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Largest spending increase in
state history
concerns Rodne, Anderson
5th District
legislators vote against state supplemental budget
The Washington State House
of Representatives voted on party lines Friday in passing a supplemental
budget that represents the largest spending increase in state history.
House Republicans, including Rep. Jay Rodne, R-Snoqualmie, and
Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, voted against the measure citing that
unprecedented spending continues to avoid the essential restructuring of
state budgets necessary to prevent large, future tax increases.
“The 2006 supplemental budget, which passed out of the House on a
party-line vote, ignores a simple economic reality – our state cannot
continue to outspend its revenue. Our state revenue is growing, but
largely because of a hot real estate market that is bound to cool. We
cannot continue to pass budgets that outpace state revenue,” said Rodne.
“The end result will likely be a half-billion-dollar or more hole in our
next operating budget. And if principles from the current budget carry
over to next year, I am concerned that the stage is being set for major
tax increases. This is not good for families or our economy.”
Anderson echoed his 5th District seatmate’s remarks adding, “raising
spending by more than 17 percent and using Enron-type accounting antics
and *censored* to support that spending are not what the public is
expecting from their state government. This budget does not invest in
the future, address state needs in a globally competitive economy or
respect the significant pressure on taxpayers. It just spends to satisfy
special interest groups.”
The supplemental budget is designed to be a midcourse adjustment to the
state’s two-year operating budget in areas such as education enrollment,
wildfire suppression and state pension commitments. Most Republican
lawmakers feel Democrats are taking the process significantly beyond its
intended purpose.
“We’ve seen the supplemental budget process redefined this year, as
there has been an inordinate amount of what we call ‘policy adds.’
Normally, the supplemental budget is for minor, midcourse adjustments to
our operating budget. Not this year,” said Rodne. “The byproduct of this
new, extended scope of spending is an ending reserve – less than 1
percent – that is dangerously low when you consider the natural
disasters and other emergencies our state is susceptible to at any given
time.”
“Of equal concern is the official actions of the majority party to
censor dissenting opinion and remarks of minority legislators
questioning the need for and wisdom of this huge spending increase,”
said Anderson. “This kind of political censorship is dangerous no matter
who is running state government. To formally restrict dissenting
opinions of duly elected officials is a step toward government by
propaganda, not of the people, by the people and for the people.”
Both Rodne and Anderson support a comprehensive “Truth in Budgeting”
legislative package that would give taxpayers a clear understanding of
the budget process and put restraints on excessive spending of their tax
dollars.
The legislative session began on January 9 and is scheduled to run 60
days.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7252
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