Overflow crowd testifies in House committee about proposed budget cuts

People crowded into a hearing room in the afternoon to speak about a proposed supplemental budget that was announced earlier Tuesday by House Democrats. It includes about $65 million in cuts to higher education, and another $222 million in cuts to health care and human services. You can read the full budget proposal here.

Several people said they are pleased that cuts aren’t as steep as those in the Governor’s initial proposal, but they are still concerned about the impacts.

“Any loss of funding to sexual assault will be detrimental to victims in our state,” said Andrea Piper-Wentland of the Washington Coalition of Sexual Assault Programs. She said one in six girls and a quarter of boys are the victims of sexual assault, and money is “desperately needed” for them.

The budget proposal also cuts about $82 million dollars that goes to local cities and counties for programs. To make up the money, the proposal allows local governments to raises taxes without voter approval — including sales taxes, restaurant taxes and utility taxes.

Amber Carter of the Association of Washington Businesses opposes that solution. “Restaurants love to serve up food,” she said. “They don’t want to serve up to a stack of taxes for their next menu item.”

Dozens of other people spoke about concerns about cuts to education, public health and programs such as adult day care.

Tags: Budget