The Capitol Record

Could $231 million in additional revenue break the budget stalemate?

By Christina Salerno | June 18, 2013 | Comments

Budget writers got good news today in the form of a revised revenue forecast that shows Washington state will collect an extra $231 million dollars in revenue over the next two years.

Republican budget writer Sen. Andy Hill said that number should be enough to “break one of the final logjams” in budget negotiations.

Legislators have been locked in a stalemate over the budget, and a partial government shutdown could occur next month if they can’t come to an agreement.

Hill said the uptick in revenue — combined with expected savings — is enough to close the budget deficit, put $1 billion into public schools, cut tuition and protect the state’s social services.

Democratic budget writer Rep. Ross Hunter said the additional revenue “closes the gap a little bit” and he expects budget negotiations to end soon.

“We’re lucky it’s up rather than down,” Hunter said.

Not everyone is as optimistic. House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan said in a press release that it “doesn’t solve all our budget problems,” and won’t be enough to fully fund education as mandated by the McCleary decision.

“We’ve been prevented from taking even small steps toward closing outdated tax exemptions and redirecting resources toward schools….so, while today’s forecast may get us closer to a go-home budget, we can’t pretend we’ve solved the long-term problem,” Sullivan said.

The state government can expect to collect $33.7 billion dollars in tax revenue in the next two-year budget cycle that begins July 1, which is $121 million more than previously expected. The state will also collect an extra $110 million dollars in the current budget cycle.

Watch the meeting of the Economic Revenue and Forecast Council below.

The Senate Majority Coalition also called a press conference about the numbers. You can watch it here.

Categories: Budget, economy

Two bills passed into law following late night floor action

By Christina Salerno | June 14, 2013 | Comments

The Senate passed a bill that fixes a state Supreme Court ruling on the estate tax just before midnight on Thursday, sending the bill to Gov. Jay Inslee‘s desk in the early hours of Friday morning to be signed into law. The House approved the same measure earlier in the day.

The move comes just in the nick of time — the state was due to start mailing out millions of dollars in tax refund checks on Friday morning if there wasn’t a legislative fix in place. The new law closes what supporters call a “loophole” in the estate tax law that allowed married couples to avoid paying the estate tax if they used a certain type of trust.

The Associated Press has the full story here, and you can watch TVW’s video of the Senate floor debate here.

Before the vote on the estate tax, both chambers quickly passed a bill to reform the state’s Model Toxics Control Act. The Senate first adopted the bill and sent it to the House shortly after 11 p.m., where it passed in less than 10 minutes. Inslee signed it into law at the same time as the estate tax bill.

Categories: Environment, Governors Office

Gov. Inslee cancels trip as state agencies prepare for possible shutdown

By Christina Salerno | June 13, 2013 | Comments

Gov. Jay Inslee has cancelled his upcoming trip to the Paris Air Show amid concerns about the budget stalemate and a possible state government shutdown.

The governor was scheduled to leave Friday to lead a delegation of more than 50 people on the aerospace trade mission. U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, the ranking Democrat on the House Aviation Subcommittee, will lead the delegation instead, the governor’s office said Thursday.

On Wednesday afternoon, Inslee met with cabinet members to discuss what might happen if the Legislature does not pass a budget by July 1. Without a budget in place, some state government operations would have to be shut down.

Inslee’s office has directed state agencies to submit a categorized list of services by Monday. After that, the governor’s budget director will begin making decisions about which services will continue and which ones won’t.

“We’re not talking about opening the prison doors,” said Nicholas Brown, the governor’s general counsel. Brown said during a press briefing that services required by the federal law or the constitution will trump state law.

Thousands of state workers could be facing layoffs. Depending on the decisions that are made after Monday, “they will not be working as of July 1,” said Inslee’s chief of staff Mary Alice Heuschel.

“This will have a huge impact on our state, on our community, on individuals,” Heuschel said. “It is imperative we have contingency plans if this should this occur.”

Watch the press briefing below.

Categories: Budget, Governors Office

House and Senate leaders talk about special session on ‘The Impact’

By Christina Salerno | June 12, 2013 | Comments

On tonight’s edition of The Impact, leaders from all four corners of the Legislature talk about why the body was unable to complete its work during the first special session — and what their expectations are for the second special session.

Guests include Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom, House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, House Minority Leader Dan Kristiansen and Sen. Nick Harper, deputy leader of the Senate Democratic Caucus.

