How About, Like, Canceling the Cable?

(via Publicola, who stick their noses into politics so we don't have to)

Rep. Upthegrove, just prior to begging, with tears in his eyes, for federal funds.

Facebook is scaring us, and it's not just that stupid redesign: Rep. David Upthegrove left this note on his page regarding the state's budget woes, which is not for the easily spooked. Just to give a sense of what they're up against in Oly, here's a thought experiment (this is not, by the way, a proposal from anyone):

If we COMPLETELY ELIMINATE all of these:
University of Washington
Western Washington University
Department of Health
State Patrol
Department of Ecology
Department of Veterans' Affairs
Department of Natural Resources
Department of Agriculture
State Parks and Recreation Commission
State School for the Blind
Human Rights Commission
DSHS - Children's (Child Protection) Administration
DSHS - Juvenile Rehabilitation
DSHS Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse
State Supreme Court
State Senate and House of Representatives.

...we would save $3.1 billion.

WE HAVE TO CUT $8.3 BILLION (possibly increasing to $8.8 billion with tomorrow's revenue forecast).

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By MvB in News on March 23, 2009 11:30 AM

Comments [rss]

bpm2000

Just more reason to support SB-5615

BigGreenFrank

Here's a quick overview of the State budget:

http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget09/summary/table02.pdf

Lists like this are cherry-picked with agencies and departments that seem bigger than they actually are... UW is by far the biggest % of that total. (State Patrol is only $11M, Human Rights Commission is $8M...)

http://www.ofm.wa.gov/budget09/summary/table03.pdf

Also the math seems funky.

UW alone looks like $4.2 in the above table, not including capitol improvements... (maybe it takes out losses if UW really were shut down: severance pay, existing contracts, etc)