Mock Paper Scissors

George Washington

Washington will not be participating in the Great American State Fair, citing significant costs associated with the multiday exposition on the National Mall later this month.

Washington joins a small list of at least six other states, including Oregon, Maine and Massachusetts, that say they will not participate or send a delegation to the event celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, which opens on June 25 and runs until July 10.

In an emailed statement, Lt. Gov. Denny Heck, who chairs Washington state’s Semiquincentennial Committee, said that the state is facing a “very difficult fiscal situation” and that, given the costs of participating in the fair, officials have chosen “to focus on supporting local efforts here in Washington state for this very important commemoration.”

Dallas Roberts, chief of staff for Heck’s office, said that it was unclear how much participation would ultimately cost, contributing to concerns about committing state resources to the event. Roberts said the office had heard from other participating states that estimated costs ranged from $100,000 to $1 million.

—The Seattle Times

I guess they hear from Scissorheads Purplehead, Punctuated.Equilibrium, and me.

(Hat tip: Scissorhead Purplehead)