March 19, 2009

Hinkle says new revenue forecast reaffirms need to act quickly to close state's budget deficit
'We have an opportunity to not just place a Band-Aid on the problem but to actually change the 'business as usual' culture in the Legislature,' says Hinkle

Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, said today's revenue forecast showing state revenues are down another $500 million reaffirms the need to act quickly on behalf of taxpayers to close the state's growing budget shortfall.

"Here we are almost two-thirds of the way through the legislative session and we still don't have a supplemental budget dealing with the rest of this biennium or an official proposal dealing with the larger problem for the 2009-11 budget," Hinkle said.  "There's an old expression that refers to the emperor Nero fiddling while Rome burned.  Unfortunately, I think that expression is applicable to the lack of leadership coming out of Olympia today.  We've wasted enough time; it's time to act.

"We also have to keep in mind that we're expecting to have just as much, if not more, revenue in the next biennium as we do now," continued Hinkle.  "This clearly shows that we have a spending problem in Olympia as the size of government keeps growing and growing.  I support a no-tax-increase budget that prioritizes spending, reduces the overall size of government, and protects the truly vulnerable among us.

"We have an opportunity to not just place a Band-Aid on the problem but to actually change the 'business as usual' culture in the Legislature," Hinkle said.  "While the economy has played a roll, the size of our budget problem is a result of overspending and a process that allows for it.  Our state needs a constitutional spending limit, a balanced budget requirement, and a system in which extraordinary revenue generated in good economic times is set aside for the bad times.

"Republicans have put forth good ideas to help bring sustainability, accountability and transparency to the budgeting process," Hinkle continued.  "What's needed now is the leadership to make the difficult decisions to close our state's estimated $8.8 billion shortfall without raising taxes on hard-working families.  And then we need to follow through with making systemic changes to the process itself.  Otherwise, we could be placing a temporary bandage on this thing now only to find ourselves back in the same financial crisis in another year or so."

The majority party budget writers are expected to release details of their spending plans next week.

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