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Alexander proposals bring
accountability and transparency to state's budgeting process
Includes legislative balanced budget
requirement and 'five-day cooling-off' period
Rep.
Gary Alexander, the ranking Republican on the House
Ways and Means Committee, is working to bring accountability and transparency
to the state's budgeting process.
"Oftentimes, the passing of the final budget is too quick and the budget
language is incomprehensible," Alexander said.
"This makes the budget unaccountable to the taxpayers - the very ones
paying for it."
Alexander, R-Olympia, said the current budget crisis underscores
the need to change some fundamental flaws in how the Legislature crafts,
reviews and passes the state's various spending plans.
His first proposal,
House
Bill 1654, establishes a period of public and legislative review for
the state's major appropriations bills. Dubbed "The Budget
Sunshine Act," it would require a five-day waiting period before either
legislative body could vote on the operating, capital or transportation
budgets.
"For the most part, the actual budget never sees the light of day before
it is brought to the floor for a full vote," Alexander
noted. "The paper is still hot, the ink
is still wet and we're supposed to make a decision on the state's most
important issue?
"My legislation would allow the public enough time to weigh in with an
opinion, and it would allow lawmakers to have more confidence in what
they're voting for or against," added Alexander.
"While this legislation won't necessarily help get us out of the current
$6 billion budget hole, it would help us shed light on the upcoming
budget proposals and the impacts of our decisions. It will help
avoid a similar repeat of the problem in future years."
Alexander is also proposing a legislative balanced
budget requirement with
House
Bill 1655.
"We know the governor is legally obligated to propose a balanced
budget," Alexander said. "But that obligation is
not currently extended to the legislative branch.
"In dire economic times, such as the ones we face today, there could be
a temptation for some in Olympia to borrow money to pay for ongoing
expenses. I want to take this option off the table now, before any
momentum is gained," said Alexander. "Borrowing
money through bonds to pay for daily expenses is like a family paying
for the gas and electric bills with a credit card. Neither makes
any financial sense and only leads to more problems down the road."
Alexander is also proposing legislation that would eliminate
all of the
dedicated accounts contained in the near general fund.
These accounts, such as the health services account, the education
legacy trust account, and the water quality account, would simply be
rolled into the general fund.
"I'm always hearing from constituents that the budget terms used by the
state are too complicated for the layman to follow," Alexander
said. "Terms like 'near general fund,' and 'near general
fund state' have no meaning to the general public and cause frustration.
They want to know two basic things when hearing about the budget: how
much money we have coming in, and how much money we have going out."
This proposal does not yet have a bill number.
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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