Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Taxes And Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Senate Republicans criticize Democratic tax push and press for $100 million for law enforcement
Summary
Senate and House Republican leaders held a press availability to criticize recent Democratic tax proposals, highlight law‑enforcement funding in House Bill 2015 and present a GOP budget alternative they say funds public safety without raising taxes.
Senate and House Republican leaders used a news availability to sharply criticize a wave of Democratic tax proposals and to press for more funding for law enforcement as the legislative session enters its final days.
Senate Republican leader John Braun said the caucus supports providing additional resources for police but warned that some proposals being advanced by Democrats would "drive up the cost of food" and other living expenses. He highlighted House Bill 2015 as a vehicle that would provide "about $100,000,000 for additional law enforcement officers," saying the bill had been improved in the Senate but was not in perfect form. "We have the revenue collection that came in earlier this week about $70,000,000 below forecast," Braun said, warning that unconventional budget moves carry risk.
Braun and Sen. Chris Gildan described differing views inside the Republican ranks: some members voted to keep HB 2015 alive after the Senate added local flexibility and a sunset on a councilmatic sales-tax increase; others objected to provisions that could allow money to be spent on non‑law‑enforcement items. Gildan also cited a GOP standalone budget proposal he said fully funds state services and would include $100 million for hiring law-enforcement officers without raising taxes.
House Republican deputy leader Chris Corey criticized what he called "budget gimmicks," saying prepaying revenue shifts costs into future years and urging lawmakers to set priorities rather than rely on short-term fixes. Both leaders framed their push for law-enforcement funding as a response to what they described as public-safety shortfalls and criticized the process by which late-night tax bills were read and heard with little public notice.
With roughly 10 days left in the session, Republican leaders said they would continue pressing for their budget priorities and for modifications to tax bills they said were too aggressive and would harm Washington households.
The news availability concluded with reporters asking follow-up questions about specific provisions and to probe GOP alternatives; leaders said they would continue to engage as budget negotiations progress.
