OLYMPIA — With two weeks remaining in the regular legislative session, the 24th District’s legislators spent most of the past week focusing on the 2005-2007 state budget.
The state House passed its $26 billion, two-year budget late Friday night on a straight party line vote, 55-41.
As expected, the 24th District’s two representatives came down on opposite sides.
Rep. Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, voted yes; Rep. Jim Buck, R-Joyce, voted no.
The state Senate passed its budget, which totals about $70 million more than the House spending plan, by a 25-23 vote on March 30.
Sen. Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, voted yes.
Now the competing plans will be blended in a conference committee and presented to both chambers for a vote.
Kessler, Buck and Hargrove represent the 24th District, which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and part of Grays Harbor County.
For North Peninsula use
“I tried to get some things in that would be good for us. I think I did pretty well,” Kessler said.
The budget includes $350,000 for the Jefferson County Distance Learning program, which is done in cooperation with Peninsula College and some universities, and also benefits students in Sequim and Port Angeles, she said.
She also asked for money to fill federal budget cuts for domestic violence victims, Kessler said.
The House budget also funded Initiative 728 and Initiative 732 by increasing the cigarette tax, Kessler said.
I-728 requires using state reserves to reduce class sizes. I-732 requires automatic cost-of-living increases for all education employees, not just teachers.
The two initiatives were suspended by the cash-strapped Legislature in 2003. The House budget includes $138 million for I-728 and $139 million for I-732.
Cigarette taxes would increase by 60 cents a pack under the House budget proposal, along with a 50 cents per liter increase in the state liquor tax.
The House follows Gov. Christine Gregoire’s plan to reimpose a state tax on estates of more than $2 million. The state Supreme Court recently threw out the state “death tax.”
No general tax hikes, such as a sales tax increase, are proposed.
Community colleges
Kessler said the budget also adds funding so 5,100 more students can enroll in the state’s community colleges, including Peninsula College.
“I feel really feel good about our budget. It funds education, healthcare and families,” she said.
The budget also “backfilled” federal cuts in mental health funding, replacing $70 million of $80 million lost, Kessler said.
“We also ensured seniors could get care in their own homes, instead of going to assisted care facilities or nursing homes.
“Everyone says it’s never enough, though,” she said.
Buck’s objections
But Buck thinks the 2005-2007 spending plan that passed the House is too much.
He said the main problem with the House budget is the additional spending it includes now and in the future.
“If it had just spent the additional $739 million in projected revenue, we’d be all right,” he said.
“I’m looking for a budget that is within the means of the taxpayers without raising taxes and leaves an adequate reverse in the next two years in case of an emergency.”
He refuses to vote for any new taxes, which limited his ability to vote yes on the House budget, Buck said Friday afternoon prior to the vote.
“Either you are for responsible spending or you are not. Clearly this budget spends more than we take in,” he said.
“Just this two-year budget will require us to raise taxes in future years to pay for it.”