Home | About Matt | News & Media | Email Updates | The Ledger | Contact
Dear Friends,
MORE REPUBLICAN SOLUTIONS SHOT DOWN
Throughout the 60-day regular session, and now, the special session, my Republican colleagues and I have offered many very good solutions to balance the state budget without raising taxes. Unfortunately, single-party Democrat rule in Olympia continues to run roughshod over the citizens of Washington and the good hard-working employees in our state. Today was another example of why we need leadership changes at the state Capitol.
The House took up debate today on Senate Bill 6503, the so-called “furlough bill.” This is a measure that is supposed to save money in the budget by requiring certain non-union state employees to be on furlough for a certain amount of days per year. Unfortunately, the measure does not provide fairness across the board. Under the bill, many non-union state employees affected would have a reduction of 4 percent to 18 percent of their salaries as a result of furloughs.
My House Republican colleagues and I proposed solutions to provide fairness in this measure.
Amendment 1734 would reduce all state employees’ salaries by 1 ¾ percent without requiring furloughs. The amendment would save the same amount as proposed in the bill, but would not pick and choose winners and losers. About 26 percent of state employees are non-union. It’s not fair to ask them to carry the entire burden of furloughs for all the state.
Amendment 1736 would eliminate a special paid personal holiday state employees now receive.
Both of these amendments are good solutions to save millions of dollars in our state budget. Unfortunately, the Democrat majority shot down our solutions once again, because they are more interested in protecting the status quo and increasing your taxes than reforming the state budget.
I will continue fighting on your behalf for good, common sense solutions in the Legislature. I appreciate your support as we work to change the status quo in Olympia.
Thank you for the honor of allowing me to serve and represent you!
Sincerely,
Matt Shea