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8th District lawmakers vote against free-spending
House budget
Haler, Hankins say problems include handling of
surplus revenue
The mishandling of the
state's surplus revenue is one of the reasons
State Reps. Larry
Haler and
Shirley Hankins today voted against the $33.4 billion operating
budget put forth by the House of Representatives.
"It's bad enough that this
budget would wipe out a huge revenue surplus now estimated at more than
two billion dollars, and leave a budget deficit for the 2009 Legislature
to address. But to spend this one-time money on programs that would be
ongoing, without knowing how those programs will be funded down the line
-- that's not responsible," said Haler, R-Richland.
"The idea that the state
has a two-billion-dollar surplus is fantasy, especially when you take
into account that our pension system is at least four billion dollars in
the red, and climbing. And now that they're spending this so-called
'surplus' on a bunch of new programs, we're really going to be in
serious trouble," said Hankins, R-Richland. "I understand the need to
fund education, public safety and all of the other essential services of
government. However, I'm really concerned that this budget pushes us off
the cliff when it comes to spending."
The state operating budget
pays for K-12 public schools, human services, higher education, debt
services, prisons/corrections, natural resources, special
appropriations, and legislative, judicial and government operations.
"When you look closer at
this budget the numbers are startling. An 18 percent jump in spending
compared to the operating budget passed in 2005. An expenditure of 1.3
billion dollars more than the state takes in on the revenue side. And
2.2 billion dollars that would be spent on new policy additions, without
any efficiencies or any cuts in existing state programs," said Haler,
who is assistant Republican leader on the House budget committee.
The 8th District lawmakers
also are disappointed that the House budget does not include a
constitutional rainy day fund that would set a responsible amount of
money aside and protect the state during economic downturns. The concept
originated with Republicans, is supported by the governor and has
already been approved by the Senate.
This operating budget,
House Bill 1128, was adopted on a 62-35 vote. House members also
approved a transportation budget (House Bill 1094) and a capital
construction budget (House Bill 1092). All three budgets would cover the
2007-09 biennium.
The state Senate is
expected to bring its own budget proposals forward later this week, and
before the 2007 session ends, the House and Senate will have to work out
their differences and agree on compromise budgets.
# # # For more information, contact:
John
Sattgast, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7257
Eric Campbell, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7720
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