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Web site:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Herrera |
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Dear friend,
Our
state received a
revenue forecast today that gives lawmakers our last snapshot of
state finances
prior to passing a budget by the end of the
legislative
session.
Budget proposals
are going to be unveiled in the next week and, despite
what is being said, our state can balance its budget
without raising taxes on families or employers.
My
approach has remained the same:
1. Pass
a
no-new-taxes budget.
2.
Restructure state government.
3.
Prioritize public safety, education and services
for our vulnerable citizens.
It's important
to remember that our state will have at least as much, if
not more,
revenue in its next two-year budget cycle compared to
its current one. This fact often gets lost in budget
debates and news articles. This chart shows that our state has had
no problem bringing in tax dollars:
Our state has a spending problem,
not a revenue problem. The budget process is
supposed to be guided by I-601 -- a voter-approved
initiative that set state spending limits.
However, the liberals in the Legislature have found ways around voter
intent.
This has resulted in
state spending increasing
by 33 percent in the last four years -- more than $8
billion. Our state now faces a budget shortfall of more
than $8 billion.
Please take a look at this graph -- it
shows taxes collected, what state spending should have
been under I-601 and actual state spending:
It's not enough that we just get by the next two years
with a patchwork budget; we need to
reform our budget
process to prevent the situation we are in today from
ever happening again. Here are five measures I support
that would accomplish this goal:
1.
House Bill 2228 -- would prevent the
Legislature from enacting a budget that is unsustainable
in the next or following two-year budget cycle.
2.
House Joint Resolution 4209 -- would
require the state to deposit extraordinary tax collections
from good economic times in the state's "rainy day fund."
3.
House Joint Resolution 4207 -- would
establish a state expenditure limit in the state
constitution.
4.
House Bill 1458 -- would require that a fiscal
note describing how much legislation will cost be
established before state lawmakers can vote on it.
5.
House Bill 1655 -- would establish a
legislative balanced budget requirement.
Thanks for
your time today. I hope this e-newsletter gives you a
better understanding of what is happening in your state
Capitol. If I can
ever be of assistance, please respond to this e-mail or give me a
call at (360) 786-7850.
Sincerely,
Jaime Herrera
State
Representative
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For more
news and information, visit my website at
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Herrera
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