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Rep. Barbara Bailey's
statement on today's
state revenue forecast
10th District lawmaker is assistant ranking
Republican
on House Ways and Means Committee
"Today's revenue forecast
is disappointing, but it is important information for state lawmakers as
they put forth budget proposals. The problem is clear and now is the
time for solutions to move forward.
"The first step is
committing to a no-new-taxes budget. When declining consumer spending is
adversely affecting revenue, we cannot take money out of the pockets of
hard-working families and employers.
"Our budget problem is
serious, but manageable with existing revenue. Let's not forget that
the state may have more revenue to use in the next budget cycle
than it does in the current one. It is a matter of restructuring
state government and focusing on priorities such as education, public
safety and the protection of our most vulnerable populations. I
believe we can do these things.
"State lawmakers must also use this
time as an opportunity to improve the budget process. It is not about
enduring the next two years with a patchwork budget; it is about
ensuring that our state never finds itself in this position again. I and
several of my colleagues have unveiled ideas to ensure
this goal. These solutions include requiring fiscal notes before bills are passed,
not allowing unsustainable budgets to be passed, creating a spending
limit, and putting extraordinary revenue aside in good economic times.
"We cannot blame everything on the economy. It is time to look
inward to find what, as a state, we can do to insulate ourselves from
future problems and ensure budget sustainability."
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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