Gregoire prepares to give government workers a pay raise during a $2.6 billion dollar shortfall!

Once again, Washington state Governor Gregoire displays who owns her (state unions) by going through to give state workers (which she increased substantially under her reign) a 5% raise during the worst economy since the 1930s. What the heck!?! While our resources suffer and many of us are lucky just to hold on to a job, our fiscally unsound Governor (who increased spending by 33% in her first 4 years- where did it all go?) is going through with giving state workers a 5% raise! That's $83 million dollars that comes from you and me. Let's see. An $83 million raise for government workers and how much for DNR recreation and state parks? And while you're crunching those numbers watching your favorite trail close or park get sold off to another agency take solace in knowing that Gregoire is heading over to Copenhagen right now (on whose dollar?). Christine, can you do us all a favor over there? How about a little climate change move by getting you out of Olympia and changing the economic climate here in Washington state. Perhaps President Obama can offer you a job. I like the idea of governor Owen more and more each day!

(Photo-will state parks like the Cowan Ranch ever get funding to open and serve the tax- payers of Washington State?)

DNR Does the Right Thing!

Back in 1989 when I first moved to Washington State, old-growth trees were being cut down faster than Congress can spend money on wars, entitlements, and subsidies. Matter-of-fact, the Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) which manages over five million acres of our public lands had a hard time trying to convince me that DNR didn't stand for Department of Nothing Remaining! But common sense and a more balanced approach (not yet achieved by Congress however when it comes to spending) started becoming the order for DNR in the mid 1990s. Among the department's new enlightenment was that we didn't have to cut down every tree to fund our schools (which can probably do a little more belt-tightening-but that's another story). Yep, there were some areas, particularly groves of old-growth and exceptional wildlife lands that are more valuable to us standing for recreation, wildlife and watershed protection than by being piles of lumber. DNR continues to march to this new and improved management strategy by declaring over 10,000 acres of its Middle Fork Snoqualmie River lands as a Natural Resources Conservation Area. That announcement was delivered at the Mountain to Sounds Greenway Trust's annual dinner on December 2. Read here. What this means in the bigger picture for the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley, is that the move to declare adjacent US Forest Service lands as wilderness is all the more important now. For if the bill that is currently before Congress (thanks to Congressman Reichert and Senator Murray) is approved into law, a much larger contiguous piece of the Middle Fork Snoqualmie will now be protected. Good move DNR. Now, lets move Congress to get the wilderness bill passed. And hopefully our governor who has shown great indifference in her 5 years in office to adequately fund our state parks and lands (even during good times-where did all the money go, Ms Gregoire?) will see the light too and not fiscally destroy this valuable agency.

A Lame response

from a Lame Governor

I'd like to share with you the uninspiring lame-o form letter response that Nine-billion-in-the-hole-Governor Gregoire sent me as her response to my concern about closing state parks.

Here it is:

Dear Craig:

Thank you for contacting Governor Gregoire about the budget. She appreciates every letter, message, and call she has received.

The Governor understands that many Washingtonians are concerned about the economy, struggling to make ends meet around their personal finances and fearful about state funding cuts. Like the rest of the country and the world, we are in the midst of an economic slowdown.

Governor Gregoire proposed and submitted her budget to the Legislature using the Priorities of Government (POG) approach that looks at the effectiveness of state programs to prioritize spending, focusing on services that matter most. POG is a sound method to determine the state's funding priorities, a process that designates items as "buy now" or "buy later" using funds the state has to work with. While she used POG to help inform her budget decisions, she also took into account the priorities citizens have for state government services and other important considerations.

The Governor did not like the budget she proposed, which included many difficult funding cuts. Her budget provides a solid foundation and starting point. However, since submitting it to the Legislature in December, as required by law, the deficit has continued to increase. We now face the loss of more than $721 million for the period ending June 30, 2009, and a nearly $9 billion shortfall for the 2009-11 Biennium, the largest budget shortfall in our state's history.

Governor Gregoire is optimistic about President Obama's efforts to provide the states with economic relief through the now-signed stimulus package that will address some of our revenue shortfall. However, the package is not a cure-all for either the recession or our state's budget deficit. Efforts to identify solutions to the recession and resulting state budget shortfalls are ongoing. State government will have to sacrifice and make hard choices just like Washington families. The final budget will include cuts, which are unavoidable. But families know, and we know, that tough people always outlast tough times and together we will emerge stronger from the challenges we face.

