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Operating budget signed by governor will burden
taxpayers
Statement from Rep. Gary Alexander, lead
Republican
on the House Ways and Means Committee
House Ways and Means
Ranking member
Rep.
Gary Alexander, R-Olympia,
issued the following statement today in response to the Democrat budget
signed by Gov. Gregoire:
"The governor and Democrat majority chose short-term solutions as the
method to solve the budget crisis facing the state. Rather than making
long-lasting changes to the budget building process by finding ways to
deliver services more effectively and efficiently, they opted for the
easy way out.
"Unfortunately, the budget signed into law today will burden taxpayers
because it was built using one-time money, including federal funds and
money intended to build essential infrastructure. This hampers efforts
to create jobs and energize our state's economy.
"Many program costs are
only temporarily delayed for two years. Essentially, the majority party
continues to grow government. They're just temporarily paying for
ongoing programs with one-time money with the intention of resuming
their overspending habits in a few short years. It is clear our state's
economy can't support the level of spending we've seen in the last four
years which led to our current deficit. Washington citizens will be
faced with more broken promises and almost certain tax increases.
"The bottom line is that
the governor and majority party have overcommitted the taxpayers with
this budget. It leaves an ending fund balance for the 2009-11 biennium
of $490 million and only $740 million in the rainy day account. It is
clear we will be facing a shortfall just as big, if not bigger in two
years because the Legislature was unwilling to fundamentally change the
way it does business."
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Senior
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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