Wins and losses: WA state legislative leaders share takeaways on this year’s session; Gov. Ferguson shaped budget, but left some scratching their heads

Wins and losses: WA legislative leaders share takeaways on this year’s session

The Center Square — The Senate minority leader’s biggest regret is the massive tax increases pushed through by Democrats to balance what they argued was a $16 billion operating budget shortfall over the next four years. Republicans contend the shortfall was less than half that size, but for the bill coming due on expanded programs and services promised in previous sessions, which they said could have been pushed out. “We didn’t need to raise taxes,” Braun continued. “You saw the budget proposed by the Senate Republicans … that was thoughtful, showed restraint and lived within our means. We didn’t need to tax people, and the impact on affordability is going be enormous across the state on everything. Food, gas, housing, transportation, childcare, healthcare, all of that is in some way affected by these new taxes, and it’s going to make it more expensive, and it didn’t need to be.”

Gov. Ferguson shaped budget, but left some scratching their heads

The Seattle Times — Overall, while the governor’s demands shrank the budget from where legislative Democrats had started, the operating budget sent to his desk still raises state spending in the 2025-27 biennium to nearly $78 billion, about $6 billion higher than the current two-year budget. Ferguson can sign the budget or veto it. He can also use his line-item veto authority to cut specific spending or policy items. The deadline for him to make a decision is May 20. $

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