Again, thanks for contacting Governor Gregoire. She will be keeping your concerns in mind.

Sincerely,

Bill Wegeleben
Director of Government Operations
Christine O. Gregoire
Governor

Of course there is nothing here about addressing the point of my letter-state park closures and how reckless past spending lead us there. At least Representative Jeannie Darneille, chairperson of the state parks committee had the decency to respond back to me with a sincere response-and timely too. Thank you, Rep Darneille.

The governor in her finest fashion punts! She never takes responsibility that she got us here in the first place. And I love how she refers to President Obama's stimulus plan as a way to help get her off the hook. Yep-rob Peter to pay Paul. Or more like have Peter print up a few billion more dollars to grease the hands of Paul who spends money like a drunken sailor who just won the lottery. Yep, Governor, you give me much faith -thanks for getting us in this mess. I can only imagine what your next move (or more than likely inaction) is going to be. And thanks "for keeping my concerns in mind!"

Gregoire's State Park Legacy:

Close 'em and get rid of 'em!

During the Great Depression of the 1930s, President Franklin D. Roosevelt increased our public lands and helped stimulate their infrastructure. Washington State governor, Clarence Martin, a fiscal conservative Democrat helped withdraw land for the public in the form of state parks, forests, fish and wildlife lands, and public works projects.

In the Great Recession of 2008-09-10? Governor Christine Gregoire- a reckless spending liberal Democrat has helped land our state in an $8.5 billion deficit. Sorry, Christine you can't blame this one on George W Bush. You own this fiscal disaster! And now your fiscal irresponsibility is going to lead to liquidating some of our state parks in an attempt to save a measly $23 million dollars. Outrageous!

In these hard economic times we need more parks-not less. Places where all Washingtonians can recreate-places where they can afford to camp, hike, fish, sight-see, picnic, relax, forget about the current state of affairs. But, no Ms Gregoire-your actions are leading to a liquidation of 11 of our parks and the mothballing of 33 more. Your park's commission wants to take out of commission 44 of our public places-44 examples of our natural, cultural, and historic heritage. That's some legacy you are going to leave us Governor. Some legacy indeed!

(photo-In Gregoire's Washington, state parks will be decommissioned instead of expanded like they were under the CCC, represented here in a Colville National Forest memorial)

Florida Saves their State Parks

Republican governor and concerned citizens put their money where their parks are!

Can't help but note the bitter irony here. Down in the south where people "cling to their religion and guns" they evidently didn't cling to their wallets when it came time to save their state parks. Floridians overwhelmingly backed a plan by their legislature to raise day use fees (some up to $8 to park) to keep their parks operating and open. And governor Crist, a Republican has allocated more money to the parks system to keep them open. Nice job Florida and Governor Crist, and nice to see that you cherish your outdoor and historic heritage.

Here in "progressive" (actually quite regressive) "green" (only if it concerns transportation in which everyone must take the bus except overweight mayors who talk a lot about other people taking the bus) Washington state we close parks. Our democratic governor and democratic-controlled legislature are going to allow the state parks commission to close and liquidate parks. And many of our over-caffeinated well-to-do SUV driving citizens balk at the notion of having to pay a day use fee to keep their parks open. Go figure! You get what you pay for folks. In Florida you get a beautiful park system that will continue to provide recreation and refuge for its citizens in this terrible economic time. In Washington, you get squat.

Oh yeah, and Florida doesn't have a state income tax either-yet they have figured out how to pay for their park system. I have said it before-and I'll say it ad nauseum -My fellow Washingtonians-if you care about your state parks and heritage hold your legislator's and governor's feet to the fire! NO STATE PARK CLOSURES! I for one am willing to open my wallet a little to help keep them open. I hope you are too-and I hope that my indifferent state reps and governor will give us this option instead of liquidating our heritage! ENOUGH!

(photo-St Joseph Spit State Park-one of my favorite state parks in the nation. Seven miles of undeveloped Gulf-of Mexico paradise-and worth paying a little extra for)