Chopp went first with his “Opening Day” speech that touted Democrats’ investments in children’s health and education, and the Legislature’s work to keep Boeing’s jet-making in the state in 2003. He also called for major investment in public construction projects but avoided specific mention of a tax increase Democrats want to protect programs like the Basic Health Plan, Disability Lifeline, and schools.
DeBolt followed, with a speech that, in effect, blamed Democrats for failing to take up 10 Republican ideas eight years ago that he said could have helped produce more jobs in the state. Some of those ideas include loosening land-use rules and changing Initiative 937’s language to treat hydro-electric power as a renewable resource that is cheaper than alternatives.
“Manufacturing was our backbone,” DeBolt said. “Our backbone has been broken.’’
The Chehalis lawmaker also attacked Democrats’ approach to funding education, which has seen cuts to funding in recent years. Of course, Republicans also have proposed similar cuts. Democrats now are looking for a tax package to blunt further cuts, which DeBolt opposes.
“We need to fund education first,” DeBolt said. “Make children our first priority, not our last priority, and quit holding children hostage for a tax increase.’’
Chopp took a different tack, saying the Great Recession was spawned by “abject greed on Wall Street and banks that jettisoned the time honored principles of responsible banking.” He said the state must take steps to put people to work “renovating schools, building public works, creating housing, cleaning up the environment and meeting a number of other needs.’’
In remarks that seemed pointed at DeBolt, Chopp said that sparing the Basic Health Plan and Disability Lifeline Medical program, which Republicans want to eliminate, might save 10,000 jobs.
Chopp laid out five goals – including jobs, funding basic education, saving the safety net from further cuts, ensuring equality under the law [for same-sex couples and for school districts reliant on property taxes] and providing what he called opportunities. In that vein, he mentioned tax reform as a way to provide more higher education resources.
Things were calmer in the Senate, where Democratic Sen. Ed Murray and Republican Sen. Joe Zarelli crafted a bipartisan budget last year. Their caucus leaders say they intend to do the same this year – working together as long as they can.
I hope to follow up tomorrow with comments from Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, and Senate Republican Leader Mike Hewitt of Walla Walla.
