Democrats use muscle to pass $26 billion budget

OLYMPIA – Racing through the final day of this year’s legislative session, state lawmakers Sunday approved a two-year, $26 billion operating budget that steers money toward schools, public employees, health care and higher education.

“This budget reflects what the people of the state are asking us to fund,” said Sen. Mark Doumit, D-Cathlamet. “It’s an investment in our state’s future.”

“I’m happy with it,” said Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane. “It will make a big difference in the lives of kids, families and vulnerable people.”

The budget passed the House 56 to 42 and the Senate 25 to 22.

Republicans complained they had little say in the operating budget, which includes more than $481 million in new taxes. Among them: increases in liquor and cigarette taxes and reinstatement of Washington’s estate tax for estates worth more than $1.5 million.

“If you’re not a millionaire … not a smoker and you don’t drink hard alcohol … there’s no impact on the citizens of the state of Washington at all,” said Gov. Christine Gregoire, who announced early on that she wouldn’t allow broader sales-, business- or property-tax hikes. Gregoire is expected to sign the budget.

But Republicans repeatedly called for budget cuts and efficiencies instead of tax increases. This two-year budget is 12 percent more than the last one.

“The way I look at it, Democrats just handed us the majority,” Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane, said, standing in the House wings. “In 18 months, the worm will turn.”

Rep. Glenn Anderson, R-Fall City, was gaveled down when he accused Democrats of “using children as shields to raise taxes.” He was referring to Democrats’ linking of the new taxes to spending on higher education and schools.

Senate Majority Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said that the operating budget is a good one for both the state and for Spokane.

“All in all, we feel like we really moved forward on education, health care, jobs and the economy,” she said. The budget includes $100,000 for a street-kids program in Spokane, more money for child care providers and local hospitals, and new slots at area colleges.

One local loss was lawmakers’ decision to eliminate $968,000 sought by the Inland Northwest Technology Education Center over the next two years. That’s much of the economic development and job training organization’s budget.

“That one did not make it,” Brown said. “You can’t get it all.”

Still, Democrats’ budget victory wrapped up what has been largely a good year for them. They have a solid majority in the House – 55 votes to 43 – and a smaller one – 25 votes to 24 – in the Senate.

“Hundreds of thousands of lives will be changed by what we did here,” said House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle.

Urged on by their allies in organized labor, Democrats forced changes in the state’s unemployment insurance law, increasing benefits for seasonal workers. By boosting taxes, they came up with hundreds of millions more dollars for schools, including cost-of-living increases for school employees and money to shrink class sizes. They also approved similar raises for state employees.

They overcame Republican objections and approved a version of California’s tough auto-emissions law, a top priority for environmentalists. And they passed mental health parity, which will require health insurers to cover mental problems the same way they cover physical ailments.

Democrats did lose on a few issues. They failed to set up a family leave system that would pay new moms and others taking time off to care for a family member a $250-per-week stipend to make up for unpaid time off from work. And by a single vote, the Senate was unable to pass a bill banning discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

But overall, it was a banner year, Gregoire said.

“I’ve heard the old saying that nothing ever gets done in Olympia,” she said. “Well, that has changed.”