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13th District legislators reflect on state's revenue
forecast
Yesterday the state revenue forecast report predicted an additional $1.9
billion decrease in expected revenue for the state's current and
future budgets, adding to earlier deficit projections. Current revenue
collections are down $108 million from what was expected in September.
13th District legislators had this to say about the revenue forecast and
state budget:
Sen.
Janéa Holmquist, R-Moses Lake:
“This is a spending problem, not a revenue problem. Increasing spending
by 33 percent was never going to be sustainable. The shortfall was projected at 2.5 billion
dollars even before the 2008 legislative session ended, and
Republicans have been warning the majority party about its reckless and
unsustainable spending for the last four years. The majority party has
refused to listen to sound fiscal advice from Republicans, and now we
are all going to pay for it.”
Rep. Bill Hinkle,
R-Cle Elum:
“Our state must live within its means. Those who write the budget cannot
keep overspending and expect the economy to bail them out. Let’s not
forget that our state has 5 percent more revenue from the last budget
cycle, yet it still faces a $5 billion deficit. It is time to be
fiscally responsible.”
Rep. Judy Warnick,
R-Moses Lake:
“Putting together the budget for the next two years won’t be easy. I
hope the governor and a majority of the Legislature will resist the
temptation to increase taxes and fees to fill this hole. It wouldn’t
be fair to citizens who are already struggling to pay their mortgages
and buy groceries. Although the national economy has affected us, we may
have weathered the storm better if we had restrained excessive spending
habits in the past."
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For more information, contact:
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer - (360) 786-7720
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