Efforts are underway at the Capital to raise taxes to bridge the $2.6 billion deficit resulting from the Democratic majority’s inability to curtail out of control government spending.  The “tug at the heartstrings” arguments being used to rationalize raising taxes during the greatest downturn in the economy since the Great Depression center focus on the catastrophic results of cutting so-called essential services to the “vulnerable” and “needy.”  In gleeful response to the passage of Oregon’s tax initiatives after a campaign based on emotional appeals, Governor Gregoire bubbled: "It is gratifying to see that the public understands the importance of preserving services to the most needy and providing education to the next generation, especially now when those efforts are most needed."     

And in case the emotional appeal falls short, Democrats are gutting the 2/3 majority vote needed for tax increases as approved by voters via I-960.  Voter intent means nothing when it comes to greasing the skids for the cornucopia of tax increases ready to be unloaded on the people of Washington. 

While nobody would argue against preserving funding for the truly vulnerable and needy, The Hammer has to question just who the Governor and her Democratic colleagues lump into that category. Based on the inordinate amount of consideration given by Gregoire to the behemoth of special interest groups—unionized state employees—it seems they qualify.  

Despite a lagging economy, record unemployment (in the private sector) and huge budget deficit, unionized state workers are demanding 5% pay raises this year. The labor hacks representing state workers relentlessly shop their sob story of needy state workers who face financial ruin if their pay raise doesn’t come through.  And Gregoire isn’t arguing.  So while legislators ponder which taxes to raise and what services to the "vulnerable" and "needy" to cut to plug the budget deficit, all while bemoaning the situation, Gregoire is forging ahead with pay raises for tens of thousands of state workers. 

Lest you buy into the sob story that state workers are underpaid and “deserve” pay raises, consider the facts.  In addition to high salaries, state employees receive extravagant benefit packages (averaging around 30 percent of their salary) and are awarded a significant amount of paid time off (far more so than most private sector workers).   

Just look at some of the salaries and compensations coming out of Gregoire’s office: 

And if these numbers make you wince, don’t worry, there’s plenty more where these came from. Stay tuned for updates on more outrageous state worker salaries paid with your tax dollars. 

Until these extravagantly generous salaries, benefits, and paid time off are addressed and redressed, voters should think long and hard before swallowing the "tax increases are necessary to protect the needy and vulnerable" mantra emanating from the capitol.