Budget & Taxes

Democrats stay with high-tax budget that will hit low-income, marginalized communities harder
April 24, 2021
OLYMPIA… The final 2021-23 operating-budget agreement made public this afternoon by the Legislature’s majority Democrats is still a step backwards for Washington’s low-income families and marginalized communities, say budget leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus. Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, and Sen. Sharon Brown, R-Kennewick, also are critical of how legislators... Read More...
Delay in making budget public is unacceptable, says Wilson
April 22, 2021
OLYMPIA… Sen. Lynda Wilson says majority Democrats negotiating the new 2021-23 state budget should have had a final version ready for consideration before now – and it definitely shouldn’t take until Saturday, although that timeline has been predicted by the Democrat chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and... Read More...
E-Newsletter: Big (and mostly bad) bills still moving
April 16, 2021
Hello Friends and Neighbors, The final day of our 105-day session is a week from this Sunday. I mentioned in my previous report how there’s no excuse for going past that deadline when one party controls both houses of the Legislature… but sure enough, the chatter about an overtime session... Read More...
Next state budget should do more than ‘meet the moment’
April 01, 2021
OLYMPIA… If the Senate’s Democratic majority wants a new state budget that is truly historic, says Sen. Lynda Wilson, there are more good ideas to be had in the Republican alternative she will put before the full Senate today. “Earlier this week my Democratic colleagues spoke of ‘meeting the moment’... Read More...
Senate Democrats tie budget proposal to unconstitutional tax
March 25, 2021
Best parts of new plan mirror Republican spending ideas, says Wilson Sen. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver and Republican leader on the Senate Ways and Means Committee, offered this statement about the 2021-23 operating-budget proposal made public today by the state Senate’s Democratic majority. “The good news is this budget would make... Read More...
Wilson looking for taxpayer-friendly budget from Senate majority
March 24, 2021
Republican budget leader notes progressive property-tax reform now within reach OLYMPIA… The Senate Democratic 2021-23 operating-budget proposal is expected to become public Thursday, and Sen. Lynda Wilson says she’ll be looking for it to be at least as taxpayer-friendly as the budget Senate Republicans proposed Feb. 11. “I’m anticipating the... Read More...
Senate Republican leaders denounce passage of income-tax bill
March 06, 2021
OLYMPIA… Key leaders in the Senate Republican Caucus reacted strongly today after the Senate’s Democratic majority approved legislation to create a state income tax, despite knowing an income tax has been unconstitutional in Washington since 1932. Since 1934, Washington voters have rejected 10 attempts to enact an income tax, either through... Read More...
Senate Republicans unveil budget to help state restart and recover
February 11, 2021
Plan to get schools open and people back to work also doesn’t need more taxes OLYMPIA… Less than one-third of the way through the 2021 legislative session, Senate Republicans have stepped forward with a 2021-23 budget proposal aimed at restarting schools and bringing jobs back, while saving money for lower-income... Read More...
E-Newsletter: Where’s the pandemic relief?
January 29, 2021
Hello Friends and Neighbors, Week three of our very unusual legislative session is over. I’ll start this report by thanking everyone who has already phoned, emailed, or written to me about issues or specific bills. As I figured, becoming the budget leader for our Senate Republican Caucus has placed many... Read More...