As the House begins its debate on the negotiated budget, I think it’s important to inform the citizens of Washington about a few of the provisions in it. First and foremost, the most important thing to remember in all the news articles and reports is that the revenue forecast projects an additional $2.0 billion in revenue. Now, understanding the state has $2.0 billion more to spend than the last biennium, let’s compare the Washington State Republican Party’s Platform to the negotiated, compromise Operating Budget the House. The Preamble to the State Party Platform specifically calls for"low taxes” yet the proposed Operating Budget includes two tax increases totaling approximately $246.8 million. Section 7 of the State Party Platform recognizes the"unalienable right of human life, from conception to natural death, yet the compromise budget includes between $16 and $25 million to Planned Parenthood for services, including publicly funded abortions and Plan B. Section 9 of the State Party Platform calls for the repeal of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare); unfortunately, the compromise budget fully implements Obamacare in Washington State. While these are more than enough reason to vote no on the negotiated budget, there’s more.
The budget also relies on the sweeping of funds and temporary transfers to balance the budget to the tune of approximately $500 million. In addition, the budget relies on an additional $2.3 billion in federal dollars … that’s right, the state has decided to rely on the federal government to fund programs. I guess they forgot the federal government currently faces approximately $150 trillion in unfunded liabilities.
I’ll be voting no on this budget as it fails to reduce government, lower taxes or expand freedom for the citizens of Washington State.
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