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Alexander named lead budget
negotiator for House Republicans
Rep. Gary
Alexander,
R-Olympia, has been appointed as the ranking Republican member of the
House Appropriations Committee. Alexander has served as a member of the
budget-writing committee throughout his tenure in the Legislature,
including several years as vice chair. He also has budget experience
from serving as the ranking Republican on the House Capital Budget
Committee, which approves funding for state construction and facility
maintenance.
The Appropriations
Committee is charged with crafting the state’s biennial operating
budget, which appropriates more than $12 billion a year from the state’s
general fund for education, social services, natural resource agencies
and other state government operations. Budget writers are facing a
difficult challenge in the coming legislative session, with a projected
$1.6 billion shortfall in the coming biennium. Alexander, R-Olympia,
said the manner in which the Legislature addresses the budget will be
important.
“We are seeing the beginnings of an economic recovery and the approach
we take in balancing the state budget could have an impact on our
efforts to keep our economy growing and keeping people gainfully
employed,” Alexander said. “It’s critical that we find a balance that
protects the citizens who truly need government help and provides job
opportunities for all Washington citizens. There will be difficult
choices to make, and this would be the worst time to raise taxes when
families and employers can least afford it.”
While the projected budget
deficit for the coming biennium is slightly less than the $2.6 billion
shortfall lawmakers faced in 2003, Alexander warned that many
cost-cutting steps were already implemented in the budget adopted two
years ago, leaving this year’s budget writers with fewer acceptable
options that won’t impact core services.
“We’re still paying the
price for unsustainable levels of spending approved in the 2001-03
biennium. When you patch a budget together with one-time money to pay
for ongoing costs, it takes a long period of discipline in the budget to
bring it back to a sustainable level. We began that recovery process two
years ago and it is my objective to continue that approach through the
next biennium," said Alexander. "Combined with our efforts to improve
economic opportunity and create jobs for Washington families Businesses
stimulate the economy and provide long-term job opportunities, we can
balance the budget while protecting services for the truly needy and
without raising taxes.”
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For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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