Contact: Marsha Richards, Communications Director
(360) 956-3482

$136 million spending increase passes House

Representatives in the House passed a supplemental budget today to increase state spending by $136 million in the current budget cycle (which ends June 30). Some members believe they have saved taxpayers money by approving less than Governor Locke’s initially proposed $235 million supplemental increase, but no matter how the story spins, they’re increasing spending.

It seemed for a little while House and Senate members couldn’t agree on a supplemental budget both would pass. Senators wanted to increase spending by $109 million. House members wanted to increase it $120 million. In true government fashion, they compromised at $136 million.

The state will now be spending $1.4 billion more than it collects this biennium, and lawmakers are relying on one-time budget gimmicks (such as the sale of tobacco settlement money, transfer of funds from designated accounts, and raids on the emergency fund) to patch the gaping hole until next year.

Lawmakers did reduce spending in the state’s Basic Health Plan by tightening eligibility requirements and identifying efficiencies, but unfortunately these measures were not carried over into other state programs.

While most other states (and most Washington families) are prioritizing cuts and finding efficiencies to stay within their means, our lawmakers seem to be in denial. They’ve had ample opportunity to solve the problems we face today. If legislators had embraced the challenges posed by terrorist attacks and a slowing national economy by freezing state spending at 1999-01 levels, our budget would be balanced and the state would have excess revenue right now.

We can only hope legislators will kick their spending habit. Washington taxpayers can’t afford it. Literally.

Evergreen Freedom Foundation P.O. Box 552, Olympia, WA 98507 Phone: (360) 956-3482, Fax: (360) 352-1874 Email: effwa@effwa.org