Archive for Republicans

House Republicans tap Kristiansen as new leader

By | April 29, 2013 | 0 Comments

Rep. Dan Kristiansen (R-Snohomish) has been elected leader of the minority House Republicans.

Kristiansen replaces Rep. Richard DeBolt (R-Chehalis), who stepped down due to health concerns on April 17. The announcement was made over the weekend as lawmakers finished up the 105-day regular session. A special session is slated to begin May 13.

The vote was unanimous for the 50-year-old real estate businessman who has been serving in the Legislature since 2003.

“I appreciate the confidence my colleagues have shown in me, but this isn’t about me. This is about a group of 43 Republican lawmakers who are dedicated to creating jobs, improving our education system and protecting hard-working taxpayers,” Kristiansen said in a news release. “It’s a unique time to come in as leader, but we are all united and will continue to advocate for solutions to get Washington working.”

Rep. Joel Kretz (R-Wauconda) was retained deputy leader. Here’s the rest of the leadership team:

  • Caucus chair: Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake (replaces Rep. Dan Kristiansen)
  • Vice-caucus chair: Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy
  • Floor leader: Rep. J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm
  • Assistant floor leader: Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley
  • Assistant floor leader: Rep. Steve O’Ban, R-Pierce County(replaces Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, who chose not to run for the position again)
  • Whip: Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver
  • Assistant whip: Rep. Jeff Holy, R-Cheney
  • Assistant whip: Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union
  • Assistant whip: Rep. Elizabeth Scott, R-Monroe

 

Categories: Republicans, WA House

GOP leaders respond to Inslee’s inaugural speech

By | January 16, 2013 | 0 Comments

Senate and House Republican leaders outlined a number of concerns with parts of new Gov. Jay Inslee’s inaugural address during a press conference Wednesday afternoon.

Rep. Richard Debolt (R-Chehalis)

House Republican Leader Richard Debolt (R-Chehalis) said he was disappointed that Inslee was picking winners and losers by supporting tax breaks for programs delivering clean energy.

“State government shouldn’t decide who is successful and who is not. We have to do what we can to help all businesses,” Debolt said.

Debolt said he was also surprised the governor mentioned his support for the Reproductive Parity Act, which would require insurance companies to cover abortions if they also cover live births.

“It was funny that he would take a day of unification and try to make it a politically dividing event,” DeBolt said. “Social issues are not as important as it is getting people back to work again. That should be the focus of our governor.”

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) said the governor’s speech lacked detail, especially concerning gun control.

“The governor hasn’t given us any specifics on gun safety. We all agree it’s important, but there were no details prior and none today in the speech,” Schoesler said.

All the Republican leaders praised Inslee for the making jobs his top priority and said they plan to help Inslee keep his campaign pledge to not raise taxes.

“We have to have those jobs to get people off public assistance,” Rep. Dan Kristiansen (R-Snohomish) said.

Rep. Kevin Parker (R-Spokane) gave a videotaped official Republican perspective prior to the news conference.

Parker focused on funding education and balancing the budget without introducing new taxes.

 

Categories: Budget, economy, Governors Office, Republicans

Sens. Rodney Tom, Ed Murray disagree on power-sharing agreement in Senate

By | January 10, 2013 | 0 Comments

Days away from the start of the 2013 legislative session, Senate leaders still disagree on how they will share power on committees.

Senate Republicans will control the chamber with the help of two breakaway Democrats, Sens. Rodney Tom and Tim Sheldon. The coalition has proposed that each party chair six committees, and co-chair three committees.

Under the proposal, Republicans would chair the most powerful committees — including the budget, education and healthcare — while Democrats would get six lower-tier committees.

At the Associated Press Legislative Preview event today, Senate Democratic leader Ed Murray said his members have voted to reject the GOP offer and they don’t intend to name chairs to the committees that the Republicans have offered.

“Offering the smaller committees to Democrats isn’t bipartisan,” Murray said.

Tom, who is the leader of the coalition, said the group is offering Democrats an “unprecedented amount of power,” and they’re still waiting for a response.

