Area legislators worried about Inslee's priorities

OLYMPIA - State lawmakers and Gov. Jay Inslee were able to agree on at least one thing during his State of the State address Tuesday - their support for the Seahawks.

But local Republican legislators criticized other parts of the annual address, in which the governor called for education funding, revenue for transportation projects and a statewide minimum wage increase.

Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake, said she was very concerned about the sustainability of Inslee's proposal, and that his address "added more wants and needs" than his proposed budget had mentioned earlier.

"We have a lot more talking to do," Warnick said, who chairs the Republican caucus.

Rep. Cary Condotta, R-East Wenatchee, called the address the "least inspirational" he's seen.

"If he's trying to create bipartisanship, he definitely has not achieved that," Condotta said.

"It was all the same themes we've come to expect," he said.

Republicans took issue with Inslee's call for an increased minimum wage, noting that Washington currently has the highest in the nation. Inslee suggested a $1.50 to $2.50 an hour increase.

"Every job offers dignity, but not every job offers a living wage," Inslee said.

Rep. Brad Hawkins, R-East Wenatchee, was concerned by the request when the state's minimum wage is already indexed to rise with the cost of living. Republicans said an increase would hurt small businesses.

"I tend to think having more people working in our economy is good," Hawkins said.

Legislators said it would burden border counties trying to be competitive with states that require less pay.

"It's difficult for businesses when just across the river or across the state line they wouldn't have to pay those expenses," Warnick said.

Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, said it was disappointing to see "pervasive economic illiteracy" among the top spots in government, and that minimum wage increase would put people out of work.

Republican legislators were less critical of Inslee's plan to give business and occupation tax breaks to small businesses.

"While he may have some leadership in wanting to help start-up businesses, he has no focus or leadership in helping the business climate so those very same businesses don't fail," Sen. JanŽa Holmquist Newbry said. "It was very polarizing."

He announced a $200 million plan to better fund K-12 education in the wake of last year's Supreme Court decision that said underfunding education was against the state constitution.

"Promises don't educate our children," Inslee said. Last week, the court said Washington had not made enough progress on increasing funding.

Inslee said the plan includes a cost-of-living adjustment for teachers, which was not required by the Supreme Court's decision.

He also focused on the controversial transportation revenue package, which includes an added gas tax of about 10 cents per gallon.

The governor warned that inaction on transportation revenue would lead to a large decrease in the maintenance budget over the next few years, and many bridges in the state becoming structurally deficient.

"If education is the heart of the state, transportation is its backbone," he said.

Inslee also announced healthcare initiatives for children, and called for action on climate change.

"The problem is revenues for the state of Washington haven't improved, they're rather flat. The governor didn't give us any specifics about where this money's coming from," Parlette said.

Legislators also expressed concern that Inslee might expect more than could be accomplished in a 60-day session.

Hawkins said he was concerned that Inslee was revising his "hold-steady" plan for the non-budget year.

"The governor needs to understand this is Washington state, not Washington D.C.," he said.

Inslee ended his address saying "we can do hard things."

"I'm confident we can find agreement before this session ends," Inslee told the legislature.