Rep. Travis Couture proposes package of budget reform bills to stop out-of-control spending by Democrat-controlled Legislature
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Rep. Travis Couture proposes package of budget reform bills to stop out-of-control spending by Democrat-controlled Legislature
In response to a harmful budget proposal from House Democrats that includes the largest tax increase in state history and continues to grow government with record spending, House Republican budget lead, Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, has introduced a package of bills to structurally reform Washington’s budget process.
“The majority party’s irresponsible budgeting has continued for over a decade, resulting in a more than doubling of the state budget,” said Couture. “These dangerous budgeting practices have continued despite fierce push back from Republicans and are the reason Washington state is now facing a multi-billion-dollar budget shortfall. That is a fact. Despite this, Democrats appear to have learned nothing from the gross mismanagement of your tax dollars and have rolled out a budget proposal that is more of the same with a massive tax increase that will crush the working class, businesses, and those who need us the most.”
Couture’s budget reform package would protect taxpayers by stopping government from growing faster that it can afford and forcing the state to live within its means. It would also save taxpayers billions.
Watch Rep. Travis Couture’s Video Message on Budget Reform Package
Budget Reform Highlights
• Curb Reckless Spending: Implement spending and tax limits, requiring a super majority in both chambers for all tax increases and requiring all excess tax collections to be returned to be used for taxpayer relief or deposited into the Rainy Day Fund
• Rein in Bloated Bureaucracy: House Bill 2053 and House Bill 2054.
• Accountability: Performance audits of state programs and other private entities that receives tax dollars.
• Higher Ethical Standards: Barring elected officials and their spouses from working at or having a controlling or financial interest in an entity that gets state dollars.
• Zero-Based Budgeting: Prioritize government spending on essential programs, require realistic budgeting, and end the practice of creating money on paper by assuming 4.5% revenue growth (House Bill 1411 and House Bill 1225).
“These reforms are absolutely necessary if we want to protect Washington state and everyone who lives here,” said Couture. “If we do not pass these reforms, the reckless spending in our state will continue, and everyday Washingtonians will pay the price.”
Budget Reform Package Bills
House Bill 1225 – Priorities of Government
House Bill 1411 – Realistic Budgeting
House Bill 2053 – Cap on State Employees
House Bill 2054 – Cap on Four-Year University Employees
House Bill 2055 – State Revenue Limit
House Bill 2056 – State Spending Limit
House Bill 2057 – Accountability for New Programs
House Bill 2058 – Private Entity Audits
House Bill 2059 – State Dollars to Non-Government Entities
House Bill 2060 – Elected Officials Employment
House Joint Resolution 4206 – Supermajority for Tax Increases
