WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Jim Moeller: Revenues are up, and that’s good news–but there’s more to the story

Statement by Speaker Pro Tem Jim Moeller on the state’s budget forecast:

It’s good news that revenues are going up a bit more. It would be better news if politicians and interest groups stopped repeating the myth that economic growth alone is enough. Growth will not fully fund education, fix our crumbling bridges and take care of veterans and the disabled.

We can do better, and must do better, for kids in public schools, for our seniors and disabled and for every family still struggling. The benefits of our economic recovery have gone almost entirely to the elite of the elite, those fortunate enough to own a lot of Wall Street stock. Meanwhile, working people and the middle class haven’t gotten a raise for years. They’re still hurting. And that’s not right.

Instead of punishing the middle class with more cuts to seniors, kids and veterans, let’s fund our public schools and build a better Washington for everyone.

We can do it with reforms to lower the burden on working people while making sure everybody pays their fair share. That way, every family in Washington state–not just the elite–can prosper for generations.

Speaker Pro Tem Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver