Dino Rossi
Party: G.O.P.
Candidate for: Governor
Incumbent? No
Age: 48
Hometown: Sammamish
Occupation: Commercial Real Estate
50-word statement:
Dino Rossi - A governor who will get things done.for a change. Dino is running to make Washington the best state in America to start a business and the worst state in America to be a criminal.
Three priorities:
Responsible state spending: Other states control their spending, but not here. While we tighten our belts, our state spends and grows a $2.7 billion deficit. With the status-quo, we can expect higher taxes.
Dino Rossi is a businessman. He'll watch our tax dollars like a hawk and cut waste, because the answer to Washington's challenges is not always to spend more tax money, but to spend it wisely.
Public Safety: Washingtonians must be safe. Dino will end early prison release for violent offenders, and will closely monitor all level 3 sex offenders. He will also ensure that we find and monitor the 1,300 sex offenders state government has allowed to register as "homeless."
Education: Other states are reforming education to prepare students for global competition, but not here. Dino will replace the WASL with America's best standardized test, and have students meet fair and rigorous standards.
Web site: www.dinorossi.com
E-mail address: info@dinorossi.com
Phone number: (425) 498-2008
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State shouldn't count on voter support for taxes
State shouldn't count on voter support for taxes
We agree with Gov. Chris Gregoire on at least one thing -- cuts in state spending she proposed last week are unacceptable.
"I have seen the ramifications of the cuts," Gregoire told reporters at a news conference in Olympia. "I can't live with it."
But her call for a statewide referendum on a temporary half-cent sales tax increase is premature. The last thing Washington taxpayers need at this stage is to let the Legislature off the hook by dangling some false hope of new revenues.
State shouldn't count on voter support for taxes
State shouldn't count on voter support for taxes
We agree with Gov. Chris Gregoire on at least one thing -- cuts in state spending she proposed last week are unacceptable.
"I have seen the ramifications of the cuts," Gregoire told reporters at a news conference in Olympia. "I can't live with it."
But her call for a statewide referendum on a temporary half-cent sales tax increase is premature. The last thing Washington taxpayers need at this stage is to let the Legislature off the hook by dangling some false hope of new revenues.
Cut the fat
Cut the fat
The governor wants to use students as hostages by proposing an $830 million temporary three-year sales tax increase of 0.5 percent that will "buy back" some of the most painful education cuts. Has a "temporary" tax ever gone away? In Franklin County, voters recently approved a 0.3 percent sales tax increase. Our sales tax is now 8.3 percent. This additional 0.5 percent sales tax will increase our sales tax to 9.1 percent.
I am convinced that there are many areas of "fat" in our state government that can be cut. Raising our taxes without making spending cuts does not make sense to me. Many people are out of work, and this is not the time to talk about raising taxes. The Legislature must prioritize and cut spending. Some suggestions: Stop any benefits given to illegal aliens in this state; make state employees contribute more for their health insurance; or cut areas of state spending that overlap with what local governments are supposed to be doing.
I am getting tired of hearing the usual scare tactics
State has enough money
State has enough money
I am surprised by the Herald's lack of forthrightness when running budget crisis articles dealing with Washington state's spending problems. Normally, a newspaper delves into a story to report all the facts.
Our current proposed state budget in total dollars is more than the last budget. And it is only $1.5 billion less than the 2007-2009 budget.
The $10.5 billion budget cuts since 2008, bantered about by the governor, consists of items that the state wanted to fund but was unable to. In simple terms, if the governor had the ability to collect more money, the state would have spent $10.5 billion more than it spent in 2008.
Budget woes might mean end of corrections programs
Budget woes might mean end of corrections programs
Six Tri-City offenders convicted of drug crimes sat around a table talking about their lives.
The men and women in the Moral Recognition Therapy program reflected on what led to their arrests.
They also looked to the future and set goals so they can live drug- and crime-free lives.
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