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Rep. Barbara Bailey's
statement on today's state revenue forecast
10th District state lawmaker is assistant ranking
Republican
on the House Ways and Means Committee
The state Economic and Revenue
Forecast Council released a revenue forecast for the 2007-09 biennium
and the 2009-11 biennium today. The combined General Fund-State net
change is a decrease of about $482 million
from the March forecast.
"Today's
revenue forecast reveals that our state is again on pace to spend more
than it will have coming in for tax collections. To address this gap, I
encourage the governor to make reductions
in her cabinet agencies. This would be a good first step.
"The best way to balance our state finances in a sustainable
way is to prioritize state government and reform our budget process. I
joined my House Republican colleagues in proposing
solutions this
year that would accomplish these goals. We will continue to advocate for
these ideas and engage the public in doing so.
"What must be avoided are tax increases. There is a strong movement in
Olympia to establish a new state income tax and raise the state sales
tax. It makes no sense to take more money out of people's pockets when
we are in a consumer-led recession. My sense is most people
want state government to live within it means – much like they are
having to do in these economic times."
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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