OLYMPIA… The Republican senators who crafted the no-new-taxes “$ave Washington” operating budget say they agree with Gov. Bob Ferguson’s view that the $12 billion package of tax increases proposed by Senate Democrats this week is too large.

From Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup, who is Senate Republican budget leader:

“We agree with the governor that $12 billion in new taxes is unsustainable and too risky – but to us, that would be true no matter who is in the White House. If we truly want our state to be ready for any sort of fiscal turbulence, let’s have a new budget that avoids tax increases completely – whether they’re ‘progressive’ or not. The $ave Washington budget we’re offering is the only budget that protects services, preserves the rainy-day fund, makes smart investments in K-12 and public safety, and doesn’t need a single tax increase to balance. It’s the best answer to the governor’s concerns.”

From Sen. Nikki Torres of Pasco, who is assistant budget leader:

“Our Democratic colleagues on the Senate Ways and Means Committee are poised to vote for much more than $12 billion in new taxes at tomorrow morning’s meeting, so the governor’s comments are right on time. But I have to respectfully disagree with his view that they have made progress on ‘addressing our regressive tax system.’ Their sales-tax increase on top of the property-tax increases they’ve wanted all along is definitely more regressive, not less.

“To us, any new taxes would be risky. The question now is whether the Democrat legislators will heed the governor’s words or continue going back and forth with him.”