Haler votes ‘no’ on supplemental operating budget, calls it ‘unsustainable and unrealistic’
Rep. Larry Haler, R-Richland, released the following statement today regarding the passage of the 2010 supplemental operating budget in the House of Representatives:
“This budget continues the trend of using budget transfers, cost shifts and one-time federal money to close our budget shortfall. It is unsustainable and unrealistic. Without any true government reforms, without addressing the entitlement programs added during the last five years of unprecedented government spending increases, we're going to be right back here with another multi-billion dollar budget shortfall next year.
“I can't support a budget that fails to recognize the realities that our struggling families and employers are facing on a daily basis. This budget represents one of the largest tax increases in state history at a time of record-high unemployment in Washington state. Families are looking for work or wondering if they'll have a job next month. And employers are trying their best to compete on a global scale while being hampered by an increasing regulatory burden.
“This budget – and the taxes needed to implement it – are going to cost us jobs. It is the wrong direction for Washington.”
With one day left to go in the 30-day special session called by Gov. Gregoire, Democrats in the House of Representatives today approved a $30.5 billion supplemental operating budget. The proposal decreases spending by less than one percent from last year's budget. It seeks to close the state's $2.8 billion budget shortfall through:
- $757 million in new tax increases;
- $661 million in spending reductions;
- $633 million federal funds;
- $328 million in transfers from other accounts;
- $256 million in reserves, including depletion of the rainy-day fund; and
- $178 million in cost shifts to other accounts.
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For more information, contact: Brendon Wold, Senior Information Officer, (360) 786-7698.
