Washington Democrats have spent years squandering taxpayer dollars, and now they’re pretending the only solution to their self-inflicted budget disaster is to raise your taxes yet again. But Senate Republicans just shattered that false choice with a responsible, sustainable budget plan that protects core services without hammering Washington families with more tax hikes.
The Senate GOP’s $ave Washington budget proves that lawmakers can balance the books without raiding the rainy-day fund or burdening taxpayers. This $75.6 billion proposal grows spending by 5%—a reasonable increase considering state revenue is expected to climb by 7.6%—while still investing in education, public safety, and critical services.
A New Approach That Puts Families First
Democrats have run Olympia like a kid with an unlimited credit card, spending wildly and now crying about a $6.6 billion shortfall of their own making. But instead of tightening their belts, they’re planning even more tax increases,despite the fact that the state will collect an extra $5 billion in tax revenue.
Senate Republicans offer a third way—one that prioritizes the needs of Washingtonians, not government bureaucrats. Their plan:
- Stops the automatic pay raises for state employees and social-service providers, replacing them with a $5,000 bonus—a fair approach that respects workers while recognizing the state’s fiscal limits.
- Redirects $4 billion from existing funds to ensure vital services remain intact.
- Cuts waste and inefficiency while shielding essential services like public safety, K-12 education, and support for vulnerable populations.
Democrats’ Tax-and-Spend Addiction vs. Real Fiscal Responsibility
While Democrats want to increase tuition, jack up fees, and drain the rainy-day fund, Senate Republicans are keeping Washington affordable. Here’s what the $ave Washington budget achieves:
- K-12 education gets the largest budget share in six years, including hundreds of millions more for special education and classroom materials—which Inslee’s tax-hike budget ignored.
- College tuition remains affordable by maintaining the historic 2015 tuition cap.
- 1,800 new slots for in-state college students—ensuring Washington families don’t get pushed aside for out-of-state applicants.
- Public safety investments to support hiring more law enforcement officers, following through on Governor Ferguson’s own proposal.
- A freeze on state park, hunting, and fishing license fees—contrasting sharply with Inslee’s plan to jack them up.
- Eliminates middle management bloat by cutting 10% of unnecessary bureaucracy while protecting front-line workers.
This is what responsible governance looks like. Democrats want to take more of your money to clean up their financial mess—Senate Republicans are proving they don’t have to.
With the $ave Washington budget, there’s no excuse for tax hikes. The numbers work, the priorities are clear, and most importantly—it respects taxpayers. Now it’s up to Democrats: will they finally act responsibly, or will they continue their reckless tax-and-spend addiction at your expense?
