OLYMPIA — Two North Olympic Peninsula lawmakers have defended the House’s two-year state budget, calling it a package of difficult but necessary cuts.
Sequim Democrats Kevin Van De Wege and Steve Tharinger voted for the budget Saturday, which includes $4.4 billion in cuts.
The state Senate will introduce its proposed 2011-2013 budget this week. Both versions will have to be reconciled before a final budget is approved.
The state is facing a projected deficit of $5.1 billion.
“I would define it as a responsible budget in very tough economic times,” Van De Wege said Friday, the day before the House voted 53-43 to pass the budget.
Said freshman Rep. Tharinger: “For my first time down here, it’s obviously a pretty painful budget with the cuts we’re talking about . . . it’s about as good as we can do.”
Van De Wege, as House majority whip, had the responsibility last week of tallying how Democratic lawmakers expected to vote on the budget and also to gain their support for it.
The top concern among his colleagues, he said, was cuts to education.
The budget cuts nearly $485 million from higher education (see story on Page A1) and $216 million from programs intended to reduce class sizes from kindergarten through fourth grade.
Both Van De Wege and Tharinger said the budget was about the best lawmakers could come up with without raising new taxes.
Even ending many tax exemptions was out of the question since it would require a two-thirds vote, they said.
The budget assumes that the state will privatize wholesale liquor distribution. The move would generate $300 million in up-front revenue.
Tharinger said Friday he hadn’t studied that aspect of the budget too closely so he couldn’t comment on whether he supports it.
He added that it would be a “challenge” to determine how much money it would raise down the line.
“I’m not convinced that the money is there,” he said.
Van De Wege said he wasn’t ready to take a position on the issue.
Last week, the two lawmakers also voted for a bill that eliminates cigarette tax contributions to education.
Instead, the 60-cents-per-pack tax, if passed by the Senate, will go toward the state’s general fund.
How they voted
Here’s how Van De Wege and Tharinger voted on a few other noteworthy bills last week:
■ SB 5011, provides for an aggravated exceptional sentence against homeless people.
The bill passed the House 92-1 on Tuesday; Tharinger and Van De Wege voted yes.
■ SB 5025, makes prison inmates ineligible for penalty awards under the state public records act.
The bill passed the House 94-0 on Wednesday; Tharinger and Van De Wege voted yes.
■ SB 5168, reduces the maximum sentence for gross misdemeanors by one day to avoid deportation of legal immigrants.
The bill passed the House 93-2 on Tuesday; Tharinger and Van De Wege voted yes.
■ HB 1277, requires the state Department of Social and Health Services to use additional funds to handle complaints involving long-term care facilities and create a quality accountability program for residential care services.
The bill passed the House 57-40 on Wednesday; Tharinger and Van De Wege voted yes.
The lawmakers represent the 24th District, which includes Clallam and Jefferson counties and a portion of Grays Harbor County, along with Jim Hargrove, D-Hoquiam, in the Senate.
Last week, seven of Hargrove’s bills passed the House.
They are:
■ SB 5300, encourages the use of natural resources from the state in public buildings.
The bill passed 95-2 Wednesday.
■ SB 5395, creates a statewide panel to review deaths involving domestic violence.
The bill passed 97-0 Wednesday.
■ SB 5452, provides for notification to law enforcement when a person committed for criminal insanity is released.
The bill passed 92-0 Thursday.
■ SB 5485, requires the University of Washington to review the efficiency of different building materials.
The bill passed 91-1 Thursday.
■ SB 5656, creates the state Indian Child Welfare Act.
The bill passed 79-18 Wednesday.
■ SB 5691, eliminates certain state assistance for victims of criminal acts.
The bill passed the House 92-0 Thursday.
■ SB 5025, makes prison inmates ineligible for penalty awards under the state public records act.
The bill passed 94-0 Wednesday.
Van De Wege and Tharinger voted for Hargrove’s bills.
Some of the noteworthy bills passed by the Senate last week include:
■ HB 1105, requires a child fatality review when the death of a minor receiving services from DSHS is suspected of being caused by abuse or neglect.
The bill passed 49-0 Monday; Hargrove voted yes.
■ SB 5806, creates a statewide raffle to benefit veterans.
The bill passed 46-2 Wednesday; Hargrove voted no.
■ HB 1899, changes the penalty that may be assessed against a public entity under the Public Records Act to between zero and $100 for each day it unlawfully failed to provide requested records. Currently, the minimum penalty is $5 a day.
The bill passed 49-0 Wednesday; Hargrove voted yes.
■ HB 1422, authorizing a forest biomass aviation fuel pilot project.
The bill passed 47-0 Monday; Hargrove didn’t vote.
■ HB 1037, limits an inmates ability to file certain court actions without paying filing fees if they’ve had three previous actions dismissed on the grounds they were frivolous or malicious.
The bill passed 49-0 Monday; Hargrove voted yes.
■ HB 1172, allows beer and wine tasting at farmers markets.
The bill passed 37-12 Tuesday. Hargrove voted no.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
