Sen. Leonard Christian, R-Spokane Valley. Credit: Washington State Senate.

OLYMPIA — Washington is headed into the red, and Sen. Leonard Christian says it’s what you expect when the Legislature adopts the most irresponsible budget of all time.

“It’s too bad they don’t have Academy Awards for recklessness,” said the Spokane Valley Republican. “This year’s budget would win a lifetime achievement award.”

Olympia learned Tuesday that the $77.9 billion budget approved by majority lawmakers in April already is in deficit, despite passage of the biggest tax increase in the history of the state. A new projection from the state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council says the state will run $421 million short during the current budget cycle, which ends June 30, 2027.

And the state’s budget problems won’t end there. State economists are projecting more red ink for 2027-29, giving the state a total deficit of $1.2 billion.
“Any way you look at it, this year’s budget bill was quite an accomplishment,” Christian said. “I don’t think we’ve ever seen things collapse this fast. This was the first revenue forecast since the current budget cycle began, and it looks like we’ve got a dumpster fire on our hands.

“This year’s Legislature passed the biggest tax increase the state has ever seen, a total $14.1 billion, with more than $9 billion going straight into the state general fund. And still that’s not enough. The economists are telling us there will be a slight slowdown in our national economy, and this hiccup is enough to put us under.

“This shows how irresponsible this year’s budget really is. Over the last five years our colleagues spent the state into a hole, and they reached the point this year where they either had to cut spending or enact a huge tax increase to cover it. Sadly, our majority colleagues took the easy way out and raised taxes without reconsidering our priorities. Because the Legislature failed to address the underlying problem, a state government that spends too much, we’re going to be back in the same boat next year, raising taxes again.”

Christian noted that this year’s budget bill was approved on a largely party-line vote, favored by legislative Democrats and opposed by all Republican members.

“Our governor is telling us this is all the fault of the fellow in the White House, and when he starts pointing fingers this soon, you know it’s going to be bad,” Christian said. “But I think our governor is too modest. Our problems were made right here in this Washington, and I hope those who are responsible get all the credit they deserve.”