Teachers YES! Tunnel NO!

Washington State is laying of thousands of teachers because of a 2009-2011 budget deficit expected to be 6.8 billion dollars, while the governor and the legislature sign a bill to dig a tunnel under Seattle at an estimated price of $4 billion dollars. Governor Christine Gregoire promises that it will be built on time and under budget.

Gregoire has nothing to say to the children whose education will suffer because she would rather pay diggers than teachers. Maybe we should give all the kids shovels, and march them downtown to help dig the tunnel. As the sweat drips in their eyes, they will learn that we don't live in a democracy any more. The majority of voters said we don't want a tunnel. The state leaders said "Tough beans."

I suggest three changes in the state constitution:
1. That teachers are the last to be laid off in a budget reduction;
2. That school building maintenance be the last cut from the maintenance budget;
3. That all state projects costing over one million dollars be approved by a majority vote of the people.

While Washington's budget woes are largely due to a shortfall in sales tax revenues, none of Oregon's shortfall is. Why? Simple. They have no sales tax, so they don't depend on that undependable source of income.

Oregon's shortfall is expected to be only 2.2 billion.

Oregon spends $9,126 annually, per pupil.
Washington spends $8,480.

Maybe we should get a clue.