Time to dance; who will take the lead?

The annual Washington Legislative Dance has begun.

It has become a tradition, with the governor and political parties of the legislature dancing around issues, with someone taking the lead and the other partners following without caring if they step on someone's toes.

This year, however, everyone seems to be trying to avoid taking the lead in dealing with the state's latest revenue shortfall.

Cut government, cut spending, say the minority Republicans.

That's fine, Governor Gregoire has said. In December, as required by state law, she presented a proposal for a balanced budget, a budget balanced by cutting funding for education, social programs such as health care for the poor, and correctional facilities including the Naselle Youth Camp, among others.

This is not what she advocates, she said; it's just what was required.

Majority Democrats weren't saying much; they hoped the governor would have a more palatable and concrete proposal when the legislature convened this week.

She didn't. She gave some guidelines and passed the lead to the legislature.

So the legislative leaders face a dilemma: Do they cut spending and harm people and the economy, or do the find a way to raise taxes to generate some extra money, a move that Republicans say will hurt economic recovery.

It seems to me there will be some pain either way. Funding cuts will hurt, and they'll hurt the economy--think of the potential impact on the Naselle area if the youth camp closes.

New taxes would be a burden, but, I think, not one that we couldn't bear, especially if they were limited in duration to a couple years. This may be unpopular, but I suspect the alternative will become even more distasteful.

I'm sure the legislature can find a combination of cuts and "revenue enhancements" that will address the situation.

Someone just has to take the lead.