Radio: Couture addresses waste in state budget over suspended, antiquated workers’ comp system IT upgrade on KIRO Radio

August 27, 2025

House Republican Budget Leader Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, joins KIRO Radio’s John Curley to discuss a decade of wasteful spending in the state operating budget over an antiquated IT system.

WaTech, the state’s information technology oversight office, recently suspended a $292 million upgrade for the Department of Labor and Industries’ antiquated workers’ compensation system due to a “continual lack of progress and ability to execute.” With more than $30 million spent over 10 years, Couture was critical of the lack of progress, saying the state has little to show for the taxpayers’ money.

Couture also discussed Republican efforts to eliminate DEI spending (approximately $20 million) and to implement a sales tax holiday for back-to-school supplies; however, Democrats rejected these efforts.

In addition, the 35th District lawmaker noted the hypocrisy of Democrats blaming Republicans in Congress for Medicaid cuts, when in fact, Democratic budget writers in Olympia slashed Medicaid funding by nearly $800 million months before Congress took action.