WA GOP Senators release budget with no tax hike

OLYMPIA, Wash.-Washington State Senate Republicans have unveiled their proposal for a two-year operational budget that spends just over $55B aimed at restarting schools and bringing jobs back, while saving money for lower-income families.

"Our budget can do this, despite what you may have heard, we do not have a deficit in our budget and we can do this without more taxes. We have the money, but what we need now is the vision and the leadership", Sen. Lynda Wilson (R-Vancouver) said.

Part of the plan also spends $300M to address behavior health issues that have intensified in the state over the last year of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We create 330 community behavior health beds versus the Governor's 42", Sen. Sharon Brown (R-Kennewick) added. "We invest in mental health response teams so there is a mobile crisis response team in every corner and in between in the state".

The funding for the budget comes from some federal money and tapping into the state's "rainy day" fund.