Liveblogging the Budget Debate

Here are some of the highlights from last night's Floor Debate on the Operating Budget, 6444.

Friday March 5, 2010 7:27
House Democratic Caucus
We're debating the amendments to the budget bill, 6444. Check out the bill here.

8:45 [Comment From Guest : ]
Mike Sells from the 38th is now offering an amendment that will put people to work in the Aerospace industry with his amendment 1415. Training programs need funding to protect those good paying jobs he says. - Zack Hudgins 11th

8:46 [Comment From Rep. Reuven Carlyle: ]
Rep. Probst has done some amazingly creative thinking about job creation. This guy knows how to help the unemployed by helpiong the private sector create jobs through high demand training.

8:52 [Comment From Mike Sells Mike Sells : ]
Thanks for the support for the Aerospace training amendment.

9:03
[Comment From Mary Lou Dickerson Mary Lou Dickerson: ]
We just did an amendment on cuts to state employees. State employees have already contributed to the budget solution to the tune of $243 million in health care cuts alone. That doesn't count the cuts in this budget.

9:05 [Comment From tami green: ]
State employees have not had a cost of living increase for the past two years. So in fact they have had a pay decrease for the past two years and we are proposing more cuts this year. They are doing their part to help with this horrible situation.

9:16 House Democratic Caucus:
The House budget assumes $757 million in increased revenues...much of these added revenues have been widely well received. Today's Seattle Times endorsed much of the package. "A compromise plan for balancing the state budget"

9:19 [Comment From Marko Liias: ]
We have three appropriations committees that have examined the budget, and Ways & Means then did a fourth look, all in public with members of both parties. If that isn't transparent, I don't know what is!

9:23 [Comment From tami green: ]
folks forget that our state workers are behind the private sector. When I worked at Western State Hospital nurses left in droves after missing 2-3 years of cost of living increases. We lost so many experienced nurses. It cost much more to orient and train new ones. Penny wise and Pound foolish.

9:40 [Comment From tami green: ]
Our budget is a complicated budget for complicated times. We will continue to look for savings and reform. We are investing in training and education. Through small things great things come to pass.

9:49 House Democratic Caucus:
Rep. Upthegrove says: the 1981-82 legislature, which was controlled by Republicans, had the largest revenue increases in state history

9:53 House Democratic Caucus:
Rep. Sullivan: We reduced billions last year in state services. This year, we saw what an all-cuts budget would look like. This budget takes a balanced appraoch and relies on a different approach. An all-cuts budget would be devastating.

9:58 House Dem II:
Rep. Dawn Morrell points out what Rep. Alexander's (partial) solution to balancing our budget is from Ways & Means hearing:
Eliminating Disability Lifeline for 20,000 clients, 40% who have a mental illness
Cutting an additional $50 million from our state colleges and universities
Cutting $70 million from our State Need Grant program, keeping 25,000 students of low- and modest means from going to college
Eliminating the Basic Health Program which currently serves 70,000 and has a waiting list of nearly 100,000.

These cuts only amount to about 1/5 of the $2.8 billion hole we're in.

10:02 House Dem II:
Wallace pointing out the national crisis that has hurt our ability to take care of our citizens and keep our communities safe. Challenges anyone who says we need to make additional cuts to show where those cuts should come from.

10:12 [Comment From House Mouse: ]
Rep. Pettigrew on the floor: We have worked extremely hard in this entire body. We have called for reforms all over the state. We had 89 different reform ideas that we vetted to see how we could squeeze these down and make them work. A lot of them did. When I look at the reductions we've made, this is responsible. I've spent most of my time in the private sector. My wife and I have a private business so we're really clear on what comes in and what comes out, how we make a profit or don't make a profit. With the state budget, we're mostly doing cuts. Revenue is only 10 percent of this solution. When I look across the country, I see Arizona selling buildings and California giving out waivers instead of paychecks. We're not doing that. When we come out of this, we'll be stronger than we were before.

10:13 House Democratic Caucus:
Rep. Darneille: Reforms are included in this budget, and will carry us through the next few years, as we deal with the ongoing tough economic times.

10:18 [Comment From Rep. Dave Upthegrove: ]
The first bill that the House passed this year was the Jobs Act of 2010.

10:22 House Dem II:
Linville: This budget is actually smaller than our last biennial budget. This is the first time since 1951 that the budget we pass is smaller than the budget preceding it. Our general fund budget is actually smaller than it was in 2005. Last year, we balanced our budget with no new taxes. This year for every proposed dollar in new taxes, we've cut spending $4.40. There is an easy button in my office, but I've never used it nor has anyone on this floor. We're looking for our economy to recover and we're getting glimmers of good new. We're looking to get 12,000 new jobs and lead the state out of the recession.

10:22 House Democratic Caucus:
Seattle Times: State's job numbers grow for the first time since late '08

"One swallow doesn't make a summer, and one month of employment gains doesn't make a recovery.

But Washington's January jobs numbers, reported Tuesday by the state Employment Security Department, were the most promising in a long time: 12,400 net new payroll jobs, the first increase since November 2008 and the biggest one-month gain in nearly three years.

The report supported last week's projections by a respected research firm that Washington will lead all other states in job growth this year.

Steven Frable, an economist with IHS Global Insight, said demand for professional and business services, a sector in which Washington is strong, "should surge this year, while a rebound in house sales and homebuilding should give a lift to the battered construction industry."

10:23 House Dem II:
Linville: We're going to pass a budget tonight so we can negotiate with the senate and come up with a responsible spending plan. Please support the hard work of all the members of this body who have contributed to this plan.

10:23 House Dem II:
Roll call: 55-43. Budget passed.

10:23 [Comment From Geoff Simpson: ]
This budget doesn't represent my values. We will continue to cause great harm to our state as we have in recent years with this budget. Last session, we cut $3.3 billion, negatively affecting the elderly and vulnerable, school children, teachers, public safety, and other essential services. This session we will cut another $1.8 billion or more.

10:25 House Democratic Caucus:
Thanks to all for particpating in tonight's HDC liveblog. Hope you enjoyed it and found it informative. Good night and good luck.