House Democrats rejected a Republican proposal Saturday to use part of the state’s $15 billion budget surplus to provide sales tax relief… and then passed the largest spending plan in state history. John Sattgast reports from the state Capitol.
House Republican Budget Leader Drew Stokesbary says at a time when Washington citizens are facing the highest inflation in 40 years, lawmakers should give back some of the state’s record surplus revenue:
“So all session long, myself and my colleagues in my caucus have been arguing for a tax cut to be put forward on the floor of this body. But unfortunately, the budget before us provides no meaningful tax relief. This amendment would fix that by creating the budget capacity to fund a one-half-percent sales tax cut.”
The Democratic majority rejected Stokesbary’s amendment and passed a record $65 billion state government spending plan:
“In my less than four terms in this body, our state budget has doubled. I don’t know of many of my constituents who have seen their income double. And yet, we’re telling them that despite us as a state having the resources to double our spending, we’re unwilling to return any of the money to them.”
The supplemental spending plan passed the House with all Republicans voting “no.”