John Sattgast reports from Olympia.
House Republican Budget Leader Travis Couture says Washington families and employers can’t afford more taxes – and he’s unveiled a plan he calls “Affordability First.”
On Thursday, Representative Travis Couture of Allyn released a new budget framework aimed at helping working Washingtonians without raising taxes. He says years of unsustainable spending have pushed the state toward a four-point-three-billion-dollar shortfall.
Couture’s plan identifies nearly four billion dollars in savings over four years by reducing lower-priority programs and streamlining state agencies. He says his proposal would protect classrooms, preserve benefits, and restore funding for services like Medicaid, food assistance, and law enforcement hiring:
“We’re just trying to prove that you can balance a budget, not cut essential services, and not have to raise taxes on people once again.”
Couture argues the current budget relies too heavily on one-time funds and delayed obligations. His framework would tie spending limits to inflation and population growth, require agencies to justify every dollar, and use independent audits to eliminate waste.
The 2026 legislative session begins January 12th.
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