By Susanna Ray
Herald Writer
OLYMPIA — House Republicans threw up their hands on Wednesday, saying they would let Democrats put more money into state programs.
However, they warned that the proposed state budget won’t be sustainable and sets the state up for a tax increase in two years. But talks have broken down and there’s no hope of negotiating a lower figure, they said.
"The longer we stay here, the worse it gets," Rep. Barry Sehlin, R-Oak Harbor, the Republicans’ chief budget negotiator, said at a press conference. "The desire to spend money is obviously just insatiable."
The stalemate’s end means there will likely be a House vote Friday on the Senate’s two-year, $22.8 billion spending plan. That’s about $60 million more than the House’s previous proposal. But House Co-Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-East Wenatchee, agreed Wednesday to let the budget come to the floor and provide the 50th vote needed to pass it. The House is evenly split with 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans.
Sehlin said his beef with the Senate budget is twofold: It broke faith with the "firmly agreed to" lower spending level, and is "totally unsustainable" because it uses one-time pension surplus money to pay for ongoing expenses.
But House Co-Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, said the spending plan leaves ample reserves for future years and won’t require higher taxes.
"The budget is a very strong document," Chopp said. "It very much helps our public schools and health care programs across the state."
Chopp said he’ll probably bring the budget to a floor vote on Friday, and while there will likely be amendments to the Senate’s plan, the total dollar figure won’t be raised.
Ballard said with the budget agreement, the Legislature’ second session could adjourn by next week. Today marks the 146th day of what was supposed to be a 105-day session. The longest session in state history was in 1977, when the expected 60 days stretched into 162 days.
But the operating budget isn’t the only issue keeping lawmakers in Olympia.
"I will not let the Legislature leave until there has been a transportation and financing plan approved that will pay for much-needed improvements and fixes across the state," Gov. Gary Locke said at a press conference Wednesday morning.
Locke was supposed to leave for France on Wednesday for a long-planned trade mission. But instead he sent his wife, Mona Lee Locke, while he stayed behind to keep tabs on lawmakers. He distributed copies of recent letters from Alan Mulally, chief executive officer of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, and Bill Gates, chairman of Microsoft, calling on the state to fix its traffic problems this year, instead of waiting for the next legislative session.
But Ballard said it doesn’t make sense to keep legislators in Olympia unless an agreement is near. If there are enough votes to pass a transportation package, with an expected gas tax increase, he said he’d allow it to the floor. Otherwise, legislators would just pass a road budget for maintenance and current projects, with no new spending.
Chopp said he’ll insist on a bipartisan transportation plan, so that it’s not just Democrats voting to raise the gas tax.
The Puget Sound area’s traffic mess is killing the quality of life and killing people, said Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, chairwoman of the Senate Transportation Committee. "I consider this an emergency."
"Maybe they (House Republicans) can just walk away and cover their heads, but I think voters need to hold us accountable if that’s what happens."
You can call Herald Writer Susanna Ray at 360-586-3803
or send e-mail to ray@heraldnet.com.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