“We’re not doing this for window dressing,” said Tom. “We’re approaching this so we can have a vibrant dialogue.”

Tom said the coalition approached committee chairmanship like a business and selected the best qualified person for the job. For example, he said Sen. Andy Hill, the Redmond Republican who has been tapped to lead the budget-writing committee, holds an MBA from Harvard and is a former Microsoft executive.

Murray said he hopes both sides can “negotiate a bipartisan way to govern” before the start of session on Monday.

“We can move forward regardless of some of the complications that exist,” Murray said “The thing to focus on is the end result.”

(more…)

Categories: Democrats, Republicans, WA Senate

Republican response to Gov. Gregoire’s proposed budget

By | December 18, 2012 | 0 Comments

The top Republican on the budget-writing committee in the House, Rep. Gary Alexander of Olympia, said Tuesday he believes Gov. Chris Gregoire‘s proposed budget will be “dead on arrival” once session starts in January.

“While I can see using a few of her budget reductions, I just can’t see the incoming legislature or the new governor using her overall budget or her tax increases as a starting point,” Alexander said in a statement.

Gregoire called for the renewal of two expiring taxes to pay for education funding, as well as the implementation of a new wholesale gas tax that would fund school transportation.

Alexander said the state doesn’t need to raise taxes to pay for education. “Her budget ties student transportation funding to one of the most volatile funding sources — a tax on the wholesale price of gas,” Alexander said.

Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond, has been nominated to chair the Senate budget-writing committee by the GOP-led coalition. He said Gregoire’s budget will be a “useful reference” as the Senate prepares its own budget.

“We will be working under a number of constraints.  One is the new state law that requires the budget to balance across four years of projections.  This will have the effect of creating a responsible budget that looks to long-term stability.  Also, given Gov.-elect Inslee’s promise to veto any new taxes, we are moving forward under the assumption that additional taxes are not an option,” Hill said.

Categories: Budget, Republicans

Senate Democrats reject GOP power-sharing proposal, offer counterproposal

By | December 17, 2012 | 0 Comments

Senate Democrats on Monday rejected a power-sharing proposal offered by the Republican-led coalition, instead offering a counterproposal that would install a co-chair from each party on all committees.

Republicans dismissed the idea, saying that having co-chairs on all committees “would be a recipe for gridlock, particularly in areas like education and the operating budget.”

Senate Republicans announced earlier this month they plan to control the chamber with the help of two breakaway Democrats, Sens. Rodney Tom and Tim Sheldon. The group, calling itself the Majority Coalition Caucus, will hold a 25 to 24 vote advantage.

The coalition asked Democrats to accept a power-sharing agreement that would give each party six committee chairs. Under the proposal, Republicans would chair the most powerful committees — including the budget, education and healthcare committees — while Democrats would get natural resources, agriculture, trade, financial institutions, higher education and environment.

Senate Democratic leader Ed Murray rejected that proposal, saying it’s clear the Senate is in a “virtual tie” and the committee structure should reflect that.

“We propose a structure of co-leadership and co-chairs of all committees. We would support Republicans and they would support us in a true bipartisan arrangement with true sharing of power and responsibilities,” Murray said in a statement.

Tom, who would serve as the coalition’s majority leader, and Senate Republican leader Mark Schoesler called on Democrats to cooperate.

“It is our hope that the current majority will cooperate with us to ensure a smooth handoff of leadership and allow the Senate to tackle the many pressing needs of our state from day one of the 2013 session,” Tom and Schoesler said in a joint statement.

Meanwhile, Murray and Tom exchanged letters about the upcoming session in which it is clear the two sides won’t cooperate before session. That means the GOP-led coalition will likely have to change the rules of the Senate if it wants to take control in January.

Categories: Democrats, Republicans, WA Senate

Two Democrats join GOP to form new caucus that will control state Senate

By | December 10, 2012 | 0 Comments

Two fiscally conservative Democrats announced today they are joining forces with Republicans to create a new “majority coalition caucus” that will control the Washington state Senate.

