I dont know why im replying to this..... Im dumb when it comes to this stuff. But can anyone tell me what the state is doing with the millions of dollars its making from the lottery? And also... what about the casino's?? Im no rocket scientist mind you, but I do have a strange feeling that our tax money gets spent frivolously. Not looking to make waves here, but I do believe that if the money were spent properly allot more could be done with what is already there. ????? !!!! ???? <img border="0" alt="[wall]" title="" src="graemlins/wall.gif" />

<img border="0" alt="[santa]" title="" src="graemlins/santa.gif" /> I put Santa here to help signify the State of Washington government. The lottery is a great example. The state lottery was created with the express purpose of generating funds for education...(look up the history). Once it became a reality the money did not go to education at all but simply went into the general fund. If a list of political broken promises used to raise taxes were made it would wrap around the globe . No need to even give examples because we all could make a big list of our own. What really kills me though is how the population of this state votes FOR accountability initiatives and then turns right around and votes over and over again for the morons who populate the capital. Too many freaks not enough circuses if you ask me.

I totaly agree grandpa with that statement. Now where the hell do the funds go that the state makes from the casino's? I cant help but feel im being raped every year. I would agree to volunteer in a hatchery any day. I dont trust the state to use my money as they say they do. Its a sad truth to me, but thats the way I feel none the less.

The tribes are the ones pocketing the casino money for the most part. Now they want to keep the sales tax collected on the rez..the newest example is in Marysville. The new Tulalip casino looks like the MGM Grand and next to it is an industrial development with Home Depot and other big tenants.. The state comes up short again. No rant against the Tulalips though as they actually are doing alot of good for the citizens of their "nation".
What bugs me the most is that the State of Washington acts like a socialist country. Give and give and give to those you contribute the least and take take take from those who contribute the most. The democratic politicians gather alot of voters to their fold by following the Democratic Golden Rule:

" Rob Peter to pay Paul...and Paul will always be your friend"....

I like the other golden rule: "He who has the gold..makes the rules"

All I have to say is this state needs a change!! We have had a Democratic governor for about 20 years!! Things aren't looking good to me. I agree that government needs to more accountable. We also don't need idiots like Eiman putting initiatives out there that look good, but hurt the state!! Tax cuts sound good and look good, but things have to be payed some how. Governement needs to be more efficient. Although if you take away all the money they can only do so much?

So for all of you complaining. We have been doing what the liberal democrates have wanted to do. Maybe we should try and see if the Republicans can make a difference Ya that makes sense !!

Thats all for me
Buck

A report out this week shows that outdoor activities generate over $2 Billion dollars to the state. What does Governor Locke propose??? Close three hatcheries! Other non-fishing related but ridiculous Locke proposals include cutting back on teachers, firemen,police and other vital services. All the while we have free housing going up all over and a new hotel in downtown Seattle for chronic drunks...We have become a magnet for the homeless and the welfare crowd. Politicians ALWAYS propose to cut the most popular things in the budget and NEVER propose to cut back on the gravy train giveaway boondoggles...WHY? because the recipients of all the free stuff vote DEMOCRAT...It is such BULLCRAP it makes me sick...

Lots of great discussion here. I am sure I am not alone being willing to pay taxes for the programs I like, and complain about paying for those I don't.
Accountability is the issue to me as well. Mr. E's initiatives, designed to shake up the legislature, create only a hand wringing reactionary effect, instead of proactivity. This "woe is me" attitude crosses all party lines. The initative process in this, my native state, has in the last 5 years lead to unfunded spending mandates and tax cuts without alternatives.
A common sentiment here is to "vote the *******s out". I don't disagree, but who among us here is going to step up and be voted in? Collectively we complain, and collectively decline to offer the ultimate answer-seek office and make changes ourselves.

As I mentioned in the opening, alas all is not lost!

Send in the money, the state will take it! h

Eyman's buying me a free lunch? Did I read that right??

Oh, it's just politics again. Never mind.

This is one big birdsnest of a topic, but i hear what alot of you are saying.I don't agree with some but thats the way it is. I will say that i feel that our problems are not Party specific, meaning that they both like the hog trough way too much to give up what they are already getting.I will continue to vote for any initiative that comes down the road untill the politicains become accountable for their spending habits, let them go without health insurance, a chef in the capital, subsidized housing and all the benefits that come with the job " that they wanted" The retirement alone should be enough of an incentive to want to be in public office, My God, listen this is what the politicains want us to continue to fight amongst ourselves and keep our eyes off of what they are doing.We get raped and complain, they say they will make sacrifices, but the sacrifices are made by you and I.Then they say they have to cut funding,for the most basic things????????????????
Who the *^&& is in charge, when i go out to eat if i don't like how my steak is cooked i send it back, make no mistake "We are picking up the tab for their mistakes"

This is pretty funny!

