|
Rep. Alexander statement on passage of rainy-day
fund legislation
From
Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Thurston County,
regarding tonight's House vote approving
Senate Joint Resolution 8206. The resolution would go on the
November ballot as a proposed constitutional amendment, for Washington
voters to decide whether to create a "rainy day fund" with
constitutional protection:
"Of the 700-plus pieces of
legislation that have come before the House for a vote over the past 103
days, this resolution is the most important -- for the taxpayers and for
the people who receive state services. A constitutionally protected
rainy-day fund is critical to bringing stability to the budgeting
process. I hope the voters will agree in November and support this
proposal to create the first real 'savings account' for state
government.
"However, tonight's vote doesn't make it any
easier to accept that within a couple of days, the House will be asked
to approve a new two-year operating budget that would wipe out the 2
billion dollars of surplus revenue our state was fortunate enough to
collect. This will be the third budget adopted since Governor Gregoire
took office, and each of those budgets has jacked state spending up by
well over 10 percent.
"I'm pleased the governor decided this
year to get on board with Republicans and call for a constitutional
rainy day fund. But if the latest economic forecast is correct, the
budget she will sign almost guarantees the rainy day fund will have
to be tapped as soon as there's money in it. I wish we had voted
instead on
House Joint Resolution 4207, which would have put more money away
with stronger protection.
"It's been suggested that money placed in
a rainy day fund might be viewed as a surplus by taxpayers, and become
the target of an initiative. We saw that happen seven years ago, when it
was claimed that Initiative 728 would be funded with a budget surplus
and wouldn't require new taxes. I have to believe that if the voters see
fit to create a rainy-day fund, they also will see fit to protect it
from a special-interest spending initiative."
Alexander is Republican leader on the
House Appropriations Committee and budget negotiator for House
Republicans.
# # #
Contact: Rep. Alexander, (360) 786-7990
Eric Campbell, House Republican Communications, (360) 786-7720
|