WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Let’s get the job done right

The 2015 legislative session came to a close last week but as you’ve probably heard the legislature was unable to come to a budget deal, so today we begin a special session to continue negotiations and finish the work we came here in January to do.

Our children’s education, the safety of our communities from mental illness, and valuable family support programs are all at stake as we enter a new round of negotiations.

 The House Democrats’ budget aligns our shared values and makes real investments in the future of our economy and the well-being of our children, families and communities. We do that by asking Washington’s wealthiest residents and businesses to pay their fair share through sustainable revenue sources. With this budget, we support an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few.

While we will have to make compromises to come to a final agreement, the Senate Republicans’ budget relies on unsustainable fund sweeps, immoral cuts, and illegal tactics that we can’t endorse:

  • Their budget ignores legally negotiated state employee contracts. After six years of no cost of living adjustments and pay decreases, the state is losing its ability to hire and retain a strong workforce. The Governor recently negotiated modest pay increases with the employee labor unions and the House budget fully honors the contracts. The Senate suggested an alternative amount of money – a maneuver that has been called out as illegal by the News Tribune and the Olympian – and underfunds employee compensation by $115 million.

  • They pay for their “tuition cut” by denying access to college to thousands of Students graduating from collegelow-income students. Their “signature” policy of reducing tuition is paid for by slashing financial aid to our state’s poorest students. Senate republicans cut the State Need Grant by $75 million. This decision would leave about 34,500 eligible low-income students without the financial aid they need to achieve their dreams of a college education.
  • They count their money twice. The Senate passed a bill to transfer $81 million in sales tax on transportation projects from the general fund to the transportation budget over four years. But the Republicans did not account for the loss of $81 million in their operating budget. Essentially, they are counting this money twice, once in the transportation budget and once in the general fund budget. If accounted for correctly, their budget would be nearly $50 million in the red over four years.

Our first responsibility as legislators is to fund a budget that meets both our constitutional and moral obligations. A budget is a values statement about who we are and what we believe in. If we simply cut, cut, cut and leave those with the most need behind, we are failing. But if we choose to move forward together and make investments in our future, we will have a stronger, healthier, and happier Washington for everyone. We’re eager to get the job done, but it needs to be done right.