That’s the theme of my column today. Given the increasing difficulty of forecasting state revenues and the significant downside risks, I suggest legislators underspend the revenue forecast this year. And, they should resist the temptation to kick the can forward with one-time gimmics.

That these ideas continue to surface signals a lack of legislative seriousness, a failure to recognize the fundamental fiscal transformation affecting state government. Increasing debt, shifting expenses from this year to next, desperately buying time to avoid difficult spending cuts – call it Scarlett O’Hara budgeting.

“I’ll worry about that tomorrow,” she said with winsome, optimistic romanticism.

Hope isn’t a plan. Tomorrow’s here. And surplus revenues are gone with the wind.

The Seattle Times editorial board today also takes a dim view of one such gimmick, securitization.