Weekly InDIGESTion

Recently state Senator Kevin Ranker (D-San Juan Island) made a statement that’s as far from reality as his home is from the mainland.

Friday marked the first of many difficult decisions that will be required to balance our state’s $2.6 billion budget shortfall. I voted for two bills in the Senate cutting costs totaling nearly $69 million. This decision was one of the toughest I have faced as a legislator…

Last year legislators faced a $5 billion deficit.  This year it’s $2.6 billion.  Even if the legislature cuts its way through all $2.6 billion this year, another $2.8 billion deficit will be waiting for them next year.  Senator Ranker is crying about a $69 million cut.  Forgive me if I don’t cry.

Perhaps this is the same sort of leadership that helped get us into this mess.