Budget Austerity - Editorial Views

The governor's "traveling austerity show," notes the Spokane Spokesman-Review, is on the road again this week. Several of the state's editorial pages take note. Let's start with the S-R, which sounds the reset theme.

The fiscal demons are not likely to be conquered, however, without serious rethinking by all levels of government about just what it is that government really needs to do. Because until the overall load is eased, the problems are apt to be redistributed rather than resolved.

The Herald of Everett also weighs in.

Re-aligning the state budget with the stark fiscal realities we face -- now and in the coming years -- is going to require some entirely new ways of thinking...

Noting that speakers at the two earlier public hearings primarily argued for preservation of their pet programs, the Herald says it's necessary to face the new reality.

Revenues are down -- way down -- and they're not expected to rebound strongly in the near future. Meanwhile, lots of expenses are up, as cash-strapped families move kids from private to public school, and joblessness increases Medicaid enrollments.

State government must reset itself to these realities. Accordingly, we all must reset our expectations of what it can and should deliver.

In the Vancouver Columbian, State Senator Joe Zarelli says in an op-ed that the governor should begin the process by stating her commitment to solve the problem without raising taxes.

The time has come for government to focus like a laser on its core priorities. We must ask not for more government programs and what they can do for us. We must ask what we can give up and how we can live within our means. This change of course is welcome and anything but premature, considering another shortfall of at least $3 billion is just around the corner.

Finally, the Wenatchee World clearly says what must be done.

If you look at every program the state does in isolation, nothing would ever get eliminated. It’s no wonder that our lawmakers have such a difficult time in moving beyond the status quo.

Everything has to be on the table in the reinvention of state government, including wages, retirement benefits, entire programs and number of employees.

We have to build a model that works for this state going forward. That means changing the sense of entitlement that exists.

The opportunity is there to set a new course for the future. We shouldn’t squander this crisis.

Right.