<img height="1" width="1" style="display:none" src="https://www.facebook.com/tr?id=192888919167017&amp;ev=PageView&amp;noscript=1">
Monday, March 18, 2024
March 18, 2024

Linkedin Pinterest

Local legislators largely pan Inslee’s budget

By , Columbian Political Writer
Published:

Rep. Jim Moeller, speaker pro tempore of the Washington House, says Gov. Jay Inslee is an “eternal optimist.” The governor’s budget, Moeller said, which would charge polluters and includes a new capital gains tax, was indicative of such optimism.

“You have to be out there. You have to stir the pot and say everything is on the table: tax increases, along with cuts, along with reforms. … We start peeling things away with the discussion. Eventually, we shake hands across the table and across the rotunda and say OK,” said Moeller, a Democrat from Vancouver.

The 2015 legislative session starts on Jan. 12, but battle lines are already being drawn. Saying “OK” is still a long ways away.

The state is facing a projected $2 billion budget gap in the next two-year budget cycle.

On Thursday, Inslee said it is “time to reinvest in our state, and this budget does that.”

Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, called the governor’s decision to raise taxes “the wrong approach.”

“And this from a governor who pledged to veto any new tax increases when he first ran in 2012,” Pike said.

Inslee said on Thursday he had hoped to “avoid this route.” But, he said, the Legislature chose not to “close loopholes,” and the increased demand on education and mental health left him with no other option. The governor said his plan emphasizes stronger schools, cleaner air and a fairer tax system.

mobile phone icon
Take the news everywhere you go.
Download The Columbian app:
Download The Columbian app for Android on Google PlayDownload The Columbian app for iOS on the Apple App Store

“It’s kind of hard to take seriously, honestly, for a couple of reasons,” said Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Felida, of the governor’s budget proposal. “I look at it like, if we’re looking to attract business and jobs to Washington state, I see our competitive advantage being one, our quality of life; two, our favorable tax code; and three, affordable energy. And two out of three of those go out the window.”

Under the governor’s proposal, the state’s overall two-year operating budget would be $39 billion.

The governor’s plan calls for a 7 percent capital gains tax to apply on money earned by selling stocks or other assets exceeding $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for couples. The governor’s office said fewer than 1 percent of the state’s taxpayers would meet these thresholds, and there would be exemptions for retirement accounts, homes, farms and forestry.

Earlier this week, the governor announced plans for meeting the court-ordered mandate to fully fund education by proposing a $2.3 billion education plan.

His budget proposal also includes raising the state’s cigarette tax and includes $380 million that would be generated by charging the state’s biggest polluters for emissions.

Mark Brown, a lobbyist who represents Southwest Washington, said there are elements of the governor’s budget that should please cities.

“He’s protected all existing state shared revenues, and that’s very positive,” Brown said.

Cities get a percentage of the liquor tax, and in year’s past the state has dipped into revenue meant for cities. Not in this budget, Brown said.

In addition, the governor is proposing to give cities a portion of the revenue raised from recreational marijuana sales.

“That is a very positive development for us,” Brown said.

Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, said she appreciated the governor’s priorities overall, but she said she hopes some of the money in his transportation proposal will end up in Southwest Washington.

“He didn’t specify any projects” for the region, she noted.

“This is a starting point,” Cleveland said.

Loading...
Columbian Political Writer