Optimistic statement from State Senate leaders

OLYMPIA – Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown and Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, the chair of the budget-writing Senate Ways and Means Committee, issued the following statement regarding today’s state revenue forecast:

“To families who are sending their children into more crowded classrooms, who are paying much more for their college classes, or who have seen the options for caring for an ill relative diminish, today’s forecast is no surprise. Their economic situation has not improved, and so neither has Washington state’s. 

“Through three years of the Great Recession, we’ve cut $10 billion in public services. Today’s forecast dropped another $122 million to take the total reduction in the forecast since June to over $2.2 billion. As legislators, we have a responsibility to balance the budget, and we will. But we also have a responsibility to our neighbors to help our communities recover and thrive. 

“Working together, we can meet both those responsibilities. We are open to all options, and committed to finding a path forward that the people of Washington will support.”

Sen. Maralyn Chase represents the 32nd District, which includes Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, parts of Edmonds, Finn Hill, and Kirkland, in the state senate.