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Supplemental operating budget backs state
into a corner, Ahern says
Ahern supports capital budget, rejects transportation
and operations budgets
The House of
Representatives today wrapped up adopting the three supplemental budgets
for the state: the transportation budget passed Friday evening, the
capital budget passed Monday morning and the operating budget passed
Monday afternoon.
Rep. John Ahern,
R-Spokane, today made these statements about the state supplemental
budgets:
TRANSPORTATION BUDGET:
"This is an irresponsible
budget that breaks promises to citizens throughout Washington," Ahern
said. "Spokane citizens are tired of waiting to reap the rewards of
their gas tax investment."
Ahern introduced an
amendment last Friday to include $42 million for funding the North-South freeway in
North Spokane. The funding would have come from administration and
overhead savings as recommended from the most recent performance review
by the state auditor.
"This amendment would
honor a promise made years ago to Spokane by appropriating $42 million
to the North-South Freeway," Ahern told colleagues. "We have been
promised time and again funding for this important project.
Unfortunately, we haven't seen any meaningful follow-through as of this
date. This is a promise made
and a promise not kept."
CAPITAL BUDGET:
"I was proud to support
this budget, which makes construction investments all around the state.
The citizens of Spokane really got their fair share with investments in
the Mobius Science Center, the Armed Forces and Aerospace Museum and Mt.
Spokane ski and snowboard parks. This budget is so important to keep our
state economy growing, as well as our communities."
OPERATING BUDGET:
"The poor economic
forecast recently released, combined with the spending spree the last
three years, puts us in a terrible position. This supplemental budget
creates new programs at a time when we cannot afford to spread our
resources so thin.
"The state needs a
supplemental budget which upholds promises made, and makes adjustments
for things like the floods last fall. We had a great opportunity to save
more state resources for rainy days that we see ahead, but with the
adopted budget we're going to be worse off in the future."
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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