Don Brunell - The private sector is key to Washington’s prosperity

Lawmakers gathered in Olympia for the 2010 legislative session can either set our state up for long-term prosperity or put off the tough budget decisions until 2011 when it will be even more difficult to solve our financial problems.

It will not be easy to fill our current $2.6 billion deficit. Last year, state lawmakers balanced the budget by using $3 billion in federal stimulus money and draining dedicated accounts. This year, that’s not an option.

Families are struggling with a similar situation: mounting bills and shrinking income. To cope, they are cutting back to the bare necessities: mo...