Their numbers in the Legislature are so small that any announcement from House Republicans is like whistling in the wind (can anyone hear them?), but that's not stopping GOP budget leader Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, from coming out with his Top Ten budget ideas.

Writing the news release at least kept Brendon Wold busy for part of the summer.

Here's an interesting one, only because you don't often see Republicans talk about increasing spending much. Of course, if the state were to spend more on K-12, it would have to make corresponding cuts in other programs to keep GOPers happy.

3. K-12 Education: Do not defer the beginning funding of HB 2261 to the 2013-15 Biennium. If this is the panacea for our new definition of basic education, then there is an obligation to prepare and implement a funding plan beginning much sooner. That plan should replace the Student Achievement Fund and the Education Legacy Trust Account, not augment them.

Here's the rest:

House Republican budget leader releases 'top ten' budget ideas for improving state's budget outlook

'We can either change the way government delivers services, or we can continue with broken promises, drastic cuts, and rollercoaster spending,' says Alexander

Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, released today his top ten ideas for improving Washington state's budget outlook over the next biennium and into the next decade.

"We have to look at doing some things differently," said Alexander. "We're still stuck using the same failed policies that led to a $9 billion budget shortfall last session and which will lead to another $9 billion – or more – shortfall in 2011. We can either change the way government delivers services, or we can continue with broken promises, drastic cuts, and rollercoaster spending.

[More:]

"My hope is that by discussing these ideas now, members of the Legislature and the governor's budget staff can begin thinking about how we can improve the way state government is run," said Alexander. "I'll be working with my colleagues over the next few months to see how we can implement change within a budgeting system that helped create the mess we are in now."

Alexander's budget solutions include:

1. Reorganization: There needs to be a complete review of the reorganization of state government service delivery in Washington State, starting with Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and the newly named Department of Commerce.

2. Higher Education: Take the emphasis off bricks and mortar and put more focus on distance learning through technology. Develop a more comprehensive and cohesive master plan that links the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) closer to the Community and Technical College Board.

3. K-12 Education: Do not defer the beginning funding of HB 2261 to the 2013-15 Biennium. If this is the panacea for our new definition of basic education, then there is an obligation to prepare and implement a funding plan beginning much sooner. That plan should replace the Student Achievement Fund and the Education Legacy Trust Account, not augment them.

4. Health Care: We cannot continue to operate a health care system in Washington state in its current form. We do not match service delivery and payment plans with the acuteness of care or the ability to pay. We must start over and implement the recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission that were incorporated in SB 5930 with no modifications. Make sure to include Strategy II that dealt with giving individuals, families, and small businesses more choice in selecting private insurance plans, offering a less costly alternative designed at young adults, and restructuring the Basic Health Plan to change eligibility requirements. Allow enrollees to use plans other than those offered by the Health Care Authority, and put more focus on lifestyles, cost sharing, and utilization.

5. Public Safety: Our public safety policies are reactionary. Something bad happens to someone and a bill is proposed to address it. Getting tough on crime is a good slogan and an important component of protecting our families, businesses, and communities, but it is costly. This is a growing drain on our state resources. We must do two things: number one - focus more attention on the prevention and deterring of crimes; and number two - make this the purest form of user fees for those that continue to violate our laws. Beef up the monetary penalties and give the state the ability to sweep accounts, confiscate property, and make it so "crime does not pay."

6. Economy: The most important criteria to a strong economic recovery is to agree on a bi-partisan basis that the best way to provide the necessary resources to conduct government services is to revitalize the business and jobs that will generate the revenue. This means taking a very strong look at our regulatory climate and providing incentives for growth and investment where possible. Take it one major step forward - stop talking about the unfairness of a B&O tax based on the gross rather than the net, and change the law.

7. Pensions: It is not a zero sum game. We have an obligation to our retired, and current and future public employees to fully fund ALL our pension systems. Put together a responsible schedule to pay off the unfunded liability on Plan 1 and stick to it. Make it the same priority as paying debt services.

8. Privatization: What does it take for Washington State to get serious about looking at contracting out services that the private sector is better able to do? Form a task force of business and public representatives, including profit and non-profit, to review the opportunities for privatization – and then implement their recommendations. The potential savings would be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

9. Boards and Commissions: The real value of the passage of ESB 5995 in the 2009 session is the establishment of criteria for elimination or consolidation. Expand this to include criteria for establishing boards and commissions. It seems for every one eliminated, two more crop up. A thorough review with solid criteria could cut the number of boards and commissions in half and save $5 to $10 million.

10. Sustainability: Pass legislation that says the approval budget must demonstrate a sustainable outlook for a six-year period. Require the Economic Forecast Council and the Office of Financial Management to prepare a six-year forecast, of which the Biennial Budget is the first two years. Do not allow legislation to be passed with a future implementation date if the fiscal note would create an unsustainable budget.