WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Legislative Update from Rep. Jim Moeller

In earlier messages I described the 3 budgets and what they do. Now I want to talk about the budget process. In other words – how do we decide what the budget looks like, what programs it covers etc.   We have to create a budget that both the Senate and the House supports.   This can be very challenging.

How many times can you spend the state’s revenue growth?

Republicans say an 8 percent revenue growth (about $3 billion “extra”) is enough to fund the budget.

Let’s look at that $3 billion: First, factor in costs just to keep doing what we are doing from last year – more school funding and paying for college costs – things Republicans and Democrats agreed to because we now have to approve a four year balanced budget ($1.4 billion).

Second, there are things that must be funded by law – more kids in schools, more people on Medicaid – things agreed to by Republicans and Democrats ($2 billion).

But don’t forget: Funding the McCleary K-12 court ruling (an additional $550 million to what Senate Republicans suggested); meeting mental health needs and complying with the courts to do so ($82 million); funding a Republican higher ed plan on tuition ($226 million); passing an early supplemental budget for last year’s fires and natural disasters ($66 million); and leaving a workable ending fund balance ($400 million).

That’s $4.72 billion Republicans and Democrats have agreed to at some point. And that doesn’t count whatever happens to I-1351, the teacher class size initiative (which could cost $2 billion).

That $3 billion in new revenue has been spent a few times over already. That’s a deficit. Senate budget writers say we don’t have one; that’s the only “myth” about our budget situation.

Some newspapers like The Daily Olympian are starting to figure this out.

Surplus or deficit: Which is it?

Although the state operating budget is nearly 500 pages long, it’s not a very complex document. We make future spending decisions based on the amount of revenue we expect to collect over the next few years. If projected revenues are more than planned expenses, we have a budget surplus. If revenues are less than expenses, we have a budget deficit. We always have one or the other. It’s impossible to have both.

Yet Republican lawmakers can’t seem to agree if we have a surplus or a deficit. The top GOP budget writer in the Senate says we have plenty of revenue to cover the needs of the state. Yet House Republicans admit – correctly – that we have a “significant budget shortfall.” Again, only one of those can be an accurate statement.

Check out the graphic below to see a few of their many conflicting statements about our budget situation.

https://housedemocrats.wa.gov/tmp/2015/02/Surplus-or-Deficit-FINAL.pdf

The truth: the state does not have “a sizeable surplus.” We have a budget deficit of at least $2 billion.

My colleagues and I in the House are working hard on a fiscally responsible solution to solving our budget problems. Our plan, which will likely have a mix of cuts and revenue, will roll out in about a month

Don’t forget to contact the office with any questions or comments on legislation as we move to the House Floor to vote bills out and over to the Senate for their action.

You can reach me at jim.moeller@leg.wa.gov or call the office at 360-786-7872.

 

 

 

ATTENTION: A CALL TO ARTISTS!

The Washington Convention Center is organizing and presenting a fine art photography exhibit that will highlight the food that is grown and harvested in Washington State and the diverse people and communities who make it exceptional.

Up to 60 works will be jury selected for exhibition following a public call for art. The goal is to depict every county in the state. The wining photos will be exhibited at the National Conference of State Legislators who will hold their national conference in Seattle. For more information go to www.wscc.com under the “About Us” Tab.