Washington State – Governor Bob Ferguson was held behind a podium for about an hour and a half recognizing that he agreed to do what he said that he did not want two months ago and considerably increase taxes.
“I said, hey, we are not going to be able to get out of this. It has become just as clear at the start of the process that we are not going to get out,” said Ferguson, anticipating the question in the minds of most journalists in the room. “The budget I signed today protects the basic services.”
But Ferguson also did not denote the probable impact on most residents of Washington of the package of $ 9 billion, or on the business community from the slew new sources of income, in particular B&O, property, sales and the increase in the gallon of 6 cents has a tax gallon.
“We currently have income options.
Related: Tuesday is the deadline for Governor Ferguson to sign the budget of almost $ 78 billion in Washington
Ferguson had until Tuesday to sign the budget balancing package and avoid a special session. He vetoed the parties of five budget invoices which eliminate the planned studies, working groups and subsidies for specific programs.
Republicans of the Chamber and Senate have long argued that the deficit was caused by excessive income estimates and new expenses in programs. Ferguson had delivered a measured tone throughout the budgetary cycle, even winning the praise of the Republicans for having threatened to oppose his veto to a tax on the wealth which ultimately killed this idea.
But on Tuesday, these same Republicans castigated Ferguson.
“These new taxes and costs will crush families who already fight against an accessibility crisis and strike employers who are still trying to recover,” said the Republican budget for the Travis Couture Chamber in ALLLYN in a statement.
“Last month, Governor Ferguson told his own party to brake the tax increases and the gap course. Preserved.
See also: the governor of Washington signs a controversial bill on the rights of students
The senator of the republican state, Drew Macewen of the County Mason, said in a press release: “This budget is a major setback for the families of workers, small businesses and the economic future of our state. At a time when the Washington has already chosen to increase the living expenses, the rise in housing prices and inflation, the governor has chosen to increase the burden of tax families rather than pursuing the solutions for families.
There was no leak before the signing of the bill, and Ferguson admitted that he had kept his decisions near the vest because “I do not want to make a big public announcement that I should come back when I learn more about the budget. It was an approach that I thought appropriate for that, especially my first time. ”
Ferguson also seemed pessimistic during the discussion of future income projections in June or the way in which any federal reduction could ultimately have an impact on the situation, highlighting this budget of $ 78 billion protects the fund from rainy days and key money for housing, schools and public security. He also admitted that there could be unexpected consequences with the business world and that it was open to adjustments with its additional budget in December.
The governor said he didn’t want to call a special session to try to adapt before that. “I do not think that anyone is enthusiastic about a special session,” said Ferguson, towards the end of the marathon press conference. “By January, if the developments occur, look, it cannot be excluded. I do not try to ring the alarm here. I want to be clear”, but he added: “I obviously cannot exclude this.”
