Jun 11
SuperSteve commented on Governor Inslee Calls Second Special Session Before First Special Session Even Ends, as State Government Shutdown Looms.
House Democrats made serious concessions in their most recent budget proposal, and in return the Senate Republicans re-issued their earlier 'my way or the highway' proposal while also demanding that a bunch of non-budget policy bills be enacted.
During Extra Special Session, the Democrats need to dig in and insist that they are only going to pass a budget and nothing else: an honest budget that balances short-term and long-term while protecting vital services, and without any consideration of non-budget policy bills.
If there ends up being a government shut-down because the Republicans won't compromise, so be it. Better an immediate shut down because of no budget deal than a long, slow drowning caused by the kind of bad budget the Republicans would impose.
During Extra Special Session, the Democrats need to dig in and insist that they are only going to pass a budget and nothing else: an honest budget that balances short-term and long-term while protecting vital services, and without any consideration of non-budget policy bills.
If there ends up being a government shut-down because the Republicans won't compromise, so be it. Better an immediate shut down because of no budget deal than a long, slow drowning caused by the kind of bad budget the Republicans would impose.
Jun 10
SuperSteve commented on Senate Republicans Hold Budget Deal Hostage Over Drown-Government-in-a-Bathtub Measure.
@6 - I understand that the 'plus inflation' in this legislation pertains to overall inflation, not inflation of specific cost-drivers that impact individual programs.
Overall inflation is relatively low, but the inflation rate for things government does (healthcare of high-acuity and needy populations, law enforcement and incarceration, etc) is almost always much higher.
The private sector also faces similar factors (sometime the cost of a commodity like coffee beans rises far faster than the overall CPI), but they have the flexibility to adjust their budgets accordingly. And so should government.
Overall inflation is relatively low, but the inflation rate for things government does (healthcare of high-acuity and needy populations, law enforcement and incarceration, etc) is almost always much higher.
The private sector also faces similar factors (sometime the cost of a commodity like coffee beans rises far faster than the overall CPI), but they have the flexibility to adjust their budgets accordingly. And so should government.
Jun 10
SuperSteve commented on Senate Republicans Hold Budget Deal Hostage Over Drown-Government-in-a-Bathtub Measure.
Maybe it's time to turn the "Government should function like a business" mantra on its head and ask some local businesses how they'd survive if they had to operate under the guidelines being pushed by Senate Republicans.
'Hey Starbucks - it doesn't matter if the cost of coffee beans goes through the roof next year, you can only increase your bean-buying budget by some arbitrarily predetermined factor that has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual cost of making coffee.'
'Yo Boeing - we know the global demand for your airplanes is projected to increase by double digits, but our state population is only increasing by single digits and inflation is pretty low, so you'll have to tell the airlines to go screw themselves and buy from Airbus.'
'Hey Starbucks - it doesn't matter if the cost of coffee beans goes through the roof next year, you can only increase your bean-buying budget by some arbitrarily predetermined factor that has nothing whatsoever to do with the actual cost of making coffee.'
'Yo Boeing - we know the global demand for your airplanes is projected to increase by double digits, but our state population is only increasing by single digits and inflation is pretty low, so you'll have to tell the airlines to go screw themselves and buy from Airbus.'
Jun 5
SuperSteve commented on Why I Ride Fearlessly Without A Helmet.
So you're not going to wear a helmet as a way of protesting our lack of sufficient bicycling infrastructure, but you'll start wearing a helmet once that infrastructure's in place? Seems bass ackwards to me...
And Berliners - with their 400 miles of bike lanes - can ride helmetless for two reasons: first, people in Germany know how to drive, so cyclist are less likely to get hit by a car in Berlin, and second.... They HAVE 400 miles of bike lanes, as opposed to Seattles pathetic collection of disconnected bike lanes, sharrows, and otherwise inadequate infrastructure.
And Berliners - with their 400 miles of bike lanes - can ride helmetless for two reasons: first, people in Germany know how to drive, so cyclist are less likely to get hit by a car in Berlin, and second.... They HAVE 400 miles of bike lanes, as opposed to Seattles pathetic collection of disconnected bike lanes, sharrows, and otherwise inadequate infrastructure.
May 31
SuperSteve commented on Raise Wages and "Fast Food Restaurants Would Collapse." O RLY?.
@11 meant @10
May 31
SuperSteve commented on Raise Wages and "Fast Food Restaurants Would Collapse." O RLY?.
@16 - unfortunately, just the opposite is happening in the Legislature.
The most significant piece of legislation they considered was a Republican bill to allow a sub minimum-wage "training wage" in our state. Thankfully, after passing the Republican-controlled Senate, it stalled in the Democratically-controlled House.
The most significant piece of legislation they considered was a Republican bill to allow a sub minimum-wage "training wage" in our state. Thankfully, after passing the Republican-controlled Senate, it stalled in the Democratically-controlled House.
May 24
SuperSteve commented on It's Not Happening.
Come in early for a dinner reservation? What for, to fill out paperwork???
Nonetheless, it's nice to know they actually take reservations; too many new places try to create a buzz by not taking them and bragging about how customers have to wait for a table.
Nonetheless, it's nice to know they actually take reservations; too many new places try to create a buzz by not taking them and bragging about how customers have to wait for a table.
May 17
SuperSteve commented on Sacramento Columnist Slams Our "City of Limited Introspection".
That quote seems pretty accurate to me
May 14
SuperSteve commented on Michael Pollan Is the Steve Jobs of Food.
I'm wondering how many people who 'don't have time to cook real food' or 'are too busy with kids' manage to spend three hours a night comatose in front of a television (or blogging)
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I find there's a huge disconnect between what most real people think of as a small business (a mom-and-pop corner store, a local chain with a few dozen employees) versus the official US Govt definition of small business being one with <500 employees; revenue, gross receipts, ownership (privately held versus publicly traded) and other financial measures are completely irrelevant.