House Republican Deputy Minority Leader Chris Corry issues statement on House Democrat budget proposal

‘One-party rule at the state Capitol has failed,’ says Corry

Rep. Chris Corry, R-Yakima, former Ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee and current House Republican Deputy Minority Leader, issued the following statement today regarding the House Democrat budget proposal released this week:

“Prioritizing state employee pay raises over families struggling to make ends meet is not a good first step in the budgeting process. This is not a responsible way to solve our state’s budget issues, neither in the short term nor the long term.

“Every sensible person in Olympia – and many around the state – absolutely knows the majority has spent taxpayer dollars recklessly and without regard to the average Washingtonian who goes to work every day but has no special interest lobby in Olympia. No six-figure lobbyist. No special group that organizes and visits annually for their ‘day at the Capitol.’ They just want to go to work, pay their bills, and live their lives without the hopelessness that comes when they are forced to give more and more money to solve problems originating – and sometimes confined to – Seattle and King County.

“This may sound callous, but we must admit Olympia is broken. Olympia has spent the past decade spending every dime, giving excuses, and using emotionalism and fear tactics instead of accountability and responsibility. And now, despite sending more money to state government during the same decade, we find ourselves in the same budget hole that Republicans have been warning about for years.

“One-party rule at the state Capitol has failed. We urge Democrats to go back to the drawing board and include Republicans to create a responsible budget. Republicans have proposed fiscally-responsible budgets that can fund core services without raising taxes. We recognize the need to invest in our kids, ensure the safety of our streets, and protect the most vulnerable.

“The tax-and-spend proposals we see today represent the callous behavior of those who have absolute power and are no longer accountable to working Washingtonians. Fortunately, there is a better path for our state moving forward, and it begins with the inclusion of Republican ideas in the budget process so we can have a spending plan that represents all Washington citizens, including those who ultimately have to foot the bill.”

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov