Republican budget lead Rep. Travis Couture: Budget passed by House Democrats taxes the joy out of Washingtonians

Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement after House Democrats passed their operating budget:

“The budget passed by House Democrats this morning will decimate Washington families. Despite the state’s multi-billion-dollar deficit, the majority party’s budget increases spending by 8% in the first biennium and by even more in the out-years. That spending growth is paid for on the backs of Washington’s working families in the form of the largest tax increase in state history.

“Just a few years ago, Washington state had a $15 billion surplus. Now, we are dealing with a multi-billion-dollar deficit. Democrats’ reckless spending is what got us here, and we will be back here again in the same situation because Democrats refused to adopt any of our responsible budget reforms.

“This will be the fourth straight budget where we spend more dollars than we expect to take in.

“The majority claims their massive tax increases will only impact the wealthy. That is a falsehood. Much of the tax increase will affect everyday working Washingtonians who are already struggling to make ends meet, including a substantial increase in property taxes.

“When you couple this property tax increase of up to 3% with the Democrats’ rent control bill, it will be devastating for the housing supply. Washington may never recover.

“On top of these tax increases, Democrats are also counting on increased taxes and fees for things like hunting and fishing licenses, liquor licenses, and Discover Passes, which will literally tax the joy out of the lives of Washingtonians.

“This budget harms those who need us most, including single parents on TANF whose child support payments will be robbed under the Democrats’ budget, and the aged, blind, and deaf, who also lose under this spending plan.

“The only winners in this irresponsible budget are bureaucrats, politicians, and criminals. 

“House Republicans offered dozens of budget amendments to help working families, low-income Washingtonians, developmentally disabled, K-12 students, babies born addicted to fentanyl, and many others, but Democrats rejected them all.

“This is a budget balanced on the backs of working Washingtonians that will exacerbate our affordability, housing, and public safety crises in Washington. It is a tone-deaf budget that ignores the needs of the people in favor of paying for programs and policies linked to radical ideologies.

“This budget is so bad that the Speaker of the House arbitrarily gaveled my speech on final passage – twice, effectively silencing the voice of the more than three million people House Republicans represent.”

Budget Debate Highlights

Watch Rep. Travis Couture fight to stop property tax increase

Watch Rep. Travis Couture argue for rule requiring cities and counties to pass camping bans

Watch Rep. Travis Couture stand up for single moms

Watch Rep. Travis Couture argue for funding to protect babies born addicted to drugs

Watch Rep. Travis Couture fight to reallocate DEI funding to cover cost of back-to-school sales tax holiday

Watch Rep. Travis Couture stand up for law enforcement

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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov