Couture: House budget is destructive, risky budget that fails on affordability, hurts rural communities
Ahead of his no vote on the House-proposed operating budget — House Bill 2289 — House Republican Budget Leader Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, slammed majority Democrat’s nearly $80 billion dollar spending plan as risky and reckless, calling it a destructive budget that amounts to an attack on rural communities that fails to address Washington’s affrdability crisis. Couture was also highly critical of the majority’s non-inclusive budget process done behind closed doors with no Republicans at the table and failing to consider his thoughtful Affordability First Budget Framework released just ahead of the 2026 session.
