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Local lawmakers call
Democrat supplemental budget risky
The stark differences
between the supplemental budgets unveiled Monday by Senate Republicans
and House Democrats make it clear which is best for taxpayers, say 18th
District Reps. Tom Mielke and
Ed Orcutt.
Senate Republicans are calling for controlled spending to ensure
reserves are available for upcoming years, while House Democrats are
calling for significantly more spending.
“If we follow the House Democrats’ supplemental budget, I fear the
deficit created may lay the groundwork for a call for tax increases next
year,” said Mielke, R-Battle Ground. “Times are already tough enough for
working families and employers, and we know they cannot afford any new
taxes.”
If the House Democrats’ supplemental budget is adopted, it’s projected
the general fund shortfall could be as much as $1 billion in the next
biennium.
“I support the Senate’s
supplemental budget. It follows the same fiscally responsible principles
from last year and puts us on better financial footing for the future,”
said Orcutt, R-Kalama. “We are only one-third of the way through this
biennium and a lot can happen from here on out. The supplemental budget
is for slight mid-course adjustments, not a mass overhaul of fiscal
policy.”
The Senate Republicans’ supplemental budget mirrors that of last year’s
in terms of fiscal responsibility, when then-Sen. Dino Rossi and Sen.
Joseph Zarelli created a budget that preserved core state services
without increasing taxes for families.
“We need a supplemental
budget that is compassionate, yet fiscally responsible and a sound
investment in our future,” said Orcutt. “Unfortunately, the House
majority party’s supplemental budget lacks parts of this important
equation.”
“Our economic forecast shows positive signs now, but we can’t assume it
will always continue. Revenue uncertainty, natural disasters and other
factors out of our immediate control have proven we need a larger rainy
day fund than what the House Democrats are proposing,” said Miekle.
“We owe it to the taxpayers of this state to prepare for the worst.”
“Chang Mook Sohn, Washington’s chief economist, warned us not to make
too much of the revenue forecast when he testified in front of the House
Finance Committee last December,” added Orcutt. “Leaving too little in
our state reserves is risky.”
The state’s supplemental budget is a mid-course adjustment of
expenditures for the general fund, which is determined every two years.
The current biennium ends June 30, 2005.
The Senate plans to debate its budget on the floor Wednesday morning,
while the House will debate its budget Wednesday evening. Differences
between the budgets must be ironed out before a final budget is sent to
the governor.
March 11 is the scheduled end of the 60-day 2004 legislative session.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Brendon Wold, Public
Information Officer: (360) 786-7698
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