Plus, hear from two reporters who worked on a joint investigation into the wining-and-dining culture in Olympia. The investigation showed that many state legislators frequently accept free meals from lobbyists.

KPLU’s Austin Jenkins and Mike Baker from the Associated Press will be on the show to talk about the investigation (read the series here and here).

“The Impact” airs on Wednesday at 7 & 10 p.m. on TVW. We’ll also post a link once its available online.

Update: The show is now available online here.

Categories: TVW

Gov. Inslee calls second special session as government shutdown looms

By Christina Salerno | June 11, 2013 | Comments

Gov. Inslee at press conference

Gov. Jay Inslee called for a second special session to begin Wednesday as his advisers prepare for what could be an unprecedented government shutdown if the Legislature doesn’t adopt a budget by July 1.

Even though both the House and Senate have passed budgets in recent days, they were not able to come to a compromise before the end of the current 30-day special session on Tuesday.

Democrats control the House, while the Senate is controlled by the mostly Republican Senate Majority Coalition.

“The position we’re in today is sadly the inevitable result of a lack of substantive compromise from the Senate majority,” Inslee said. “By continuing to refuse to compromise, the Republican majority in the Senate can stall until the government can’t operate.”

The governor said his advisers are preparing for the possibility of a government shutdown if there is no budget agreement in place by the end of the month, when the current budget cycle ends.

Memos are going out to state agency directors to gather information for a contingency plan, and Inslee is meeting with his cabinet leaders on Wednesday to discuss the issue.

“Let’s be clear, if there is no budget by July 1st the law doesn’t allow us to keep government operating fully,” Inslee said.

Senator Majority Leader Rodney Tom said earlier in the day that a government shutdown is “not in the realm of possibilities.”

“We’re going to get out of town” before that happens, Tom said.

The Senate majority passed a budget on Saturday, and said they will consider about $300 million in new tax revenue if the Legislature also adopts three policy bills as part of a compromise.

Tom said that the Senate has compromised by putting “$300 million on the table,” and by moving toward the middle on Medicaid expansion and collective bargaining. He said that the revenue offer was a “substantial move” on the part of the Senate.

House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan said the time to debate policy bills was during the 105-day regular session. He said the House has “gone over halfway” to meet the Senate.

“It takes two sides to negotiate,” Sullivan said.

The House passed budget last week that spends about $800 million less than Democrats had originally proposed. The plan would raise an additional $255 million dollars in tax revenue for education by closing several tax breaks.

Watch Inslee’s press conference here.

Categories: Budget, WA House, WA Senate

Tuesday final day of 30-day special session

By Christina Salerno | June 10, 2013 | Comments

Tuesday is the final day of the 30-day special session and without a budget deal in place, it is possible that lawmakers will have to go into a second special session to get the job done.

The Democrat-controlled House passed a slimmed-down budget last week that spends about $800 million less than originally proposed. The plan would raise an additional $255 million dollars for education by closing tax breaks on bottled water, travel agents, fuel refineries and other industries.

The Republican-controlled Senate passed a budget on Saturday similar to the one it adopted two months ago during regular session. Senate leaders say they will consider $300 million in new tax revenue if the Legislature also adopts reform bills as part of a budget compromise. Three of those reform bills passed out of the Senate on Sunday, including one that would change how principals reassign teachers.

The House passed a capital budget on Monday that continues funding existing construction projects in case there is a government shutdown on July 1, the start of the new budget cycle. A shutdown is possible if lawmakers do not have a budget in place by that date.

Both the House and Senate are scheduled for floor sessions on Tuesday. Tune in to TVW to watch. We’ll also televise press conferences as they happen. Check our Twitter or Facebook pages for regular updates.

Categories: Budget, WA House, WA Senate

Senate passes revised budget, 25-23

By Christina Salerno | June 8, 2013 | Comments

The state Senate adopted a revised budget proposal on Saturday afternoon on 25-23 vote, with the mostly Republican Majority Coalition Caucus in support and Democrats opposed.

Lead GOP budget writer Sen. Andy Hill said it is “very similar” to the the budget passed by the Senate during regular session, but it includes three related bills that would raise an additional $300 million in tax revenue.

