economy

Politicians break promises -- it's one sad reality of government. Unfortunately for residents, Washington's new governor, Christine Gregoire, has abandoned her promise at breakneck speed.

Least remembered of these is arguably her stem-cell pledge. Despite earmarking the money for anti-smoking causes, Gregoire made countless promises to build a stem-cell research institute with funds from her tobacco settlement.

"I have proposed a stem-cell research institute for the state of Washington because I see the promise," she said during an October 2004 debate with gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi. She claimed the institute would create some 70,000 new jobs, despite industry leaders estimating the number would be closer to 3,000.

Given her gross exaggerations, perhaps this is one promise better left unkept. Whatever the case, Gregoire failed to fund the research institute, giving credence to the accusation that the entire issue had been a political ploy to paint her opponent as too conservative.

The current splintered plank of Gregoire's platform is her promise to avoid raising taxes. She has even tried to criticize Rossi for alleged support of tax increases, citing the "bed tax" on nursing homes. True to form, Gregoire omitted that the industry had requested the tax in order to get matching federal funds.

During her campaign, Gregoire repeatedly asserted that raising taxes would damage Washington's already fragile economy. "Now is not the time to talk about taxes," she said.

Evidently, "now" only meant while she was actively campaigning -- Gregoire's new budget, arrogantly self-titled a "legacy budget," includes a $203 million tax increase. She has sidestepped her no-new-taxes commitment by insisting she actually meant no new "general" taxes. Rep. Ed Orcutt, R, holds her to her original logic when he says "No matter what form they're in, tax increases take money out of the economy."

Far from leaving a great legacy, state Democrats, Republicans and economists alike agree Gregoire's overall budget is nothing special. It will harm the economy at worst, and at best will just lead to the same financial shortfall in two short years.

"I expected something more than this," said Sen. Margarita Prentice, Democratic ways and means committee chairwoman.

Orcutt was even less forgiving. "If you really look at it, there's about $200 million going to fund state employee salary increases," he said. "Lo and behold, the amount of the tax increase out there is about $200 million."

Gregoire adds insult to injury by still insisting on calling her $203 million monstrosity a "no-new-taxes-budget."

Although her spokespeople have been hinting at a possible tax increase, practically since inauguration day, our current governor is trying her best to blame the tax increases on President Bush's spending policies.

This brand of deflection is not uncommon from ruling Democrats, whose anti-business legislation is the true culprit for burying our state economy. Gregoire's claims that Bush has forced her to raise taxes are both juvenile and inaccurate.

Our newest state revenue forecast moved the budget shortfall from $2.7 billion to $1.5 billion, with the state taking in a whopping $739 million more in tax dollars than expected.

The reason for the sudden boost? Our current budget hasn't burdened workers with new taxes, allowing for increased job creation -- meaning higher tax revenue -- and an improved economy. You can thank Rossi's Senate record for that one.

A similar budget passed this year could continue to fund our vital programs without harming the economy. Gregoire understood this logic on the campaign trail. Too bad she seems to have forgotten when it matters most.