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Ericksen foregoes
newsletters to save state dollars
42nd District lawmaker concerned about $2.5
billion budget shortfall
Rep. Doug Ericksen
has decided against sending out two state-funded newsletters to his
district this year.
The 42nd District lawmaker wants to save state government thousands of
dollars and is concerned about the state’s projected
$2.5 billion budget
shortfall.
“Most state representatives take advantage of sending out
newsletters in an election year and I respect this approach,” said
Ericksen, R-Ferndale. “I’ve made a decision to save the state some money,
and will focus on communicating with constituents the old fashion way –
face-to-face.”
Ericksen will save the state more than $26,000. Since
the legislative session ended March 13, he has been active in his
communities speaking to eight groups, giving session overviews and
taking questions. Ericksen has numerous
community events scheduled in the upcoming months.
State representatives are given mail budgets for their two-year terms
based on the number of registered voters in their districts. Lawmakers
may use as much of their
budgets as they would like, but are only allowed to send out two
district newsletters in an election year.
“Everyone in state government can play a role in reducing expenses and I
believe I should lead by example. We must control state spending and my
office is proving it can be done,” said Ericksen. “All levels of state government can be more efficient and find
savings. That’s rarely the mindset in Olympia, though.”
The
governor’s office budget has grown from $33.5 million in 2004
to $61.8 million in 2008, an 84.5 percent increase. In December 2004,
under Gov. Gary Locke, the governor’s office had 11 employees who
made more than $100,000 a year in salary. In December 2007, under Gov. Christine Gregoire, 41 employees were making
more than $100,000.
State spending has increased by more than
33 percent in just four years.
The state operating budget has a spending growth rate of more than 16
percent, but a revenue growth rate of just more than 7 percent.
Ericksen voted “no” on the last two state operating budgets.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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