Republican Shutdown Looms
On July 1, our state government could shutdown for the first time in history.
For months, the Senate Republican majority has refused to participate in comprehensive budget negotiations. Although progress has been made in certain issue areas, Republican negotiators have taken a “my way or the highway” approach to some of the toughest challenges we face. This is especially true with regards to the revenue necessary to pay for schools and essential services. Republicans have insisted on a property tax only solution, which would increase the cost of living for working families in Seattle while adding little new money to our schools. This is unacceptable.
Washington has the most upside-down tax system in the nation, and we cannot continue to cut essential services and overburden only low and middle-income families in order to balance the budget. A shutdown would be devastating to Washingtonians across our state, hurting families, kids, workers and the most vulnerable. In our district alone, some 3,700 families could suddenly be without child care just as school lets out.
Republicans need to share Democrats’ sense of urgency and help us solve this problem now.
Call lawmakers at
1-800-562-6000
to share your views on the budget and possible government shutdown.