No government is bad!
Some government is good!
A lot of government is even worse than no government!

Think about the hypocrisy of what we now have. It's kind of like our waters that we are now fishing in;

No water is bad!
Some water is good!
A lot of water is even worse when it comes to fishing.

Make no mistake about it; it's all about money, money, money, and more money! It doesn't really matter what party you belong to; it only matters when you are paying more taxes, and you believe that you are receiving nothing as benfits.

Government employees will never complain as long as they are getting all the perks that they want. Take away, or threaten to take away any of "their perks" and all hell will break loose!

The old saying "you get what you pay for" certainly applies to this thread. The big question here is; do you believe that you have gotten what you have paid for?

It sounds to me that many have not!

Cowlitzfisherman

Lotsa talk about waste in government, and lotsa questions about what state government is spending their money on. Well, there is a little tool that anyone can use, it's called FOIA (Freedom of Information Act). Every state agency has to allow you to look at, and copy if you want on the state machine at 10 cents a page, any written product produced on state time. So you can go to any agency you have a question about, fill out the FOIA form, and ask for any document that you are interested in, including financal statements broken down into individual purchases (ask for the order payment form) if you want. Every dollar is accounted for - it's the law. State books are way better than any private corporation books, believe me. So those of you who are suspicious, help yourselves, all the books are open (unlike private industry). Let us know if you really find something "fishy"

Tim Eyman has his obvious faults, but I still have to give the guy props. What his initiatives are proving (other than we will always vote for lower taxes) is that the people of this state are fed up with our inadquate elected officals and the enormous misapporpriations and mishandling of the funds we provide every year. If we had a better leadership in this state, we wouldn't have a NEED for good ol' Tim. If he didn't stir the pot, who would?

Do I believe his initiatives are GOOD for Washington? NO.

Did I vote for them? YES!

Spawnout

Dream on!

As just one (1) example, public utilities are under the "same" FOIA rule as any other governmental agency or services. I have made numerous FOIA request, and our attorney has also made numerous FOIA requests as well, and we both have been given the usual "legal runaround jerk". The Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA) is limited!

Unlike other issues that you have posted, I think that this time you are lacking the knowledge to give advice on this issue…no I know that you are!

FOIA is a tool that one can use, depending on what you are requesting. BUT more often than not, your FOIA's request answer IS "manipulated" almost every time! Do not, I repeat, do not try to TELL ME about what the powers of a FOIA request can do! FOIA is limited to only certain information, and usually only after a governmental attorney(s) have reviewed it and authorized its release.

I have made no less then 50 FOIA requests in the past 2 years. About 50% of the time, I get what I had requested! The other 50% of the time, I get a reply from an attorney telling me that a certain percent of what I have requested is "not available" because it is either tied up in litigation, or it falls under the umbrella of the "client privileged" information.

You may know about fish, but you certainly are not an expert on FOIA…even though you may think you are!

P.S.; it's not a set copy charge of 10 cents a copy, it can and usually does cost you a lot more then 10 cents a copy! The cost of "copying" is whatever it cost them to "make a copy"! Some copies of governmental documents will cost you well over $1.00 each depending on what document you are coping.

Cowlitzfisherman

Everyone must take CWUgirl's opinion with a grain of salt as it very biased!!

...she thinks Timmey is a fine piece of sleezy watch selling ass and wants to have his babies!!

She has told me so on numerous occasions!!

You know the fishing has got to be pretty slow when we spend this much time on a Fishin BB talking politics . I think one of the biggest problems is that not many of these politicians are river fisherman.

If the fishing picks up at least we will have some stories to tell.

Sparks, please don't pass off your bizzare Eyman love on to me.. I just respect his pot stirring.. while I think you are interested in more??

Sparks is just jealous because he can't crack the political whip like myself. He's stuck with "watch selling ass." Rather sad, really!!

AHHHHHH a know it all, well spawnout, perhaps you should take all of that wisdumn and run for office, you could go down there and join ole govenor Grid-Locke and pals and help with the raping of our coffers.I have infinite dealings with the state and i can tell you that if they want to sit on their hands there is not a single darn thing anyone can do about it, so blather on about this or that, but don't tell me that everything is there to be reviewed.
Something does smell fishy around here!!!!

Under the Freedom of Information Act you can get one bit of information for free...Bend over because you are getting ****ed in the ass by government spending. If things were so above board here in Washington why don't performance audits get done? Why? because the foxes are guarding the hen house...Head fox: Gary Locke