When the state Legislature convenes for its 60-day remote session at noon today, House Republican lawmakers say they will seek passage of legislation to make life more affordable for Washington citizens, empower parents, and focus on public safety and government accountability. John Sattgast reports from the state Capitol.
This year, lawmakers begin the session with nearly a nine-billion-dollar budget surplus, as well as more than 2 billion in reserves and another one billion in unspent federal stimulus dollars. What to do with that money?
House Republicans say it’s time to provide additional tax relief for working families, cut property taxes, and invest in the REAL Act for better roads, highways, and bridges.
Republican lawmakers also want to repeal the new long-term care insurance program and payroll tax that took effect January 1st. House Republican Leader J.T. Wilcox says no amount of “fixes” majority Democrats are proposing would make the program solvent:
“Every fix that they’re talking about doesn’t make it more viable financially, it actually adds tremendous amounts of cost and more upfront costs than, you know, back-end costs. And so, this is not going to work.”
Other Republican priorities include emergency powers reform, addressing the consequences of last year’s police reform bills by passing “Safe Washington” legislation, and empowering parents by expanding charter schools and school choice in Washington.