Shutdown Averted: An Update From Rep. Marcus Riccelli

July 1, 2013

Shutdown Averted 

Riccelli Stanford
Rep. Riccelli with Rep. Derek Stanford, whom he sits next to on the House Floor.

Good afternoon! Today is the start of the new fiscal year, and I am pleased to be able to say that the Governor signed the 2013-2015 operating budget on Sunday, just in time to avoid a shutdown.

The budget process was frustrating to the public, as well as to legislators who would have preferred to be back home with our families and our communities. I resolved to stand strong for a budget that reflects our values: one that funds education while supporting the wrap-around services that ensure every child has a chance to succeed; one that does right by our working families without turning our backs on our most vulnerable. Despite some disappointments, I believe this budget is faithful to my commitment.

Budget Highlights for Spokane

I worked hard to ensure that our community’s voice was heard throughout the process–not only in the debate over statewide priorities, but also to support the programs and institutions unique to Spokane that help our community thrive. 

In the operating budget, we secured:  

  • $6 Million for the expansion of medical education at WSU-Spokane,
  • $3.13 Million for the Museum of Arts and Culture,
  • $2.25 Million for the Spokane Regional Support Network, which supports mental health treatment in Spokane County,
  • $1.267 Million for Sally’s House Receiving Care Center;
  • $400,000 for the Northwest Autism Center,
  • $350,000 for the Spokane River Regional Toxics Task Force, and
  • $200,000 for Mobius Science Center. 
Spokane River
The Spokane River is at the heart of our community. Funding for the Regional Toxics Task Force will help ensure our river remains clean and beautiful for future generations.

In the capital budget, which supports infrastructure projects, we secured:

  • $11,887,000 for the NEWTECH Skill Center,
  • $2,700,000 for the Fairchild Air Force Base Accident Potential Zone Relocation Project, to help relocate people away from the crash zone and into affordable housing,
  • $1,500,000 for Spokane Valley TECH,
  • $1,000,000 for Spokane Public Radio,
  • 648,000 for Spokane Neighborhood Action Partners (SNAP),
  • $250,000 for the Emmanuel Family Life Center,
  • $240,000 for Campbell House preservation, and
  • $230,000 for the Lower Falls (Peaceful Valley) Community Center.
STA
The transportation needs of our community are rapidly outpacing STA’s current capacity. The transportation revenue package would revamp transit options and lay the foundations of a 21st century transportation network.

These projects will create jobs while improving quality of life in our community for years to come. I also worked hard on a transportation revenue package that would have extended the North Spokane Corridor to the Spokane River and improved bike/pedestrian and transit options for our community. But unfortunately, despite a broad coalition of business and environmental advocates, this package failed to pass out of the Senate. Though the Legislature has concluded our official business for now, I will continue to work behind the scenes to try to revive this effort before the end of the year.

Statewide Summary: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

The 2013-2015 operating budget also makes positive investments for quality of life across the state. This is an honest budget that:

  • Makes a $1 Billion down-payment on our education funding obligation;
  • Extends health care coverage to 300,000 more people in our state, including 24,000 people in Spokane County;
  • Holds the line on higher education tuition costs; and
  • Protects our kids, working families, elderly, and most vulnerable.

We have a lot to be proud of in this budget, but it didn’t come without some tough choices. The decision to suspend inflation-adjusted salaries for educators was by far the most difficult vote I have had to cast as a legislator. Educators have not had a cost of living adjustment (COLA) in six years, and I don’t think that’s fair. I faced a choice to temporarily suspend COLAs for teachers or risk seeing them eliminated completely. The budget wouldn’t pencil out without this temporary move. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, I did what I thought was right. But it was very difficult for me.

I’m also frustrated that after six months of hard work and perseverance among advocates and legislators alike, we were not able to close any tax loopholes (except for two common-sense technical fixes that remove the state’s liability threat of $1 billion from court cases). Additionally, a new measure to create, expand and extend some tax loopholes passed out of the legislature alongside the budget. I voted against this bill because I believe that if our state cannot afford to compensate our educators fairly, then it is not the right time to give tax breaks to corporations.

I am proud to have so many positive outcomes for our community, and I am pleased that we were able to secure a responsible budget without a shutdown. I would have preferred a budget that fully put people over corporate tax loopholes, but it was clear that this was not possible in the current legislative environment. 

I will carry this battle forward, and I hope you will join me. As my first legislative session has concluded, I am excited to continue working with you to build a better Spokane and Washington State. Whether in Olympia or Spokane, I always look forward to hearing from you. It is a true honor to serve as your state representative.

Best Regards,

Representative Marcus Riccelli
3rd Legislative District – Spokane