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[WA] Democrats' budget reserves might be illusory
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| Contributor | Ralphie |
| Last Edited | Ralphie Mar 20, 2006 11:17am |
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| Category | Perspective |
| Media | Newspaper - Seattle Times |
| News Date | Monday, March 20, 2006 05:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | Democratic lawmakers congratulated themselves for being frugal when they passed a state budget this month that reserves $935 million to deal with future expenses. What they didn't say is they've essentially spent that money already.
State estimates show lawmakers created programs, tax breaks and improvements in state services this year that are expected to cost about $940 million over the next two fiscal years.
That basically blows away the money set aside by the Legislature — some of it earmarked for other things, such as pensions and schools — and leaves a projected $500 million shortfall next session.
Republicans say it also belies claims made by Democrats — who control the House, Senate and governor's office — about being "fiscally responsible."
"How can you say that's fiscally prudent? You just can't," said Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, the ranking Republican on the Senate Ways and Means Committee. "If you put it into a two-year budget cycle, they really spent all that money."
House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, argues that her party passed "perhaps the most responsible budget I've ever taken part in." |
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