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Dunn says House budget will
hurt families, economy
17th District lawmaker: “The state operating
budget has grown $8.2 billion, or 33 percent, since Gregoire and the
majority party took control of the process”
Seventeenth District
lawmaker Jim Dunn today voted against the House state operating
budget that would spend more than $2 billion in new policy additions –
including hiring 3,800 new state government employees. Dunn believes the
budget puts taxpayers and the state’s economy at greater risk.
“The majority party readily admits, even if our state economy stays
strong, this budget will run us into a deficit. This is an irresponsible
approach,” said Dunn, R-Vancouver. “A future deficit would be
addressed in one of two ways – cuts to programs or tax increases. Seeing
no cuts were made to state programs this year and taxes were increased
in 2005, I think it’s clear what the majority party has in mind.”
The state operating budget funds K-12 public schools, human services,
higher education, debt services, prisons/corrections, natural resources,
special appropriations and legislative, judicial and government
operations.
“The state operating budget has grown by 8.2 billion dollars, or 33
percent, since Governor Gregoire and the majority party took control of
the process in 2005,” said Dunn. “I can tell you family and
business incomes have not increased at this level – yet they are paying
for this massive growth in state government.”
Dunn also believes it is irresponsible for the state to spend $1.3
billion more than it takes in for revenues.
“We are spending money we know we won’t have in the future. Families
cannot budget in this way – nor should their state government,” said
Dunn. “We need to have a true priorities of government process –
like Dino Rossi showed us in 2003. The budget passed today is all things
to all people, and it will be impossible to continue to fund it without
driving up our taxes. This budget is not good for taxpayers.”
The House Democrat budget also does not include a constitutional rainy
day fund that would set money aside to protect the state during economic
downturns. The concept – one that Dunn supports – originated with
Republicans .
House Bill 1128 now heads to the Senate for consideration.
For more information on Dunn visit:
http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Dunn/
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