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State GOP “No New Taxes” budget
State GOP "No New Taxes" budget
OLYMPIA, Wash. -- No new taxes.
That’s the big message from State Republican leaders.
On Tuesday, they unveiled their long-awaited budget for the next two years. It puts them in sharp contrast with Democratic leaders, including the governor, who are calling for more taxes and more money for education.
“We can make significant, positive investments without putting jobs or our economy at risk,” said Sen. Andy Hill, R-Redmond, the Senate’s chief budget writer. “If you live in Seattle, the economy is booming. If you live in other parts of the state, not so much, and we’re afraid about upsetting that fragile growth.”
The highlights in the GOP plan include:
Hill said the last time tuition was cut in the state was in the 1970s.
“A student that is paying almost $11,000 a year at the University of Washington will pay $7,500 for that same tuition two years from now,” Hill said.
Republicans argue that the natural growth in state revenue, including an additional $3 billion over the next two years, can cover new costs.
Democrats were quick to pounce on the GOP spending plan, arguing that it avoids taxes by relying on gimmicks, including taking money from the capital budget and by making cuts to mental health and human services. They believe it’s time for new revenue, something they called for in their budget unveiled last week.
“We’re going to be looking at taxing 5,000 of our citizens who are the wealthiest, when they actually have a windfall from stocks and dividends,” said Sen. Sharon Nelson, D-West Seattle. “That is an answer, and it’s one that I think our citizens would embrace.”
The Republican-led Senate and the Democratic-controlled House will now duke it out to see if they can find common ground.
But the sides are at least $1.5 billion apart, so it’s not going to be easy to come together by April 26, the last scheduled day of the legislative session.