Democratic Senators Rodney Tom of Bellevue and Tim Sheldon of Potlatch stood with five Senate Republican leaders at a press conference Monday to explain how the new caucus will govern. Tom would serve as the new Senate majority leader, and Sheldon would be president pro tempore.

Sen. Rodney Tom at the press conference

The caucus has proposed splitting power by allowing Democrats and Republicans to each chair six committees, and co-chair three committees.

The powerful budget-writing Ways and Means committee would be chaired by Republican Sen. Andy Hill of Redmond under the proposal. The K-12 education committee would be led by Republican Sen. Steve Litzow of Mercer Island.

Tom said he believes more Democrats will join the caucus, which has pledged to govern under a set of “principles” that include creating a sustainable budget, promoting job growth and reforming education.

“The public is not looking for one-party domination,” Tom said. “They are looking for us to get away from politics and start governing.”

Senate Democratic leader Ed Murray released a statement saying that “any majority in the Senate will be an unstable one.” Democrats held a slim 26-23 majority before today’s announcement; the new caucus would hold a 25-24 majority.

“We don’t believe the Republicans’ take-it-or-leave-it plan offers the right way forward. We remain hopeful that Republicans will be open to negotiations to ensure the full functioning of the Senate,” Murray said.

(more…)

Categories: Budget, Democrats, Republicans, WA Senate

On ‘Inside Olympia’ — Senate Democratic leaders Ed Murray, David Frockt

By | November 30, 2012 | 0 Comments

On this week’s “Inside Olympia,” host Austin Jenkins talks with new Senate Democratic leader Ed Murray about the party’s tenuous majority in the state Senate and speculation about a power-sharing agreement with Republicans. Democratic Sen. David Frockt, the co-chair of a new bipartisan education committee tasked with finding solutions to McCleary, is also a guest on the show.

Categories: Democrats, Republicans, TVW, WA Senate

Sen. Ed Murray: Another Senate coup could lead to ‘chaos’

By | November 29, 2012 | 0 Comments

Sen. Ed Murray on "Inside Olympia"

Newly elected Senate Democratic majority leader Sen. Ed Murray said today that if two conservative Democrats flip sides and align with the GOP to elect their own majority leader off the Senate floor, it would “poison the atmosphere” for years to come.

“It would throw out a 100 years of how the Senate has functioned,” Murray told “Inside Olympia” host Austin Jenkins.

Democrats hold a tenuous advantage in the state Senate. They will either have a 27-22 or a 26-23 majority, depending on the results of a hand recount in Clark County. Republican Don Benton is winning there by just 78 votes over Democrat Tim Probst.

Two fiscally conservative Democrats, Sen. Rodney Tom and Sen. Tim Sheldon, joined forces with Republicans over the budget in a surprise coup last session. GOP leaders have suggested the same thing could happen in the upcoming session, giving them a “philosophical majority.”

Murray said that type of majority would be too “unstable” to lead — especially given that Tom is a more socially liberal Democrat who voted in favor of same-sex marriage and is pro-choice.

“We have to function, we have to govern,” Murray said. “If someone isn’t in control, you have chaos.”

The full interview airs tonight, Nov. 29, at 7 & 10 p.m. on TVW. Also a guest on the show: Sen. David Frockt, the co-chair of a new bipartisan education committee charged with finding ways to comply with the state Supreme Court’s mandate to fully fund education.

Categories: Democrats, Education, Republicans, WA Senate

Senate Republicans elect Mark Schoesler as new leader

By | November 28, 2012 | 0 Comments

Mark Schoesler

Sen. Mark Schoesler of Ritzville was picked to be the new Senate Republican leader, replacing Sen. Mike Hewitt who announced he wasn’t seeking reelection for the leadership position.

Schoesler has served in the state Legislature for 20 years, and is a member of the Senate budget-writing committee.