One of those bills would end a tax break for out-of state shoppers who currently don’t have to pay Washington’s sales tax. The shoppers would have to apply for a refund instead of being granted the tax break automatically. Another fixes a state Supreme Court ruling on the estate tax so the state will not have to pay millions in refunds, and a third bill would raise revenue through a telecommunications tax.

The Senate did not vote on the tax revenue bills on Saturday. Hill said there won’t be a vote on the bills “until we get the reforms we’ve been asking for.”

“I’m all for putting new money into the system, but I’m not putting it into a broken system,” Hill said.

Democratic leader Sen. Ed Murray said the majority is holding the bills hostage — a move he called “immoral.”

Sen. Sharon Nelson, D-Maury Island, said some of the GOP reforms would hurt low-income residents, including a one she says would result in “payday lending on steroids.”

Republican Sen. Doug Ericksen denied that the majority was holding the bills hostage, saying that “we could go home” if the House passed the Senate’s version of the budget.

The Senate adjourned until 1 p.m. on Sunday. The House is not scheduled to return until Monday afternoon.

Categories: Budget

House passes revised budget proposal

By Christina Salerno | June 7, 2013 | Comments

The House passed a revised budget on Thursday evening, along with a bill that would raise an additional $255 million dollars for education by closing several tax breaks.

House Democrats say the budget moves closer to the position held by the mostly Republican coalition in the Senate. It spends about $800 million less than budget previously passed by the House, and it abandons a plan to extend a business tax on service professionals.

“This is not the bold budget that we’d previously passed, which I was proud of,” said Rep. Sharon Santos, D-Seattle. “Nonetheless, I’ll stand and support the budget because it’s the responsible thing to do.”

Democratic budget writer Rep. Ross Hunter said the revised budget responds to concerns from the Senate while still investing in public education, although not as much as he would have liked.

Republican Rep. Gary Alexander praised lawmakers for making an effort to move closer to the Senate’s position. But he said he couldn’t vote for it because it includes two fund transfers, including one that “leaves little ability for local governments to meet infrastructure needs.”

Rep. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, said she was relieved that the plan no longer includes the business tax, but still opposed it because it “holds children’s education hostage” by tying education funding to tax breaks.

The budget passed with a vote of 55-35.

The House also passed a bill that would raise an additional $255 for education by closing tax breaks on bottled water, travel agents, fuel refineries, high-tech businesses and others.

House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan said the bill is a “bold step” that will get the state to the $1 billion dollar threshold in education spending.

Republican Rep. Ed Orcutt opposed the bill, saying it will hurt the business community. “There’s nothing bold or creative about what we’re doing here,” he said. “We’re just taxing people more.”

That bill passed with a vote of 52-40, and now moves to the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom said earlier Thursday that the chamber had sent a budget offer to the House, but did not provide details.

Categories: Budget

Senate majority makes offer on budget, but releases no details

By Christina Salerno | June 6, 2013 | Comments

The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus called a 6-minute press conference on Thursday to say that they’ve made a counter-offer to the House on the budget. But they declined to release details about what’s in that offer.

House Democrats released a revised budget proposal on Wednesday that they say is an attempt at a compromise with the mostly Republican majority in the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom said the Senate made a “comprehensive offer” back to the House on Thursday morning.

Sen. Linda Parlette, R-Wenatchee, said it would be “inappropriate to go into details” while both sides are still negotiating.

Categories: Budget

House Democrats release pared-down budget proposal

By Christina Salerno | June 5, 2013 | Comments

House Democrats released a slimmed down version of their budget proposal on Wednesday that abandons a plan to extend a business tax, and also reduces the number of tax breaks they seek to close.

The plan calls for about $800 million in McCleary-related education spending over the next two school years. Democratic leaders say the new budget plan is an attempt to reach a compromise with the mostly Republican majority in the Senate, which is opposed to higher taxes.

“The governor asked us to compromise,” said Democratic lead budget writer Ross Hunter. “This is a very large move in that direction.”

The new budget gets rid of seven tax breaks worth about $255 million — down from the House’s original proposal to eliminate 11 tax breaks.

Among the tax breaks it would close is one enjoyed by out-of-state shoppers, who currently do not have to pay Washington’s sales tax if they’re from a no-sales-tax state like Oregon. The shoppers would have to apply for a refund instead of getting it automatically at the checkout counter.

