Lowry Plan Eases Sting Of Federal Cuts Governor Seeks $16 Million To Protect Imperiled Programs
The first wave of federal budget cuts has washed ashore and Gov. Mike Lowry on Friday asked the Legislature for quick action on a $16 million stopgap budget to protect some of the affected programs.
The Democratic governor, who said the spectre of federal cuts no longer is mere conjecture, gave his strongest indication yet that he’ll veto any further large-scale tax breaks, including the property-tax relief package awaiting a final vote in the Republicancontrolled House.
“This is not a candy store,” he snorted.
The state needs to get ready for the inevitable, and lawmakers should stop fixating on tax cuts, he said. The $132 million business tax cut the Legislature passed over his veto “won’t create one new job,” he said.
The governor’s latest budget proposal, which boosts his 1996 supplemental budget request from $93 million to $109 million in new spending, includes money for food banks, salmon hatcheries and youth employment programs.
It also includes $4 million to help homeowners and businesses affected by the flooding and windstorms late last year.
The supplemental spending would go on top of the $17.6 billion twoyear budget adopted last May.
Lowry’s new budget plan would provide $2.5 million to replace food the U.S. Department of Agriculture won’t be supplying food banks.
The governor requested $8.5 million for continued operation of the state’s summer youth employment program.
Lowry asked for $813,000 to allow continued operation of Columbia River fish hatcheries. Federal cuts otherwise would require closure of the Grays River, Elochoman and Fallert Creek hatcheries and cutbacks at four others.
xxxx STOPGAP BUDGET REQUESTS Some of the items covered in Gov. Mike Lowry’s $16 million stopgap budget announced Friday: $8.5 million for continued operation of the state’s summer youth employment program. $4 million to help homeowners and businesses affected by the flooding and windstorms late last year. The appropriation would cover state government matching funds for the federal disaster relief. $2.5 million to replace food the U.S. Department of Agriculture won’t be supplying food banks. $813,000 to allow continued operation of Columbia River fish hatcheries. - Associated Press