OLYMPIA – Sen. Patty Kuderer, D-Bellevue, today released the following statement on the 103rd day of the 105- day legislative session as Senate Republicans refuse to negotiate a final budget and brought forward a capital gains tax without the context of a budget:
“I refuse to lend my name or reputation to a political stunt. Forcing a piecemeal vote on potential budget revenue sources outside of the entire budget agreement is not serious negotiation.
“From day one of this session, we knew we would have to make difficult decisions in order to meet our paramount duty and amply fund K-12 basic education in our state. From day one, we knew this would be a difficult budget year given the slim majorities in the House and the Senate. We were prepared, willing and able to expend the effort toward a compromise budget. The Republicans instead just want to engage in gimmicks. As of this point, they remain unwilling to negotiate.
“I take great pride in representing the 48th Legislative district in the Senate in Washington state. We are not the ‘other Washington’ and we work together to work through our differences to create compromise for all Washingtonians.
“Flat out refusing to negotiate as Senate Republicans continue to do is not the way we work. It is unproductive and childish when everyone else is ready and waiting at the table.
“Our 1.1 million public school children and their teachers should not be held hostage as Senate Republicans play games. The business of the Washington State Senate is not a game. The issues we face are serious, requiring difficult decisions by serious people, not political tricks.
“I am ready to vote for a limited capital gains tax, but not in a vacuum as it was presented to us today. Striking a grand bargain means you negotiate both expenditures and revenues at the same time – not on an ad hoc basis. No business would pay a bill without an invoice. But that is what Senate Republicans wanted us to vote on today.
“Our state tax system is broken and the most unfair in the nation. Placing a majority of the tax burden on our low-wage earners is unfair and immoral. A capital gains tax will help create a more equitable tax structure where the top one percent invests a bit more of their wealth to help our 1.1 million students. Our state needs to adopt a tax structure that brings tax fairness to all Washingtonians.
“I am deeply disappointed that so much critical time was wasted on the political stunt of bringing up tax bills with no chance of passing without a go-home operating budget. If Republicans spent half as much effort on negotiating an operating budget than they did on trying to bring tax bills to the floor that they knew would fail we would be finished on time. “
