New state budget unsustainable, even with millions in new taxes, Stevens says

April 25, 2009

OLYMPIA…After voting no on the Democrat-crafted state operating budget, Sen. Val Stevens, R-Arlington, delivered the following statement: 

“This budget accomplishes nothing for the people of Washington. It did not reform government. It moved money needed for vital capital projects into the operating budget.  It funded ongoing programs with one-time federal money, thus postponing billions of dollars in deficit until 2011. It simply did not keep faith with the people, and I refused to vote for it.”    

“This budget demands we take money out of the capital budget – our construction and maintenance budget – and spend it on operating costs. It’s like borrowing on a credit card to pay for household expenses. 

“When times get tough, families have to tighten their belts and cut down on spending, but legislative Democrats just don’t get it. They keep spending. They are betting on a return to normal. In fact, they’re projecting a five percent increase in revenue per year in the next biennium when common sense says otherwise. If nothing else, the federal government is printing trillions of dollars, which will dilute the value of the U.S. dollar. Inflated dollars won’t add up to 5 percent growth even if the economy improves. We must stop expecting the future to look like the past. We must wake up and stop the overspending. 

“This budget also counts on more than $100 million in new taxes squeezed out of Washington’s already hurting families and businesses. It’s the wrong move at the wrong time.” 

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Sen. Stevens represents the 39th Legislative District,
which includes part of rural King, Snohomish, Skagit and Whatcom counties.

For more information contact Pat Albright
at (360) 786-7519 or albright.pat@leg.wa.gov^.