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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

WaLeg Day 72: House budget coming Friday

OLYMPIA -- House Democrats said today they will release their 2015-17 operating budget proposal late Friday morning, slightly more than two-thirds of the way into the regular session.

House and Senate Republicans  responded by reiterating the "show me the money" they've made before. If the expenses in the budget proposal are greater than the projected revenue coming in, they want to see legislation on higher taxes or fees to cover it.

House Appropriations Chairman Ross Hunter and Finance Chairman Reuven Carlyle are scheduled to unveil the budget at 11:30 a.m. Friday, which would be the 75th day of the 105-day legislative session. The budget would then be subject to hearings in the Appropriations Committee before a vote in the full House could send it to the Senate.

Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, said the Senate will follow with its own budget proposal "shortly", although if the House budget proposal doesn't have all the revenue needed for the programs and other expenses it is seeking, "that makes it very hard to take serious."

Gov. Jay Inslee and House Democrats have said the projected revenue for the coming two years will not be enough to cover existing programs plus raises for teachers and state workers, and the expansion of public schools and the mental health system required by court orders. But they differ on what existing taxes to raise, new ones to impose and which tax breaks to close.

Republicans have insisted the extra revenue coming in because of the economic recovery is enough. "I still believe we can do this without new taxes," Schoesler said. 



The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.