Senate Republicans also elected other members of their leadership team, including:

  • Caucus Chair: Linda Evans Parlette of Wenatchee
  • Floor Leader: Joe Fain of Auburn
  • Whip: Ann Rivers of La Center
  • Deputy Leader: Don Benton of Vancouver (Benton is ahead by just 78 votes in Clark County, where a hand recount is expected to officially determine the winner)
  • Caucus Vice Chair: Sen.-elect Bruce Dammeier of Puyallup
  • Deputy Floor Leader: Jim Honeyford of Sunnyside
  • Deputy Whip: Sen.-elect John Braun of Centralia
Categories: Republicans, WA Senate

L&I director Judy Schurke resigns, Sen. Bob Morton retires

By | November 28, 2012 | 0 Comments

Judy Schurke

Labor & Industries director Judy Schurke is resigning her post at the end of the year. Schurke was appointed to the position in March 2007 after serving as interim director for five months.

Gov. Chris Gregoire‘s office announced the news is a press release, lauding Schurke for her role in implementing the “most significant reforms to the workers’ compensation system in its 100-year history” and for leading the department during the economic recession.

Schurke first started at Labor & Industries in 1974 as a clerk typist. She rose to become a supervisor within the department, and left in 1989 to work for Boeing Co. before later returning to the state agency.

Bob Morton

Also today, Sen. Bob Morton announced he is retiring on Jan. 1. The Republican from Kettle Falls has represented the 7th Legislative District for 22 years. Morton said he’s leaving to spend time with his family and allow “new leadership” in the Senate.

Morton is leaving halfway through his term. To fill the vacancy, the Board of County Commissioners in his district must select a replacement from a list of candidates picked by the Republican party.

In a statement, Morton said:

This is the time for me to retire as senator from the 7th legislative district, effective January 1, 2013, thereby opening the door for new leadership in the Senate to take on the responsibility to learn the legislative process and get to know the ‘movers and shakers’ of the state.

Categories: Republicans, WA Senate

Sen. Mike Hewitt won’t be Senate GOP leader

By | November 16, 2012 | 0 Comments

Sen. Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, said today he will not seek reelection as the Senate Republican leader.

Hewitt, who has served in the leadership position since 2005, said in a statement he is stepping down because of his health and to “encourage a new model of leadership in the state Senate.”

The news comes a day after a Seattle Times story that said Republicans are considering another Senate coup, similar to the one that took control of the budget away from Democrats last session. One of the Democrats who made that possible by voting with Republicans — Sen. Rodney Tom — is named in the story as a possible “coalition leader.”

Hewitt said he wants to promote new Senate leadership from the center.

“Focusing on centrist policy rather than party labels is what will make the people of Washington a winner,” Hewitt said.

Senate Democrats elected Sen. Ed Murray as their party leader earlier this week. Senate Republicans will elect their leaders at a caucus meeting on Nov. 28

Categories: Republicans, WA Senate

Senate GOP: Latest budget proposal takes us ‘further apart’

By | April 4, 2012 | 0 Comments

The latest budget proposal by House Democrats “takes us further apart than brings us together,” said Senate Republican budget leader Joe Zarelli, adding that he didn’t see it as a “good faith effort” to reach a compromise.

Zarelli said at a press conference the proposed budget is not sustainable because it doesn’t leave enough money in reserves for the future, and it uses “one-time” money to pay for ongoing programs.

“They created a bigger hole structurally than their last budget that they passed in the dying days of regular session,” Zarelli said.

House Democrats introduced a new budget proposal this morning that leaves $335 million in reserves, and it boosts the state’s cash flow by holding onto sales tax money collected from local governments a month longer.

Sen. Rodney Tom, who was one of three Democrats to join the GOP to pass a budget during regular session, said that the budget proposal doesn’t go far enough in terms of reforms.

“It boggles my mind that we go to this ‘Washington lite’ model, doing the most minimum change possible,” Tom said.

Given the current situation, it is “highly unlikely” that the Legislature will adjourn with a budget deal by the time special session ends next week, said Sen. Jim Kastama, D-Puyallup.

Categories: Budget, Republicans
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Gov. Gregoire wants a budget deal before Sine Die

By | March 7, 2012 | 0 Comments

Gov. Chris Gregoire said after meeting with all four corners of the legislature, she’s made her priority clear: a budget deal by midnight of Sine Die.

