| |
Local lawmakers say House budget
plan spends too much, leaves state vulnerable
The supplemental budget
released this week by House Democrats takes the state off the fiscally
sound course set with last year’s budget, 13th District
Reps.
Bill Hinkle and Janéa Holmquist said today. The two lawmakers
expressed concern that the proposed budget sets the state up for a $1
billion shortfall by next biennium.
“Last year we balanced a budget that was $2.7 billion in the red by
doing what citizens said they wanted – making cuts rather than
increasing taxes,” said Hinkle. “This budget repeals those cuts and puts
taxpayers right back into a $1 billion budget hole. If that isn’t a
recipe for a tax increase, I don’t know what is.”
In addition to adding new spending, the House budget leaves less than
one percent in the state’s reserve fund.
“We worked hard last year to develop a sustainable budget with
responsible reserves,” Holmquist said. “This budget takes an
irresponsible approach toward planning Washington’s future. What if we
experience natural disasters or our economy doesn’t recover as quickly
as we hope? Taxpayers would be left completely unprotected.”
Holmquist and Hinkle also noted the spending plan makes virtually no
effort to identify savings that might offset new items added to the
budget. Their concern, they said, was that it would leave the
Legislature with just two options by next biennium: cut core services or
implement a massive tax increase.
“Last year we were successful in reining in new spending and holding the
line on taxes,” Hinkle said. “Now is not the time to abandon that
approach. It will require more than one year of belt-tightening to get
the state’s budget back in shape.”
Holmquist agreed, saying now was not the time to increase spending.
“We must be very careful with our spending, especially now as our
economy struggles to recover,” said Holmquist. “This budget doesn’t take
that into consideration. In fact, it goes the other direction by
repealing cuts we made last year and adding spending.”
Senate Republicans also released their supplemental budget this week.
Hinkle and Holmquist noted the differences in the plans, pointing out
that the Senate’s version follows the same fiscally sound principles
from last year and puts the state on better financial footing for the
future. They also appreciated the Senate leaving $399 million in
reserves, a move they said better protects Washington’s families and
employers.
Both the House and Senate passed their budgets out of their respective
chambers today. The two must work out any differences before sending a
final budget to the governor.
# # #
For more information, contact:
John Handy, Assistant
Communications Director - (360) 786-5758
|
|