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Ranking Republican on
Capital Budget Committee
votes against budget
Rep. Judy
Warnick, ranking Republican on the Capital Budget
Committee, voted against the state capital budget tonight.
The 13th District lawmaker says the usually agreeable budget has several
components that will negatively affect communities and the state's
long-term debt.
"We are in troubled times that call for prioritization," Warnick said.
"I fought long and hard in budget negotiations to use our bonding
capacity wisely, to fund projects that create jobs, fix buildings and
maintain crucial infrastructure. Unfortunately, there are a several
places in this budget that do not spend bonded dollars and dedicated
funds wisely."
Warnick said many legislators voted against the capital budget because
it spends irresponsibly during a recession.
Warnick expressed concern that $777 million taken from the capital
budget for the operating budget assumes an increase in the state's
bonding limit to make up for this loss.
"This budget shifts cash used for important community projects that
create jobs in order to backfill poor spending practices in the
operating budget," Warnick said. "This not only hurts the prospects of
other community projects and school construction, it could hurt our
state's bond rating. Right now families are watching their credit
rating, just as the state should be concerned about its debt limit."
Warnick told colleagues on the floor that the state's natural resources
are what make Washington the great state it is, but warned against
spending further money on the acquisition of state lands during a
recession.
"We cannot afford to purchase more property," Warnick said. "Make no
mistake – I love our state’s wilderness, the rivers, the trails and our
natural diversity. I am truly proud of our parks in Washington, I am
proud of the progress we’ve made cleaning up our unique Puget Sound, I
am proud of our natural resources and the care we have given them.
However, now is
not the time to take on greater burdens of purchasing more public lands
while not being able to adequately care for the land we currently own.
Now is not the time to be spending our grandchildren’s money."
The House of Representatives passed the budget 63-33. It now goes to the
Senate for consideration.
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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