House Dem blasts final budget as 'profoundly immoral'

April 25, 11:02 AMSnohomish County Progressive ExaminerChad Shue

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The Washington House of Representatives last night passed their final Operating Budget for 2009-2010 on a 54-42 vote. Thurston County Democrat Brendan Williams (22LD), after voting against its passage labled the budget "profoundly immoral" in an email to his constituents.:

Crowing about how an all-cuts budget “preserves our values” (when just four days ago it was publicly stated by a House budget leader that “People will die”), tonight the House voted, 54-42, for a devastating two-year state operating budget. 
 
The budget, making $5 billion in cuts, will lay off thousands of state and K-12 employees in the 22nd District, as well as savage the care that thousands of 22nd District senior citizens and those with disabilities are currently receiving.  I voted NO.

Rep. Brendan Williams (D-22)

Other House Democrats voting against final passage were John Driscoll (6LD), Laura Grant-Herriot (16LD), Bob Hasegawa (11LD), Mark Miloscia (30LD), Mike Sells (38LD), Geoff Simpson (47LD), and Pat Sullivan (47LD). In his email message Williams; currently serving his third term, laid the responsibility for what he termed a "cut-and-run budget" at the feet of House leadership.

"This is a profoundly immoral budget.  I do not blame our budget leads for this, but rather House leadership’s desire to avoid challenging citizens in an adult conversation about harsh budget realities. 
 
Essentially, this cut-and-run budget burns down what’s been accomplished the past four years.  It will quite potentially de-stimulate the state’s economy faster than federal action can restore it.  Yet today the messaging was switched from “people will die” to “cuts with a conscience.”

Williams blasted specific cuts to education and healthcare funding and called attention to two amendments that he offered to restore funding to adult day care and reducing class sizes (co-sponsored with Rep. Sells) that were turned back by the House. He wrote:

Among the cuts:
 

• A cut of over $1.2 billion to K-12 education.  And that’s after the Legislature voted for so-called education “reform” by 2018 (I voted NO). The real 2009 education reform is continuing neglect of kids and their teachers.

• A $503.4 million cut to higher education.  And that’s after the House voted to raise tuition by 30% (I voted NO).  Students will pay more & get less.

• An immoral looting of $196.5 million from funding for long-term care, those with developmental disabilities, and mental health.  And that’s after banking a $1.3 billion in additional federal Medicaid stimulus funds intended to maintain and boost care funding. Obama giveth & the Legislature taketh away.

• A $777 million reduction in health care funding, including such “compassionate” cuts as a $255 million slash of the Basic Health Plan, a $75 million cut to hospitals, a $55.3 million reduction in childhood vaccines, an $18 million reduction in pediatric rates, an $8.2 million reduction in maternity support, and, ironically ensuring that more poor children are born into state funding neglect, even a $4 million reduction in family planning.

• There’s a cruel expression that social services cuts “kick over wheelchairs.”  Amazingly, this budget is worse than even that awful expression . . . it cuts the money for wheelchairs themselves – and other durable medical equipment – by $15 million.

   

Williams ended his message to his constituents with a harsh slap at the budgeting process and the potential harm and pain that is to come as a result of the budget.

What a tragic day.  This is a broken system where political careerism and self-regard trumps the public interest.  And the 22nd District will suffer more for that fact than any other.

I have calls in to Rep. Williams as well as my own rep, MIke Sells for additional comments. The budget process continues in the Senate Ways and Means Committee today with an expected final vote by the full Senate sometime tomorrow - with the goal being to end the 105 day session neatly on time.

Peace,
Chad Shue