With a predicted increase in state revenues over the next year, Republican leaders briefed reporters on Tuesday on how best to invest for the public good.
Representative Chris Corry, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, has concerns with the majority Democrats’ additional spending in the new supplemental operating budget proposal.
“We’re seeing a lot of money spread thin rather than focusing on what I would consider our core issues facing Washingtonians. When you look at issues like home affordability, there’s no addressing any concerns there – there’s nothing around the price of groceries. What we’re seeing is just a lot of money spread over a lot of different areas, so that’s really concerning to us.”
House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary shared a different vision than that of majority Democrats on the $71 billion operating budget.
“The budget growth has far outpaced the cost of inflation and population growth. It is far past time for the majority to have returned some of this budget to the taxpayers in the form of broad-based tax relief. Our caucus wants to do a lot of good to help a lot of people with targeted investments actually helping folks and improving lives, and it’s not just being spread around like peanut butter to make ourselves feel better.”
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