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Chandler
responds to House operating budget proposal
Rep.
Bruce Chandler, R-Granger,
member of the House Ways and Means Committee, released this statement
today about the House Democrats' operating budget proposal:
"A fact easily overlooked is this budget spends more than the current
budget, no matter where the dollars come from. The state is spending for
the moment when it should be budgeting for the future. Although we're in
a recession, there is no better time to reform state budgeting.
"The federal government, capital budget and other funds provide $5
billion in one-time dollars to make a short term fix to the deficit -
this is short-sighted. In two years we'll be right back where we are
today. This is a spending problem that needs real solutions.
"Major spending reductions are proposed by both the House and the
Senate. This is not about cutting everything, this is about not
increasing taxes on our families and employers. It's time to prioritize
and show taxpayers the Legislature remembers that every state dollar
comes from a hard-working citizen.
"There's a lot of doom and gloom out there, but the state is still
expected to bring in more dollars. If a family or a business were seeing
even a small increase in their paycheck, I don't think they would be
responding the same way.
"Budget writers seem to be forgetting about the folks at home who can't
afford their rent or mortgages, who are losing their jobs or their
businesses and who wonder where their tax dollars are going.
"We need to focus all of our efforts on finding ways to help Washington
be prosperous again. This includes providing our agriculture community
with sustainable resources and giving employers a reason to stay or move
to Washington. We can build a better future for our state, but not if
government refuses to change."
The House Ways
and Means Committee will hold a public hearing today, March 31, at 3:30
p.m. on the proposed operating budget. The operating budget is scheduled
to be voted out of House Ways and Means Thursday, April 2.
Budget Facts
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$9 billion
budget deficit
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$3 billion
funds received from federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act
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$780 million
transferred from capital budget, which is funded mostly by bonds
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$3.8 billion
in spending reductions
For more
information, view proposed
House Bill 1244, making 2009-2011 budget appropriations or the House
budget proposal summary.
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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