Democrats dropped a plan to extend a B&O tax surcharge on a wide variety of service professionals, including realtors, car dealers, doctors and lawyers. It would have raised about $500 million.

House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan called it a “modest plan with significant efforts to bridge the differences” between the House and Senate. Democrats say they are putting forward the plan in an attempt to finish by next Tuesday, the last day of special session.

“We recognize that the clock is ticking and in order to be done by Tuesday we have to begin passing this budget this week,” Sullivan said.

The Senate is controlled by the Majority Coalition Caucus comprised of 23 Republicans and two Democrats.

Senate Majority Leader Rodney Tom released a statement on Wednesday that said the Senate will continue to work with the House, but they “will not let political expediency stand in the way” of education funding.

“I am disappointed that this House budget proposal is balanced on the backs of Washington’s school kids. Our children deserve our first dollars, not our last dime,” Tom said.

House Republican budget writer Rep. Gary Alexander said the proposal is a “genuine effort” to find common ground. But he criticized the way the Democrats unveiled their proposal at a news conference, saying it should have been brought to the negotiating table instead.

“To me, this looks like a step back from the negotiating table,” Alexander said in a press release.

The House Appropriations Committee is considering bills related to the budget proposal Wednesday at 1:30 p.m., and it will possibly vote on the budget in executive session. Watch live on TVW, or on the web.

Categories: Budget

DOT decides on official alternative routes around Skagit Bridge collapse

By Christina Salerno | June 5, 2013 | Comments

The state Department of Transportation and cities affected by the Skagit River bridge collapse have agreed on official, long-term alternative routes for drivers attempting to navigate Interstate 5.

Skagit County officials said the routes were decided following a “day of discussion” with engineers and local city representatives.

The alternative routes vary by destination. Drivers headed north on I-5 to Canada will be directed one way, while those going to north to the San Juan Islands will be directed to another route. Those headed south will either be directed to Seattle, or the cities of Burlington and Mt. Vernon.

Here are links to the routes:

I-5 Skagit river Bridge Northbound Detour Routes

I-5 Skagit river Bridge Southbound Detour Routes

WSDOT alternate route map

Categories: transportation

Inslee concerned about a ‘lack of substantive progress’ in budget talks

By Christina Salerno | June 4, 2013 | Comments

Gov. Jay Inslee criticized a Senate plan to make changes to the state’s estate tax, saying that the GOP-dominated Senate majority wants to give “tax cuts to the wealthiest” instead of funding education.

The Senate approved a bill in committee that make changes to the state’s estate tax so that it eventually only applies to estates worth more than $5 million. The House, meanwhile, has passed a bill that would apply the tax to all estates worth more than $2 million.

Both bills are in response to the state Supreme Court’s “Bracken Decision,” and they aim to keep the state from losing $160 million in tax revenue as a result of the ruling. The money collected from the estate tax goes to a fund dedicated to education.

The governor called the Senate’s action a “huge impediment” to budget negotiations. The special session ends on June 11, and lawmakers yet to come to an agreement on the budget.

“With one week left in this special session, I am increasingly concerned about lack of substantive progress in budget negotiations,” Inslee said.

The governor said both sides continue to negotiate. But if they don’t reach agreement by next Tuesday, Inslee said he anticipates he’ll have to call an immediate second special session to begin the following day.

Inslee said he’s also looking into what happens if there is no budget in place by July 1 — the start of the new fiscal year.

“I’ve made some inquiries about decisions we would have to make,” he said.

Watch the press conference here:

UPDATE: The Senate Majority Coalition held a press conference immediately after to respond to Gov. Inslee. Watch the full event here.

Categories: Budget, Governors Office, WA Senate

Senators remember Mike Carrell, Pierce County to select replacement Tuesday

By Christina Salerno | June 3, 2013 | Comments

The state Senate spent an hour on the floor Monday remembering Sen. Mike Carrell, who died last week of complications from a blood condition.

Several lawmakers spoke about how shocked they were at the news of his death after being told a week ago that he was improving. One task force was delayed because members fully expected Carrell to return and chair it.

“He was at the peak of his career and you’re not supposed to leave at the peak of your career,” Sen. Steve Conway said.

Republican leader Mark Schoesler said Carrell wanted to return to Olympia in April when the Senate voted on its version of the budget, but the late senator’s wife discouraged him because he was too ill.

