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Bailey, House Republicans
work to improve state budget process
10th District
lawmaker wants to prevent current budget problem
from happening
again, supports no-new-taxes approach
Rep. Barbara
Bailey and her House Republican colleagues are working to
improve the state budget process with a package of legislation focused
on sustainability, transparency and accountability. The 10th District
lawmaker believes the process needs to be changed to prevent current
budget problems from happening again.
"State lawmakers
must use these tough times as an opportunity to improve the budget process. It's
not about getting through the next two years with a patchwork budget;
it's about ensuring our state never finds itself in this position
again," said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. "The
legislative package I'm supporting would ensure this goal, and I'm
hopeful it will continue to resonate with people and gain momentum in
Olympia."
The
House Ways and Means Committee
held a work session March 16, on the eight Republican budget proposals.
Bailey, assistant ranking Republican on the committee,
appreciated the majority party's acceptance of the work session, but was
disappointed that no public input was allowed and no action was taken on
the measures.
"We appreciated the opportunity to discuss our
ideas in a legislative setting, but we are disappointed the public was
not allowed to participate," said Bailey. "It's hard to
understand why there's resistance to improve our budget process."
Democrats have been reluctant to embrace
change in the budget process. This week -- two-thirds of the way through
the legislative session -- they will finally put forth their plans to address the state's $8.8 billion budget shortfall.
Bailey has made her position clear since day
one of the legislative session.
"The
parameters of the budget problem have been clear for awhile. It's long
overdue for solutions and decisions," said
Bailey. "The first step is committing to a no-new-taxes
approach. When
declining consumer spending is adversely affecting revenue, we cannot
take money out of the pockets of hard-working families and employers. The second step
is restructuring state government, including prioritizing education,
public safety and protection of our most vulnerable citizens."
The eight House Republican budget proposals represent
reforms that would prevent large shortfalls in the future. Bailey believes
if the measures had been
in place the last four years, the budget shortfall would
be much smaller today. The proposals are:
House Bill 2228, sponsored by
Bailey, would prohibit
the governor or Legislature from proposing a budget
deemed unsustainable in the ensuing biennium, or the biennium
after that one.
"When our governor signed the last operating
budget, she said that she didn't like it and that it was unsustainable.
We need to prevent this scenario in the future," said Bailey.
"State lawmakers should never pass a budget that they know cannot
be sustained with expected revenue."
House Bill 1458 would require a fiscal
note, or how much the legislation would cost, to be
established before final passage of any bill before the Legislature. The measure is
also sponsored by
Bailey.
"When I tell people that state
lawmakers vote on bills without knowing their
costs, they are surprised. You wouldn’t buy a car
without knowing how much it cost, right?"
said Bailey. "The
concept is simple -- state lawmakers should never pass
legislation before they know how much it will cost
taxpayers."
House Bill 1655 would require the Legislature to adopt a
balanced budget. While the governor is statutorily obligated to
propose a balanced budget, there is no requirement for the
Legislature to adopt one.
"We currently operate under a system
in which state lawmakers could turn to the practice of borrowing
or issuing bonds in order to pay for daily, ongoing expenses of state
government," said Bailey. "We need to
prevent this irresponsible practice."
House Bill 1654 would
establish a period of public and legislative review for the state's
major appropriations bills. Also called the "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.
"Only
good things can come from allowing not only state lawmakers, but the
public, more time to review state budgets," said Bailey.
"This transparency is needed."
House Bill 1902 would
simplify budget language for the public by eliminating all of the
dedicated accounts contained in the near general fund. These accounts,
such as the health services account, the water quality account and the
education trust legacy account would be rolled into the general
fund.
"Our budget process is so confusing for the public. If we
can simplify it, we will create more public trust," said
Bailey. "We need citizens to be involved and provide their
input. The more they understand the budget, the more they will be
inclined to share their views with their state lawmakers."
House Joint Resolution 4207 would establish a state spending limit for the
fiscal year beginning July 1, 2010. The fiscal limit mirrors the
original language found in the voter-approved Initiative 601 by limiting
expenditures to an increase in the state's population and inflation
growth over the previous three years.
"It's unfortunate that we
would have to change our state constitution just to give voters what
they wanted when they passed Initiative 601," said Bailey.
"This approach would put important
protections in place to prevent large budget shortfalls in the
future."
House Joint Resolution 4209 would require exceptional state revenue to be
deposited into the state's "rainy day fund" during good economic times.
"Some state lawmakers get excited when they have a
budget surplus. But instead of putting this money aside for a rainy day,
there has been an effort to spend and commit it to new or expanded state
programs," said Bailey. "The state needs to do a better
job of saving in good economic times. This would create a cushion for when
difficult times arrive."
House Bill 1657 would
establish that the paramount duty and first priority of the Legislature
is to fund education. The bill would require a separate education budget
be enacted before any other general spending plan could be adopted.
Bailey doesn't believe the proposals are partisan
and feels they are based on common sense.
"These reforms would deliver better state
government. At a time of an unprecedented budget shortfall and rising
unemployment, taxpayers need to know that state government is efficient,
transparent and accountable," said Bailey. "These are not partisan concepts; they are just good budgeting
principles."
The 2009 legislative session is scheduled to run
through April 26.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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