GOP likes what new governor has to say

As they were cheered from the gallery by friends and family and treated to a ukulele version of “America the Beautiful,” state lawmakers gathered Jan. 15 for the opening of the 2025 Legislature.

“As long as we stay focused on making sure people are better off by our decisions, we will get through our challenges and we will keep moving this state forward,” said Rep. Laurie Jinkins, D-Tacoma, who was elected as speaker of the House for the sixth time.

However, some were not celebrating.

Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn – who was nominated against Jinkins – said, “Washington keeps falling further behind because of choices the state and this body have made.”

He said he believes taxes are increasing prices across the state, and government is spending too much.

There is a projected budget deficit of at least $10 billion over the next four years, and Republicans want to cut spending to fix the problem. At the same time, they hope to remove taxes on items such as prepared food and diapers.

Democrats say they are more open to increasing revenue to help with the deficit, including a wealth tax proposed by Gov. Jay Inslee in December. However, they understand the budget needs to be “scrutinized,” Jinkins said, but hope to avoid “harmful cuts” to schools, childcare or healthcare.

Gov. Bob Ferguson is striking a more moderate position. He said he is skeptical of the wealth tax and has proposed a 6% cut across all state agencies. Other issues confronting the legislature include the decline in the motor vehicle fuel tax, the main source of transportation revenue. Cars have gotten more efficient and electric vehicles more popular, so legislators are looking at a road usage charge where drivers pay a certain amount per mile. Legislators will also look at how money from the Climate Commitment Act is allocated. The CCA, enacted in 2021, funds projects that reduce carbon emissions, but Republicans say they hope to use some of that money for other things.

Public safety will also be a priority. “We have the fewest police officers per capita of any state in the country,” Stokesbary has repeatedly pointed out.

One of Ferguson’s campaign promises was to add $100 million in funding over the next biennium to help recruit more police.

Education will be another priority.

Sen. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, said, “We know that we have districts around the state that are in various states of financial distress as a result of our failure to provide adequate funding.” However, Republicans want to hold teachers and students more accountable. “We have spent more money than ever into the K-12 system,” said Stokesbary, “and we’re not getting results for it. Half of our students are failing reading standards; nearly two-thirds are failing math standards.”

Stokesbary said students are failing despite high teacher salaries. Finally, rent stabilization is an area of “significant interest” for the Senate Democrats, Pedersen said. Republican House members voted against rent stabilization last session.

Inauguration

Ferguson was sworn in and legislative members, state employees and the public celebrated at the inaugural ball Jan. 15.

Shortly after being sworn in, the new governor signed three executive orders. The first directed the Department of Health to convene with healthcare providers and reproductive health experts to identify strategies to protect reproductive health in Washington.

“My administration will work with President Trump where we can,” Ferguson said. “We will stand up to him when we must, and that most certainly includes protecting Washingtonians’ reproductive freedom.”

The other executive orders: one directing state housing agencies to streamline their processes, and another requiring state agencies to cut down on processing times for permits and licenses. If they fail to deliver on their timelines, the order requires them to provide the service for free.

As for the looming budget crisis, he said he would not sign a budget with unrealistic revenue growth projections and would veto bills that defer major spending obligations more than four years after their adoption.

“I’m not here to defend the government,” Ferguson said. “I’m here to reform it.”

Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, said he was pleasantly surprised by Ferguson’s speech, saying that he shares a lot of the values of the Republican Party.

“We’re going to hold him accountable to his promises to the people in Washington,” Braun said.

Stokesbary also was impressed. “It’s the first time we’ve had a governor, since I’ve been here, that seems to live on this planet,” Stokesbary said.

Budget cuts

Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled a budget-cutting plan to ease a projected $12 billion statewide budget deficit during a 2025 legislative preview in Olympia Jan. 9. “Washingtonians expect that we will increase revenue as a last resort. I will not contemplate additional revenue options until we have exhausted efforts to improve efficiency,” Ferguson said.

Ferguson proposes cutting spending by 6% across most state agencies and a 3% cut to four-year higher education institutions. The cuts are projected to save $4 billion. Public K-12 education, community and technical colleges, public safety agencies, and entitlement benefits are not affected.

In December, outgoing Gov. Jay Inslee proposed a wealth tax to make up the projected deficit, which would tax residents who are worth $100 million or more. But Ferguson is skeptical about that idea.

Ferguson also shared his previously proposed plans to invest in affordability, transportation and public safety. He is proposing an additional $100 million over two years to hire more law enforcement officers in the state. Additionally, Ferguson said he wants to accelerate getting more ferries in operation.

“I intend to spend some time making sure I understand how we got to this level of a shortfall, and to make sure that I, as a governor, do everything I can to make sure this doesn’t happen again,” Ferguson said.

Elway poll

Meanwhile, a poll shows voters want legislators to cut spending but also support spending more on specific programs.

“People are not anti-government,” pollster Stuart Elway said during the legislative preview. “People want government to work and to provide needed services but done efficiently and effectively.”

The poll asked voters what they believed was the cause of the deficit. 40% said governmental waste and overspending.

However, the poll showed: 74% support more funding for K-12 education; 73% support more for police; 68% support limiting annual rent increases; 66% believe Washington should provide free lunches at schools; 63% favor more funding for affordable housing; and 61% want the state’s tax structure revised.