“In the 21 years I have served, this is one of the most difficult moments I’ll ever have,” Schoesler said. “I guess maybe I was supremely overconfident that he would beat it.”

Sen. Paull Shin described an embrace he shared with Carrell when they ran into each other one day at the Korean War Memorial near the Capitol. Shin was there to remember his father; Carrell was there for friends he’d lost.

“He was a gentleman, a kind man and a Christian,” Shin said.

Watch all the floor speeches here.

Meanwhile, the Pierce County Council’s rules committee agreed today to consider an emergency resolution to appoint Carrell’s replacement.

On Tuesday, the committee will hear from three contenders: former Pierce County Councilman Dick Muri, state Rep. Steve O’Ban and University Place Councilman Javier Figueroa.

The News Tribune has more details here.

Categories: WA Senate

Special Session Day 19: DUI bill, estate tax bills in committee

By Christina Salerno | May 31, 2013 | Comments

The Senate Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to hear a bill on Friday that would create stricter DUI laws. They’ll also be voting on the measure, which makes drunken driving a felony on the fourth conviction, increases mandatory minimum sentences and requires some form of alcohol-monitoring.

Also on the agenda: Proposed changes to the estate tax. The House passed a similar bill off the floor on Thursday.

The committee will also vote on a bill that would reduce undergraduate tuition rates by 3 percent through 20105, and tied future tuition increases to inflation rates.

Watch at 10 a.m. on TVW, or online.

Categories: Alcohol, Criminal Justice

House approves estate tax bill in first floor debate of 30-day special session

By Christina Salerno | May 30, 2013 | Comments

The House voted 51-40 on Thursday to make changes to the estate tax for married couples in response to a state Supreme Court ruling. The vote was the first floor action during the 30-day special session, which is more than half over.

The Legislature adopted a state estate tax in 2005. But a Supreme Court ruling last year found that married couples who used a certain type of trust before 2005 to transfer assets from one spouse to a surviving spouse did not have to pay the tax.

Supporters of the bill say the Supreme Court decision created a loophole that allows married couples to avoid paying the tax while unmarried individuals must pay it.

Officials estimate the ruling could cost the state $160 million over the next two years.

Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, called the bill a “simple, modest fix” that will bring “fairness and parity” to estate tax law. “Most states ask those with estates over two or three million dollars to contribute to education,” he said.

Speaking in opposition, Rep. Terry Nealey, R-Dayton, said the high court could decide the bill is unconstitutional and the state would have to pay back the estate tax, plus legal fees.

Republican Rep. Ed Orcutt also asked for a no vote, saying it’s unfair to retroactively change the rules. “There are small business owners caught up in this,” he said. “People who have assets, but little liquid capital which tripped them over the threshold and forced them to pay.”

The measure now heads to the Senate.

Categories: tax

Special Session Day 18: House floor action expected

By Christina Salerno | May 30, 2013 | Comments

The House held a moment of silence this morning for Sen. Mike Carrell, who died Wednesday morning.

Members then went to caucus, and are expected to take up two bills on the floor.

House Bill 2064 would make changes to the state’s estate tax for married couples. Supporters say the bill closes a loophole created by the state Supreme Court’s “Bracken Decision,” which allows married couples using a certain type of trust to transfer assets from one spouse to the surviving spouse without paying the state estate tax.

The House is also scheduled to take up House Bill 1971, which repeals a sales tax break for residential landline service and requires prepaid wireless retailers to collect a 9-1-1 tax.

Watch the floor action on TVW here.

Categories: WA House

Estate tax bill passes out of committee

By Christina Salerno | May 29, 2013 | Comments

The House Finance Committee voted 8-3 on Wednesday to pass a bill that supporters say fixes a “loophole” in Washington’s estate tax law that allows married couples to skip out on paying an estate tax.

Supporters of House Bill 2064 say it would close a loophole created by the state Supreme Court’s “Bracken Decision.” The decision allows married couples to use a certain type of trust to transfer assets without paying taxes when one spouse dies and passes the estate to the surviving spouse.

As a result of the decision, the state can no longer collect estate taxes on the trust once the surviving spouse dies.

Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, told the committee that was not the intent of the estate tax law when it was originally passed by the Legislature. He said that money was earmarked for education.

“There was agreement that we were going to use money from high-value estates to pay for the education of kids,” he said.

Ormsby said it’s also unfair. “Those in a marital trust are given an advantage over those who are single,” he said.

