Rep. Condotta’s 2015 legislative session update, June 9

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It has been less than a week since I sent an email update, and while I do not what to inundate your inbox with email updates, I feel it is necessary to share with you the latest from Olympia.

Budget negotiations continue among the five corners - which consists of the governor's office, and Republicans and Democrats budget leaders from the House and Senate - and the parties are close to reaching an agreement on what the final budget spending number should be, but the hang up continues to be some House Democrats desire to raise or implement new taxes despite a record-breaking amount of tax revenue coming into the state.

Click Condotta's budget and special session update for my latest video with the details on negotiations and possible tax increases.

The frustration with the Democrats desire to raise taxes is that they have yet to vote for any tax proposal or plan. How can they consciously negotiate in good faith if they cannot prove there are 50 votes to support their spending plan or at the very least their plan to raise taxes?

I find it difficult to believe the votes are there, when you have that much revenue coming into the state. You cannot sell it philosophically or politically to the citizens of our state - that's why they haven't voted on it - and that's the frustration from the budget negotiation standpoint.

Unfortunately, this is politics. And while none of us like spending extra time in Olympia, it is necessary when we are battling to keep spending and taxes within reason.

I hope you find this update informative. Please let me know if you have any questions. The second special session is scheduled to end on June 28.  Let's hope we will not be talking about a third special session as the date approaches.

Sincerely,

Cary Condotta