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House budget ignores
priorities, says Bailey
The House of
Representatives today gave final approval to an operating budget which
contains the largest spending increase in the history of the state of
Washington, said
Rep. Barbara Bailey.
The vote on Senate Bill 6386 was 55-43 with Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, voting
no.
The measure spends $468 million on new, ongoing programs, and transfers
$825 million to other spending accounts, for a total appropriation of
$1.3 billion.
"There goes nearly all of the $1.6 billion budget surplus. In less than
60 days, the majority party has managed to put together one of the
largest budgets we’ve ever had in the history of this state. I find that
absolutely overwhelming," said Bailey, a member of the House
Appropriations Committee.
"Does this budget do anything to reduce costs and expand access to
affordable health care plans? No! Does this budget address the unfunded
liability in our pension system and does it catch us up on those
payments? No!," exclaimed Bailey. "This budget abandons the Priorities
of Government budgeting process and instead spends a record amount on
new and continuing programs."
Bailey said she is very concerned that the supplemental budget leaves an
end balance of less than $216 million and grows the biennial budget to a
record $29.6 billion.
"This budget goes way beyond the purpose of a supplemental budget, which
is to make small corrections and to fund emergency situations that have
arisen since the passage of the biennial budget last year. It has
re-opened the entire budgeting process to increase spending by 17 and a
half percent and added more than 816 employees to the state payroll,"
said Bailey. "This year’s surplus is a result of a hot housing market.
However, that market is cooling. There is no way that we can continue to
sustain this level of spending in the future. You cannot spend more than
you take in without going into a deficit. The budget approved today sets
up the state for future tax increases and/or deep cuts.
"I remain very concerned about the future of our state with this budget.
We should have addressed our pension problems and paid that bill.
Instead, the majority party has ignored the problem. That alone will
cost taxpayers more than $650 million in the future. We should have put
a sizeable amount of money away into a protected rainy day reserve
account. Instead, they shift money into accounts appropriated for
spending," noted Bailey. "It’s not a responsible budget. It’s not a
sustainable budget, and it’s not a Priorities of Government budget, but
it is a budget that will be very painful for taxpayers in the future."
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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