In a press conference Wednesday, Gregoire identified what she views as the two roadblocks to getting a deal cut: Democrats want a deferral of school payments, and Republicans want to skip a pension plan payment.

Though Gregoire said she has “trouble with skipping a pension payment,” she said she isn’t going to rule out any options to get a budget passed at this point.

Gregoire said the disagreement lies in approximately $200 to $250 million. She said if lawmakers can reach an agreement on where this money will come from, “they can solve all the problems in the budget.”

Gregoire said while it isn’t realistic to get the nuts and bolts of a budget completed in time for Sine Die, which is midnight tomorrow, she said she expects lawmakers to come to a budget deal before then. She added that she does not want to call a special session.

“The minute I say special session, they’ll go to sleep,” Gregoire said. “The public expects more.”

Gregoire said lawmakers promised her that they would get to work on a deal, and that she expects them to deliver on that promise.

“They’re going to have to get it done,” she said. “The alternative is not acceptable.”

The alternative being what the Governor can do if the legislature doesn’t come to a consensus on the budget: 10 percent cuts across the board.

Gregoire added that legislators can’t “just turn it over to the budget-writers.”

Categories: Budget, Democrats, Governors Office, Republicans

House Republicans will discuss K-12 education budget Thursday

By | February 1, 2012 | 0 Comments

House Republicans have called for state lawmakers to pass a separate K-12 budget that would fund schools before the rest of the operating budget. They will discuss details of that plan, as well as a proposed K-12 education budget, in a news conference Thursday at noon.

The House Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee held a public hearing on Tuesday on the bill that would require the Legislature to pass a separate K-12 education budget. You can read a full Q & A with the bill’s prime sponsor Rep. Bruce Dammeier about education funding on our blog.

Categories: Republicans
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Two state lawmakers join support of same-sex marriage

By | January 19, 2012 | 0 Comments

Today, two lawmakers from different ends of the political spectrum made statements announcing that they will vote in favor of same-sex marriage in Washington.

Sen. Jim Kastama held a press conference today in which he said he will vote in support of same-sex marriage, and that he believes this legislation should pass without a ballot amendment. He said with the struggles of the economy and government, marriage can provide a “true safety net.”

“In 2012, I believe we have reached the point where society is ready to recognize and support same-sex couples who seek the bonds, benefits and security of marriage. They too, deserve this ‘safety net.’”

Kastama said this was a hard decision to make, saying that “Unlike some of my colleagues in liberal districts, I will not return home to cheers and handshakes.”

He said if the legislature is able to address this difficult issue, there will be no excuse for tackling other challenges.

Rep. Glenn Anderson also issued a statement announcing his support for gay marriage. In a lengthy statement, Anderson says that he thinks same-sex marriage meets the federal constitution test for equal protection and that he will vote in favor of the same-sex marriage bill in the House.

He uses three criteria to evaluate same-sex marriage:

  1. The historical purpose of civil marriage
  2. The historical religious doctrines on traditional marriage
  3. The federal judicial record for determining equal protection under the law in the 14th Amendment the U.S. Constitution

Anderson said the distinction between civil and religious marriage has been long settled, and that “civil same-sex marriage does not undermine the right of individuals to freely choose association with religious organizations that seek to encourage traditional marriage values with which they agree. Neither does it obstruct the ability to practice the values of religious marriage, either individually or with like-minded persons.”

He also said that there is sufficient physiological research and historical records to show that homosexuality is a normal expression of biology.

Anderson cited the Code of Hammurabi, Council of Trent, and the Emperors Theodosius and Justinian to back up his claims about civil and religious marriage.

Categories: Democrats, Republicans, Same sex marriage, WA House, WA Senate
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Week 1 of Session: Let’s Review

By | January 13, 2012 | 0 Comments

The 2012 Legislative session kicked off on Monday, and we covered lots of ground here on the blog and on Legislative Review, our 10-minute wrap-up of the day’s events that airs nightly at 6:30 p.m. on TVW. Here’s a quick look back at what happened this week.

