Rep. Skip Priest's 2009 30th District Survey

This brief survey will assist me in making decisions in Olympia that are best for the 30th District. Your feedback is important to me. If you have additional comments or questions, please E-mail me at priest.skip@leg.wa.gov or call my legislative office at (360) 786-7830.

1. The 2009-11 budget has a projected $8 billion deficit. What, in your view, is the best way for the Legislature to address this shortfall? (please choose only one answer)

The 2009-11 budget has a projected $8 billion deficit. What, in your view, is the best way for the Legislature to address this shortfall? (please choose only one answer) Cut public services, don’t raise taxes (if you choose this option, please outline specifically where you would cut the budget if you had the red pen in Olympia in the comments section below)

Raise taxes and don’t cut public services (if you choose this option, please outline which taxes you would raise in the comment section below)

Rely mostly on service cuts with modest tax increases

Rely mostly on tax increases with modest cuts in services

Additional comments

2. If you were prioritizing the state budget, please rank the following in the order you would fund them (1 being the top priority for funding):

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
K-12 Education	If you were prioritizing the state budget, please rank the following in the order you would fund them (1 being the top priority for funding): K-12 Education 1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Higher Education	Higher Education 1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Social Services	Social Services 1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Health Care	Health Care 1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Environmental projects, programs and regulations	Environmental projects, programs and regulations 1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Corrections and prisons	Corrections and prisons 1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
Law enforcement	Law enforcement 1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
State employee raises (union and non-union)	State employee raises (union and non-union) 1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8

Other (please specify)

3. Article IX of Washington state's constitution requires that basic education be considered the "paramount duty" of the state. Considering this, would you support legislation to require the state to fund K-12 education before any other program is funded in the state budget?

Article IX of Washington state's constitution requires that basic education be considered the "paramount duty" of the state. Considering this, would you support legislation to require the state to fund K-12 education before any other program is funded in the state budget? Yes

Undecided

4. In 2000, voters approved Initiative 732, giving teachers and K-12 employees automatic cost-of-living (COLA) raises, and Initiative 728, increasing funding for class-size reduction. At the time, the sponsors of the initiatives wrote in the voter’s pamphlet that the state could afford these measures without raising taxes or cutting services. With the $8 billion budget deficit looming, the governor’s budget proposal did not fund the initiatives. Given our current financial crisis, what is the best way to proceed?

In 2000, voters approved Initiative 732, giving teachers and K-12 employees automatic cost-of-living (COLA) raises, and Initiative 728, increasing funding for class-size reduction. At the time, the sponsors of the initiatives wrote in the voter’s pamphlet that the state could afford these measures without raising taxes or cutting services. With the $8 billion budget deficit looming, the governor’s budget proposal did not fund the initiatives. Given our current financial crisis, what is the best way to proceed? I support funding Initiative 732 only

As much as I would love to give teachers additional COLA raises each year and lower class sizes, we simply cannot afford them this year

I support funding Initiative 728 only

Put both initiatives on the next ballot and see if voters still support them

The voters have spoken and their wishes should be honored at all costs and by any means necessary, including tax increases

5. Health care affordability and accessibility is a leading issue in the state and nation. Washington state is considering several options to revamp how health insurance is purchased and delivered in our state. Of the options being considered, which of the choices below do you prefer?

Health care affordability and accessibility is a leading issue in the state and nation. Washington state is considering several options to revamp how health insurance is purchased and delivered in our state. Of the options being considered, which of the choices below do you prefer? Private market/employer-based insurance is the best choice for Washington

Undecided

Government should stay out of the health care marketplace altogether

Only catastrophic coverage should be state-run (any medical bill over $10,000 would be covered by this insurance) and I would support taxes to pay for it

Washington should wait to see what happens at the federal level on health care coverage

State government should be the sole administrator of health care coverage and I would support taxes to pay for this coverage

A national health care program is overdue and I would support taxes to pay for this type of coverage

6. Would you like legislative updates sent to your e-mail address? If so, please provide your e-mail address in the space provided.

Would you like legislative updates sent to your e-mail address? If so, please provide your e-mail address in the space provided. Yes, my E-mail is listed below

E-mail address

7. Please write additional comments here.