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stop kicking the can down the road. I would not support raising taxes to balance the budget. People are struggling to find a job, pay their mortgage or keep their business afloat. I support the continued work on government reforms in all areas including, Labor & Industry and workers compensation that would offer some relief in the cost of doing business in our state and spur our economic recovery. I will continue to work to eliminate the “use it or lose it” budgeting process within our state agencies that encourages spending to retain funding. Agencies operate under budgets that are figured on what they spent the previous year. Incentivizing savings within departments and agencies can create a budgeting system that rewards good accounting practices, fiscal responsibility and real savings. GUNN: Low-income families already pay over 17 percent of their household income in taxes, while the top earners pay less than 3 percent. To make our tax system fairer, we should implement a capital gains tax, so long as we exempt the first $10,000 for individuals ($20,000 for couples) and the sale of a primary residence or farmland. We should use the additional revenue to restore education funding and improve public transportation, since these are key to creating a robust and resilient economy. I believe small business is good business. Instead of discouraging job growth by taxing gross receipts, I’ll
work to reform or eliminate the grossly unfair business and occupation tax that makes starting a small business here so difficult. Instead, I would support a value-added tax that would help Washington small businesses grow and be more competitive. More successful small businesses means more jobs, and higher employment means more consumer spending and more revenue for the state. HURST: I have been working to make our state budget sustainable. I started by cutting my own legislative pay last year to help make ends meet. State government is doing more with less and it starts with me. Although I was one of the first to take this voluntary pay cut, most legislators have also done so. We passed a best-in-thenation four-year balanced budget law. That means that we now have not only a two-year balanced state budget, but the budget is not allowed to create a deficit in the following two years. I was a leader in the push for this legislation that was passed by both Democrats and Republicans. We are also forcing more government efficiencies and passed reforms to the public pensions for new hires that will save billions of dollars in the years to come—money we can now invest in education. We are also eliminating unfunded mandates that were bending our state spending curve higher each year. We created a constitutionally protected Rainy Day Fund that the voters also approved which, during good times, will allow us to save for a rainy day. CONNORS: I believe the
private sector creates jobs, not the government. To get Washington working again we need to reduce regulation and lower taxes for all business while providing workforce training to help get our unemployed the skills necessary for the jobs in our state. I will continue to focus on ways to create a healthy business climate supporting business and development of career and technical programs. How will the state pay for the education mandate handed down by the state Supreme Court? GUNN: I don’t think Wall Street banks should m a k e money off of our tax dollars. Let’s put our money to work for us right here in Brian Gunn Wa shing ton. A state bank would partner with existing local banks to encourage small businesses, make it easier for municipalities to fund infrastructure improvements while driving job growth in the resulting construction projects and give college students relief from the crushing burden of debt. If we close tax loopholes for big business, make our tax system less regressive (see my answers to No. 2, above), get control of health care costs and start a state bank, Washington will be able to fully fund the school system as mandated by the McCleary decision and continue to provide support and services for those who need it most through such programs as the Rainier School.
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HURST: I have listed a number of the ways we are increasing efficiencies in state government and the state budget to save billions of dollars in the next decade. We will invest this money in education to help meet the Supreme Court mandate, but it still will not be enough. We will make more cuts and in the case of social services, eliminate fraud, waste and abuse. I have been working with other legislators to shift those in need from cash grants to vouchers for housing and food when they are in need. We were seeing too many stories about people using the cash EBT cards for drugs, gambling, alcohol and tobacco products. Cutting down on waste and fraud is critical, while at the same time maintaining a safety net for those truly in need, but people need a hand to get up and back on their feet, not a handout that ultimately leaves them in distress and dependent on government support. We have also been working hard to save money and find efficiencies in our Workers Compensation system and unemployment insurance. This saves money and keeps rates down for small businesses. When we save money, we invest it in education. CONNORS: The question should be, ‘how will the state pay for all other services after it pays for education?’ The state Constitution and the Supreme Court made it clear that the state must amply provide for the education of all Washington children as the state’s first and highest priority before any other state programs or operation. Fund education first. DAHLQUIST: I was a
prime sponsor of the “Fund Education First” legislation that would amply fund education prior to any other agency or government service as stated in the Washington State Constitution. This legislation would create a separate education budget, similar to the transportation and capital budget. I have also supported LEA (Local Effort Assistance/ Levy Equalization) which balances the propertyrich districts with property poor districts and is a critical funding source for the Enumclaw, White River, Auburn and Sumner school districts. I have been appointed to the Joint Task Force on Education Funding and Education Accountability and will continue to look for balance when restructuring our funding priorities and align them with measurable accountability practices. What is the difference between you and your opponent and what makes you the best candidate? HURST: Although I respect my opponent and appreciate her participation in the race, there are profound differences between us. We are both elected officials, she’s on the Auburn School Board and I’m in the State Legislature, but our approach to this fiscal crisis is very different. I cut office and mailing budgets and my own legislative pay. At the same time, she has been traveling very extensively on taxpayer dol-
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lars to San Diego, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Orlando and other locations, spending thousands of dollars on each trip— money that should be spent in the classroom teaching our kids. Even in-state, when she goes to Seattle for a meeting, instead of putting in for reimbursement for the 27 miles driven each way, she stays in the Seattle Westin Hotel for the night, on taxpayer dollars. We also differ on efficiencies. She has proposed the significant reduction or elimination of the Department of Natural Resources, even though they produce significant revenue for school construction through selling state timber, and leases to technology companies for cell towers. This plan would also cost thousands of jobs in our area in the logging and forest products business. I’m working to keep those jobs. CONNORS: My opponent is part of a serious problem in Olympia. He is a 10-year incumbent Democrat who has continued to cut education, harm business and continue the agenda of Seattle liberals. It is time for a change. DAHLQUIST: I have worked hard to represent the people of the 31st Legislative District in a fair and equitable fashion. I have worked across party lines to help pass some needed government reforms that
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Wednesday, October 31, 2012 • The Enumclaw Courier-Herald • Page 9
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