March 2, 2009

Ross votes against union pay increases
'This is irresponsible budgeting at its best,' Ross says

Rep. Charles Ross, R-Naches, voted and spoke against a measure that would increase salaries for some union employees in the House Ways and Means Committee today.

House Bill 2267 would provide an exception to the governor's rejection of union pay raises. The pay freeze would save money in the state's operating budget, now expected to have an $8 billion shortfall.

"Pay freeze means pay freeze," Ross said. "With unemployment in this state at nearly 8 percent, and 11 percent in Yakima County, there are so many people who feel lucky to have jobs. I don't think the union should be finding ways to give some employees pay increases when others are worried about keeping any income at all."

Ross noted that Friday and Monday the House Ways and Means Committee voted on dozens of bills that would add costs to the state's budget.

"This is irresponsible budgeting at its best," Ross said. "The majority cries that it wasn't the state's fault it got into this financial situation, yet in seven weeks only $942 million has been saved in the state's budget to fill a $8 billion hole. Meanwhile, they pass more bills that add to the financial problem."

The Yakima Valley School is set to be closed in the governor's budget proposal, and 14th District legislators continue to fight for it to remain open.

"Clearly there is a lack of knowledge of how to balance the budget while protecting the most vulnerable and not raising taxes," Ross said. "I don't understand why we are spending any time protecting union workers' right to pay increases while we slash care for the most needy. The cost of this poor budgeting will be at a cost to our working families and employers, who are already suffering. They have had to do more with less, and I believe the government should too."

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