(more…)

Categories: tax

Sen. Mike Carrell dies of complications from pre-cancer treatment

By Christina Salerno | May 29, 2013 | Comments

Sen. Mike Carrell (R-Lakewood)

Republican Sen. Mike Carrell of Lakewood has died of lung complications related to the treatment of myelodysplastic syndrome, a pre-leukemia condition. He was 69.

Since April, Carrell had been receiving stem cell transplants and chemotherapy. He died Wednesday morning in his sleep at University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle with his family at his side, according to a statement from Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler.

“Sen. Carrell was a true statesman who put the people of Washington above all else during his 19 years of public service as a legislator,” Schoesler said.

Carrell was known for his work on criminal justice issues, and was the chair of the Human Services and Corrections Committee. “He fought to improve the safety of our communities and for an efficient and effective criminal justice system” that focused on victims, Schoesler said.

Carrell, a retired teacher, served in the state House of Representatives for 10 years before being elected to the state Senate in 2004, 2008 and 2012.

He was a member of the Majority Coalition Caucus, which controls the state Senate with 23 Republicans and two Democrats. Because of his treatments, Carrell has been absent from legislative activities for the past few months and Democratic Sen. Jim Hargrove has served as a proxy vote in his place. Carrell’s death brings the Senate to a 24-24 split until a replacement is named.

“According to Mike’s wife Charlotte he passed away very peacefully in his sleep,” Sen. Mike Padden said on Wednesday. “That’s of some comfort, but still, this is such a loss for our state, his legislative district and of course his family. Mike was a kind and considerate person, and we will miss him dearly, even though he’s with the angels and saints now. It’s hard to think about being at the Capitol without him.”

Categories: WA Senate

House committee set to hear estate tax bill

By Christina Salerno | May 28, 2013 | Comments

The House Finance Committee is scheduled to consider a bill on Wednesday that would make changes to the state’s estate tax for married couples.

House Bill 2064 aims to get around what’s commonly called the Bracken Decision — a state Supreme Court ruling that allows a spouse to transfer assets to a surviving spouse without paying taxes if they’re using a certain type of trust, known as a Qualified Terminable Interest Property trust.

As a result of the court decision, the state can no longer collect estate taxes on the trust when the surviving spouse dies. Lawmakers estimate that the decision could cost the state $160 million dollars over the next two years. According to the The Seattle Times, the state Department of Revenue will begin issuing tax refund checks in June worth about $40 million dollars because the decision.

The bill says the ruling “creates an inequity never intended by the Legislature” because unmarried individuals still have to pay the tax. It would change the definition of taxable estates to include the trusts, and it would apply retroactively to those who died on or after May 17, 2005.

TVW will air the hearing at 10 a.m. Wednesday, the 17th day of special session. The panel is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the bill and vote on it in executive session.

Rep. Reuven Carlyle, D-Seattle, said on Twitter the committee plans to pass the bill on Wednesday to “enable floor action” on the measure on Thursday.

Categories: Budget, tax

Bridge collapse could have implications for transportation funding, CRC debate

By Christina Salerno | May 24, 2013 | Comments

On Monday morning, Sen. Tracey Eide told a crowd gathered for a transportation rally how “scary” it feels to walk across the Columbia River Crossing — something she did once, and would never do again.

Four days later, a span of the Interstate 5 bridge over Skagit River collapsed into the water below.

Eide immediately thought of the Columbia River Crossing. “Then I heard it was the Skagit bridge and that wasn’t even on our radar,” said Eide, who co-chairs the Senate Transportation Committee.

Skagit River Bridge (WSDOT photo)

The bridge collapse comes in the middle of debate over a proposed transportation funding package backed by many Democrats. The proposal would raise gas taxes by 10 cents to pay for a number of major projects, including the controversial Columbia River Crossing bridge between Portland and Vancouver.

“I would hope that naysayers see how important it is that we have a revenue package,” Eide said on Friday.

“This weekend people will be going over bridges and they’ll be wondering, ‘Is this bridge safe?’ I think about how horrible it could have been if the bridge was over a deep body of water with more traffic,” Eide said.

House Transportation Committee chair Rep. Judy Clibborn said Friday that lawmakers are continuing to work on the tax package, and there’s a possibility it could end up on the ballot for voters to decide.

(more…)

Categories: transportation