Chopp, colleagues: Stick in the spokes?

DEAR EDITOR,

Speaker Frank Chopp and his colleagues in the House are a stick in the spokes of responsible state budgeting. The Senate, House Republicans, governor and taxpayers want to set priorities and balance state spending within forecasted revenue, but they are being held hostage by a minority demanding tax increases to reward special interest groups.

While not unusual in politics, this is especially outrageous during a recession. Many citizens around the state are struggling to make ends meet in the face of reduced income and lost jobs. The Senate and governor want to pass a no-new-taxes budget and get on with business. Democrat leaders in the House are obstinately standing in the way.

Legislators face a legal deadline of June 1 to pass a balanced state budget. The shrinking window is putting pressure on both sides, and House Democrats know the last side standing wins. Will it be the side standing for taxpayers, or the side standing for special interests?

Bob Williams
President, Evergreen Freedom Foundation

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