Olympia Democrats are back with another “supplemental” budget. Translation: the bill from their last spending spree came due, and now they want you to believe this is all very complicated and very unavoidable.
Let’s break it down.
Spend Now, Worry Later
The Senate’s new two-year operating budget clocks in at $79.3 billion — nearly $1.5 billion more than last spring’s already bloated plan. The House isn’t far behind at $79.2 billion.
And despite the spin, the state’s main operating account is projected to go $900+ million into the red in the first year of the next budget cycle.
But don’t worry. They say it’s “challenging.”
You know what’s also challenging? Balancing a checkbook without tapping your savings account.
Rainy Day Fund? More Like Spending Day Fund.
Both chambers want to siphon more than $700 million from the state’s rainy day reserves. The Senate alone proposes pulling $750 million. Gov. Bob Ferguson wanted even more.
Apparently, after years of record revenues and new taxes, Washington still can’t survive without cracking open the emergency piggy bank.
This is what happens when “one-time spending” becomes permanent government expansion.
Child Care on the Chopping Block
Here’s the kicker: while Democrats are growing government by billions, they’re cutting over $800 million from a child care program for low-income families over four years (in the Senate version).
So let’s recap:
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Government misconduct lawsuits? Fully funded — about $1 billion.
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Bureaucracy growth? On track.
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Low-income child care? Sorry, kids.
If Democrats weren’t paying out massive tort settlements tied to state failures, they claim spending wouldn’t be rising. That’s not a defense. That’s an admission.
The Phantom Income Tax
Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to pass a 9.9% income tax on earnings above $1 million. They’re already assuming more than $2 billion in revenue from it in the next budget cycle.
There’s just one tiny problem: they don’t expect the money to show up until 2029.
So yes, they’re budgeting money they don’t have yet to cover spending they already committed to.
That’s not fiscal policy. That’s fantasy accounting.
Raid the Pension. Redirect Climate Dollars. Repeat.
The House even approved backfilling climate funds with $569 million from a police and firefighter pension accountthey say is “overfunded.” Because when in doubt, raid another account.
They also want to sweep $375 million from a public works loan account, while juggling carbon auction dollars and pushing rebates around like Monopoly money.
At this point, the budget looks less like a plan and more like a shell game.
How Did We Get Here?
Last year, Democrats passed billions in new taxes to close what they called a “historic” deficit. Now we’re back in the same hole — even after revenue forecasts improved by $827 million.
This isn’t a revenue problem.
It’s a spending addiction.
Even House Republican Rep. Travis Couture called it out: grow government by another $2 billion, drain reserves, assume an income tax windfall, and avoid making hard decisions.
That’s the Democratic playbook.
The Bottom Line
Democrats control the House.
They control the Senate.
They control the Governor’s office.
And yet somehow, they still blame inflation, Republicans in Congress, and decades-old lawsuits for why Washington can’t live within its means.
At some point, voters have to ask: if record taxes, drained reserves, and new income taxes still aren’t enough… when does it end?
Apparently not this session.
Welcome to Olympia’s version of “fiscal responsibility.”
