Washington GOP leaders criticize Democratic budget proposals, propose tax-free Senate alternative

Republican lawmakers held a media availability in Olympia on Tuesday to criticize Democratic budget proposals released the previous day, arguing the plans would impose new taxes that harm job creation, raise costs for families and threaten the state’s fiscal reserves.

Representative Drew Stokesberry, the House Republican leader from the 31st District, said the Democratic majorities’ plans include what he called a ‘‘jobs tax’’ and an ‘‘innovation’’ or ‘‘wealth’’ tax that he warned would drive new businesses to states such as Florida and Texas. Stokesberry also listed a series of consumer-facing levies in the Democratic packages — including increases to the business-and-occupation tax, taxes on bottled beverages and short-term rentals, higher Discover Pass and hunting and fishing fees, and proposals he summarized as taxes on wireless devices, event tickets and a product he named ZYN. ‘‘They will literally be taxing jobs out of Washington,’’ he said.

Senate Republican Leader John Braun, of the 20th District, said the Senate Democratic budget does not fund additional law-enforcement hires that Governor Jay Inslee (as referenced by speakers) has sought and cautioned that proposals to raise the property-tax cap (from a 3% limit to inflation-plus-population, he said) would effectively pass higher property taxes onto homeowners and renters. Braun said some near-term K–12 increases appear beneficial, ‘‘but it’s the wrong year to do it’’ if they depend on punitive new taxes.

Both leaders faulted the size and scope of the Democratic spending increase. Stokesberry and other Republican speakers cited roughly a 9% spending increase in the first biennium and said the Democratic packages together could amount to $15 billion–$21 billion in new taxes (figures cited by speakers during the event). Stokesberry also said a policy change tied to Senate Bill 5083 would shift hospital costs onto private plans and, in his estimate, raise average family premiums by about $1,400 a year; when asked by reporters, he offered to provide staff calculations documenting that figure.

Senator Chris Gildan, the Senate Republican budget lead who joined the briefing, said the Senate Republican proposal would fund K–12 operating costs, special education and a $100 million law-enforcement hiring program the governor requested without proposing new taxes. ‘‘It can be done if you want to do it,’’ he said, describing a GOP alternative that he said avoids new revenue while preserving services.

Reporters pressed Republicans on specific items and process questions. A reporter asked whether some Republicans’ votes supporting a transportation gas tax amounted to mixed messaging; leaders said members make individual decisions and that isolated support for a transportation package does not imply endorsement of the full suite of Democratic operating‑budget tax increases. On reserves, Republicans warned that a Senate Democratic budget would drain the rainy day fund and reduce the operating balance to levels they described as risking the state’s credit rating.

Republican speakers also raised policy specifics they said they welcomed — for example, changes in Evergreen State College funding formulas and an end to a proposed state-run student loan program — but emphasized that those adjustments do not justify the overall tax-and-spend direction they criticized.

The press availability included a back-and-forth with reporters on how proposed changes would be implemented and on the data behind several Republican claims; leaders repeatedly asked for public hearings and more transparency from majority leaders. The group closed by reiterating their opposition to what they described as the majorities’ ‘‘punitive’’ tax approach and said they will continue negotiating alternatives in the coming weeks. The caucus said it will return for another media availability next Tuesday.