Well, this is what "the people" wanted. "The people" are pretty short-sighted, not able to understand that for a small .5% sales tax, that re-investment in the economy keeps many employed. These same employed, such as historians, teachers, prison guards, and agency workers, turn around with their paychecks and buy things, like shoes and movie tickets, generating more state tax revenues. Cutting state employees, services, and grants only worsens are economic condition. And yet still, nobody, not politicians, and not journalists, have been able to root out the source of the economic doldrums we're in: the growing disparity between the uber-wealthy, and the rest of us, that sucks the flow of money out of the economy.
Limit the size of banks, tax the 1% wealthy, tax breaks to the middle class, and watch our economy grow.

In the same day we hear that Seattle Center is going to be saved by renting it to the Wrights and Chihuly, and that the state is unwilling to keep open the institutions that offer us all a look at our collective past. This is not about budgets- it is about a view of the future, where culture is to be controlled even more than it already is, by the haves. Our state was blessed with a cantankerous, anarchist past- one that is less and less visible, and therefore less and less known. In the press conference about the Center's 'new look', Ms. Chihuly exclaimed that her husband 'is really' an artist, that this 55,000 sq ft building on public land, is really all about art. But we are told closing the history museums though isn't about history- its about money-saving. A culture that believes that history isn't worth looking into, and that 'real' Chihuly art needs massive new buildings to allow it to be seen, when its already on view in nearly every museum in the region, is going blind. We need to know and look at our history if we are going to grow a present that is worthy of the past here. Getting another temple to the collectors and producers of name-brand art, doesn't help the arts, it helps those building the building. Were the anarchists right after all- should capitalism be allowed to take over our public spaces? These sorts of questions, which clearly are not just academic, require places and programs for the public to consider where we have been, and therefore where we are going. We need institutions like the Washington State Arts Commission to bring art (not tourist glassware) to public places. We need historic preservation in all its myriad forms, for exactly that- to help preserve our history, to keep it alive- as a reminder of where we've been and of course of where we are going.

It's the same old story. Punish the voters by closing libraries, cutting back on police and fire protection, longer lines for permits and licenses. How many new vehicles has the state bought in the last two years? How much new office furniture? What about "1% (or whatever the percentage is) For the Arts?" The state doesn't have a revenue crisis, it has a spending crisis. Yet the wasteful spending goes on, and programs genuinely useful to the taxpayers are cut.

It is tragic that voters decided to hamstring government in this fashion. If you look at the budget though, this is what they voted for. Massive, crippling cuts to programs and services such as state heritage (and libraries, services to the poor/elderly/vulnerable/disabled, safety, clean water, ferry system, and on and on). The voters decided to punish the people who benefit from government services. If you think that you can solve a 5 billion dollar budget gap by cutting furniture purchases, you are deluding yourself. If you didn't want these cuts then you shouldn't have voted for them through the Eyeman initiatives. I didn't want them so I voted against it.

As the 1/2% for arts is a program component of another budget (the transportation budget and not the general fund which is the budget under the axe now) it is not applicable to this discussion.

Voters believed con men like Tim Eyman, who promised that we could cut taxes forever without actually having to make any hard choices, or take responsibility for the results. It's a flattering message, and it comes with a scapegoat people love to hate--government. Since government is inherently frustrating and far from perfect, it makes a great target for people's anxieties and anger. And government is terrible at defending itself; the people who know the most actual information are staff-level wonks who a) aren't allowed to talk to the press and b) don't know how to anyway. Even our elected officials, like Gov. Gregoire, seem utterly incapable of communicating with the public. Instead of delivering a budget she "hates," why doesn't she hold a series of town meetings where she (or someone who remembers how to talk plainly and congruently to the public) explains to people what's going on and why we need to find more revenue?

It's self-destructive to make dumb cuts--ones that in the end will cost us much more than we're saving. Like cutting the Basic Health Plan, or closing a museum that, after years of public investment, is finally in the black.

Thinking is dangerous, but when Chris started waxing about one receptionist, one PR department,etc., I prayed those putting her up to big combines of departments, commissions, etc. have thought through the logistics so as to avoid another excuse for new remodeling, leasing, furniture, etc. etc. I have not a clue, if this bunch is that dumb or not. Anyone?

Bovine feces. It all comes out of the taxpayers' pockets. It's all applicable to the discussion. If state revenues are drawn so thin, it's time to cut the fat everywhere. Highway funds are especially needed now. Ersatz art molded into retaining walls are not an essential function of government.

Town meetings? Cut the fat? Can you people read? The election's over. The fat is cut. Now we'll be cutting food and housing and medical care.

"A bit of a slap at grassroots" hurts, but as much as the devastating cuts to health and education? These are tough times, made tougher by the majority's refusal to pay a few cents more for junk food or to tax the rich. I am a preservationist, but we must also bear cuts.

As for DAHP being somehow lessened, that will happen more due to their being cut in half than their moving. They were unable to save the historic building they now occupy, and the move probably has more to do with vacant cubicles in DNR's nearby building (courtesy of earlier cuts that affected not just volunteer boards, but many jobs) than with a plot to neutralize historic preservation. The budget proposal says nothing about changing the way the SHPO is appointed (by the governor), or how DAHP will operate with regard to project review and consultation, and I do not see why these would have to change.

We have the same problem in King County, maybe the legislature will not choke this year.

Still unhappy with Rodney Tom.

Spending is the problem. Washington state is projected to have an increase of 3.9% in tax collections. Read it here http://cdn.bondbuyer.com/media/newspics/BB120110ROCK_550px.jpg

Mind you it's not at previous levels but it's an increase, but overall it won't keep those who believe that every problem has a government solution from whining. Addiction tax dollars is a curable disease, and while the symptoms of withdrawal seem horrible at the time, once your regain control of your own destiny you'll think the voters for the tough love.

It's hard to believe people would blame voters or the GOP for the current budget crisis in Washington State. They must be totally blinded be partisan politics or simply unable to understand basic civic economics. The only reason we are in this position is simple:

Gov. Christine Gregoire's first term in office is notable for one number: $8 billion.

That's how much state spending has increased since Gregoire, a Democrat, was elected in 2004.

Another way of looking at it: The two-year general-fund budget has jumped 31 percent, to $33.6 billion. That's the largest percentage increase in the past 16 years.

If you have any facts to the contrary I'd love to hear them.