Monday: Opening ceremonies got underway with speeches from Reps. Frank Chopp and Richard DeBolt. TVW aired a two-hour opening day special of “The Impact” with interviews from the Governor and dozens of lawmakers, who touched on everything from the budget to gay marriage and medical marijuana.

Watch Monday’s Legislative Review here.

Tuesday:  Gov. Chris Gregoire gave her final state of the state address, calling for a $3.6 billion transportation package that would include a $1.50 fee per barrel on oil produced in Washington. Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, delivered the Republican response. That was followed by a news conference where several Republicans said they were concerned that the Governor’s proposed oil fee would cause prices to rise at the gas pump.

Watch Tuesday’s Legislative Review here.

Wednesday: After three years of delivering gloomy economic forecasts, the state’s chief economist Arun Raha announced he was resigning to take a new job in Cleveland — but not without cracking a few of his signature “Arun-ism” jokes first. We kept an eye on two environmental bills — one would ban plastic grocery bags in Washington state, and the other would ban petroleum-based plastic bottles. And, the Senate took a look at a proposal that would consolidate the healthcare benefits of K-12 public school employees under one insurance plan.

Watch Wednesday’s Legislative Review here.

Thursday: A bipartisan group of lawmakers held a press conference to announce their plans for education reform, including a bill that would authorize charter schools in Washington state. Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, D-Burien, held a press conference to promote his version of a bill that would ban plastic bags. The employment department and chief economist Arun Raha gave an update on how the state’s economy is doing.

Watch Thursday’s Leglative Review here.

Friday: The Sandusky scandal prompted the Senate to hear a bill that would hold certain higher education employees responsible for reporting suspected child abuse. Also, the Senate honored Sen. Scott White, who died in October of a heart attack. Friday’s edition of Legislative Review airs at 6:30 p.m. on TVW.

Categories: Budget, economy, Governors Office, Republicans, Same sex marriage, Schools, TVW, unemployment
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This week’s Inside Olympia — right here

By | January 12, 2012 | 0 Comments

This week: Senate Democrat Leader Lisa Brown and House Republican Leader Richard DeBolt share their views on the state budget, possible tax hikes, and other key issues facing the 2012 State Legislature. Enjoy.

Categories: Budget, Democrats, Republicans, TVW
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Senators Mike Hewitt and Karen Fraser preview budget strategies on The Impact

By | January 4, 2011 | 0 Comments

In preparation for tomorrow’s show The Impact, host Jessica Gao just interviewed Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt and Senate Majority Caucus Leader Karen Fraser.

With the session set to kick off next Monday the thing on everyone’s mind is the budget.  Both caucuses are busy trying to figure out how to balance the books with a $4.6 billion shortfall and with what legislators are referring to as  a resounding message from voters last November: no new taxes.

“The voters have spoken,” said Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. “It is a bit schizophrenic to be here these days. They want services but don’t want to pay for them.”

One of those services is Washington’s transportation infrastructure. When asked about the possibility of sending a tax package to the voters in order to fund it both Senators were reluctant to commit to any one idea. Both agreed though, on the importance of the state’s transportation system and its direct link to the economy.

Fraser, D-Olympia, added that there has been talk of exploring traditional sources of revenue for projects like gas tax and tolls as well as new measures.

To watch the entire interview tune into The Impact tomorrow evening at 7 or 10 p.m. on TVW.

Categories: Budget, Democrats, economy, Republicans, transportation, TVW
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Rep. Gary Alexander’s reaction to the budget

By | March 31, 2009 | 0 Comments

Here’s what Rep. Gary Alexander’s office sent out on his reaction to the House budget. Alexander is the ranking Republican on the Ways & Means Committee:

“Washington citizens need long-term leadership, not short-term fixes. Placing a Band-Aid on our budget problems in hopes of a better economy in the future, or for voter-approved tax increases down the road, is the wrong approach.

