State Revenue Forecast Highlights Need for Legislature to Act on Revenue
Friday, February 12
The Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition, comprised of more than 130 organizations - including SEIU Healthcare 775NW - is opposed to further state budget cuts to education, health care, and other core services. The coalition issued the following statement in response to the official state revenue forecast issued today:
“The bottom line is that the underlying situation has not changed significantly. After billions in cuts last year, without new revenue the state is facing further cuts to education, health care and other core services so devastating that they will undermine the quality of life of working families across Washington State and seriously damage our economic future.
“Governor Gregoire and legislators have been anticipating the forecast since the start of the legislative session. With the forecast confirming that the state still faces severe cuts to core services without new revenue, now is the time to act.
“We can not afford the harm that further deep budget cuts will inflict on the people of Washington State. Increasing school class sizes, eliminating health care coverage for more than 100,000 Washington State residents, slashing funding for critical services for seniors, kids, and the vulnerable, and undermining environmental protections is the wrong approach.
“The Coalition will be urging our elected leaders in Olympia to move forward quickly on a responsible plan to close unfair tax loopholes and identify new sources of revenue, so that the core services upon which we all rely are preserved.”
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Rebuilding Our Economic Future Coalition is a coalition of more than 130 organizations - including SEIU Healthcare 775NW - opposed to further state budget cuts to education, health care and other core services. The Coalition is calling on lawmakers to find a more responsible approach to closing the current budget gaps that includes closing tax loopholes and identifying new sources of revenue.