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GOP Proposes Shifting Climate Commitment Act Revenue, Urges Savings and Permitting Reform for Housing
Summary
Republican leaders said existing Climate Commitment Act revenue could fund the Working Families Tax Credit and transportation needs, criticized proposed new taxes, and urged cuts and permitting reforms to address affordability and infrastructure maintenance.
Republican leaders at the press conference proposed reallocating existing revenue and finding savings rather than creating new taxes to address affordability, transportation and housing.
Senate Republican leader John Bridal, introduced earlier in the conference, said Republicans support using Climate Commitment Act revenue for targeted relief: "Working families tax credit is a good investment," he said, and added the state is "almost 2,000,000,000 a year in Climate Commitment Act revenue." Bridal also suggested investing in forest‑fire prevention and transportation maintenance as higher‑impact uses of that revenue.
On the budget, GOP leaders said they would look for savings by scrutinizing growth in middle management versus frontline services and by reallocating existing funds rather than raising taxes. They argued some spending growth outpaced caseloads in Medicaid, education and corrections, and suggested those trends indicate areas to target for savings.
On housing, leaders said increasing supply is required and that relying primarily on publicly built housing would be insufficient over the long term. They urged permitting reform, adjustments to energy codes and involvement of the private sector as ways to increase housing production more quickly.
On transportation, leaders proposed shifting operating revenues into a stable funding stream for upkeep and noted concerns that cap‑and‑trade related price increases further strain commuters; they also urged consideration of sales‑tax approaches tied to vehicle sales to fund long‑term transportation needs.
Republican leaders framed these proposals as alternatives to a broad income tax, and said they would press for these priorities as the legislature takes up the budget during the session.