“It appears House Democrat budget writers followed a similar formula to their Senate Democrat counterparts in that they rely entirely too much upon one-time state and federal money. They propose to spend $5 billion that we know will not be available the next time we sit down to write a budget. What happens then? We’re delaying the inevitable and setting ourselves up for more problems tomorrow by not exercising true leadership today.

“I’m also dismayed at the cavalier attitude the majority party is showing in regards to referencing and spending federal tax dollars. I think we need to remember that no government — local, state or federal — has any money of its own. It all comes from taxpayers at some point. It seems their attitude is to thank President Obama for his generosity at the taxpayers’ expense because he helped cover the mistakes they made in the last four years of unfettered spending.

“We’re settling for the easy way out if we just focus on the reductions being made and not on the opportunity we have to make state government more accountable, more efficient and more responsible to the people.

“Yes, both the House and Senate budgets made cuts. But the families in our state are doing much more than just cutting things in their own budgets to get by. Families are prioritizing their needs, they’re finding different ways to get things done, and they’re changing the way they go about their daily routines to streamline their own finances. Families realize that ‘business as usual’ won’t work for them. Shouldn’t state government do the same?

“I said it when the Senate released their budget and I’ll say it again: Borrowing against our future, relying upon one-time money, and hoping for a tax increase at the ballot is not the type of leadership our state needs right now.”

Categories: Budget, Republicans
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Sen. Zarelli’s response to budget: “All cuts” budget requires tax increases

By | March 30, 2009 | 0 Comments

Sen. Joseph Zarelli, on the budget:

“There are two questions to ask about the Senate Democrat budget: what are the priorities, and where would this put our state in two years?

“This is not an ‘all-cuts’ budget because it would require tax increases – but even if it was all-cuts, that alone doesn’t make it acceptable. Our families are expected to realign their priorities when times are difficult, yet the Senate Democrats are choosing to increase K-12 classroom sizes so they can allocate more taxpayer dollars for state-employee health care, cut access to our colleges and universities in favor of continuing health care for illegal immigrants, and reduce support for nursing homes instead of freezing wages for all state employees.

“They point to spending reductions for the Basic Health Plan and General Assistance-Unemployable program, but those are only temporary cuts when what we need are reforms that would bring long-term efficiencies.

“The state expects to take in as much revenue in the next two years as it will in this biennium, so it really does come down to priorities. Senate Republicans have shown how the Legislature could produce a budget that is balanced without higher taxes, protects services for the most vulnerable and does not repeat the mistake of relying on gimmicks or one-time money. Unfortunately the Senate Democrat proposal falls short on all of those fronts. It does almost nothing to produce the kind of farsighted change Olympia and our taxpayers badly need.

“Instead of making policy adjustments that will generate substantial ongoing savings, this proposal is about punting and doing temporary backfill that would put off the problem for another two years. It keeps spending artificially high by playing about 3 billion dollars in federal money plus some ill-advised fund transfers that include a raid on the capital budget.

“It’s not whether you take the federal money, it’s how you spend it. These are dollars we can only spend once – but this budget would use them to maintain programs and services. That is exactly the approach which started our state down the road to a deficit. Back out the one-time dollars and it’s clear how this budget sets the stage for a repeat of where we are now.

“We will be asked what we would do differently. The answer is we already tried – by repeatedly encouraging the majority party to make timely spending reductions that would have resulted in lasting savings to taxpayers, and sharing our ideas for building the kind of budget our state truly needs. Unfortunately the leaders of the majority party didn’t heed our warnings against overspending, and it doesn’t look now like they’ve taken our suggestions for long-term fixes either.

“The Senate Democrats could have made policy changes months ago that would have established a new baseline for state spending and reduced the size of the budget gap by billions of dollars. By failing to act earlier they have almost guaranteed we will be back in this position again in 2011.”

Categories: Budget, Republicans, WA Senate
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The Capitol Record is TVW's blog about state government. TVW is a non-profit network modeled after C-SPAN, airing gavel-to-gavel coverage of the state Legislature as well as independently produced shows. For comments or questions, e-mail Christina Salerno.

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