OLYMPIA… The state Senate’s majority Democrats today passed a $78.6 billion operating budget that relies on the largest tax increase in state history, after rejecting the smaller, no-new-taxes, no-cuts budget proposed by Senate Republicans.

The “$ave Washington” budget, which doesn’t outspend the state’s anticipated level of revenue, was offered in place of the Democrats’ own budget, which would continue the trend of overspending that led to the $6.6 billion budget shortfall legislators must address. Democrats rejected it on a party-line 30-19 vote, before approving their own plan on a 28-21 vote.

The senators who crafted the Republican budget reacted with shock that Democrats would approve huge tax increases when a budget that protects services without raising taxes is available.

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

“Budgets are always about choices, and today the majority Democrats made a choice that is wrong for our state. They’re supporting a budget that would impose $21 billion in additional taxes, when they could have joined us to support a budget that doesn’t increase a single tax.

“Their budget will just about wipe out the state’s ‘rainy-day fund,’ even though it isn’t raining – we know that because the state expects to collect more revenue, not less, from the taxes already in place. Our budget leaves the rainy-day fund alone.

“The Democrats’ budget would raise taxes while cutting support for higher education, which means tuition increases at our state-run colleges and universities. Their budget raises taxes but won’t put more money toward law enforcement. It raises taxes but would make the Discover Pass and hunting and fishing licenses much more expensive. This budget is even balanced on the backs of state employees, who would be forced to lose pay by going on furlough.

“It’s amazing that so many senators would vote for a budget like that, knowing the harm it would cause the people they serve. Higher taxes aren’t inevitable, even though there’s a budget shortfall. Our no-new-taxes, no-cuts approach proves it. We offered the Democrats a better way, and they said no.”

(Click here to view Sen. Gildon’s remarks on the no-new-taxes, no-cuts proposal)

From Sen. Torres, who is assistant budget leader:

“These two budgets could not be more different, especially on taxes. The majority leaders have talked for months about how they want to make the wealthy pay more, yet their budget is filled with choices that dig deeper into the pockets of lower- and middle-income people in our state.

“The Democrats can’t possibly argue that the property-tax increases wrapped into their budget will be paid only by the wealthy. Property taxes hit everyone – lower-income families, middle-income families, and renters. That alone is reason to say no to the majority’s budget.

“In spite of the huge tax increases the majority proposes, they also would make a 26% reduction in funding for the state Office of Public Defense – just when the Washington Supreme Court is working on updated workload standards for public defenders to ensure adequate representation for defendants.

“Slashing funding for public defense means defendants in our state may go without legal representation, creating constitutional crises in our courts. At the same time, cases will stall or go unprosecuted entirely, allowing dangerous criminals to remain on the streets and making our communities less safe. Rural Washington will bear the brunt of these cuts, where public defenders are already stretched thin and access to legal resources is scarce.

“The Senate Democrats’ budget leaves Washingtonians vulnerable and sends the wrong message about the value of justice in our state. They had an opportunity to join Republicans and choose a better direction. Fortunately, this is not the final budget, and there still is time for legislators to get their priorities straight.”

(Click here to view Sen. Torres’ remarks on the no-new-taxes, no-cuts proposal)