Washington House approves supplemental budget

The Washington House today (Wed) approved its version of a supplemental budget that allocates money for schools and colleges, for health care and other social services. The budget adds to what lawmakers agreed to spend in last year’s two-year budget.

Federal Way Democratic Representative Mark Miloscia says, with the strong economy, the state can afford to spend money for pressing needs.

“I’ve been here eight years and I look at one criteria in deciding whether to vote for a budget or not is whether it serves the common good, whether it serves the poor and vulnerable, the most in need in our society, and I’m glad to say today that, of my eight budgets, this is the best budget I’ve voted on.”

Democrats say they’ll spend about 600-million dollars and leave almost a billion dollars in reserve accounts to fund state pensions and other necessities. Republicans dispute those figures, saying the money in the reserve accounts can easily be accessed for unnecessary programs.

Spokane Representative John Serben says Republicans don’t feel they have a stake in this budget because the majority Democrats didn’t include GOP leaders in the final negotiations.

“I think that just goes to show that we don’t have the opportunity to properly review these budgets,” he said. “We get them; 24 hours later we vote on them. I’m just not sure why we do this, Mr. Speaker. I know when this building was built many years ago, there was a glass ceiling right above this chamber. Well, I can see that glass ceiling is gone now and I think we need to do something to let some sunlight back in.”

The Senate was due to vote on the budget this afternoon.

The passage of the budget will be one of the legislature’s last acts of this session. Lawmakers are scheduled to adjourn either tonight or tomorrow (Thurs).