Two years ago, the Freedom Foundation proposed 10 major ideas for tightening the state’s budget. In addition, we proposed one budget-saving idea for each of the 105 days in the 2009 legislative session. Some of these ideas were implemented, but most were ignored. We updated our “Top Ten Budget Ideas” and are also proposing a new idea for each day of the current legislative session.

The truth is, there is no shortage of ideas for fixing the budget. The demand for government services is virtually infinite, but the resources to pay for them are not. This is why legislators must do the job for which they were hired—prioritize the role of government within existing resources.

To show that it can be done, I have listed proposed reductions below totaling more than $6.5 billion, even before implementing efficiency measures or Governor Gregoire’s proposed elimination of the Basic Health Plan ($230 million General Fund savings) and the General Assistance Unemployable program ($327 million).

Some of these ideas might be more politically feasible than others, but the point is, it can be done.

Filed Under : Solutions