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Proposed Budget Would Undermine Environmental Protection Efforts

Posted by Andy Nicholas at Feb 05, 2010 08:00 PM |
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Washington enjoys a national reputation for the health of our environment and the beauty of our mountains, rivers, and forests. It is part of what helps us continue to attract new businesses and qualified, highly educated workers to the state. But it also can promote a false sense of security when it comes to the health of things like our air and water.

Right now our state is struggling with things like water pollution (see Sightline’s excellent report on stormwater runoff) and air quality (Tacoma was recently given a “dirty air” designation by the EPA, which named it one of the 31 most polluted places in the country). These are just examples.

Despite the need for state investments in natural resources, the current budget has taken significant steps backward. The budget signed by the Governor last May cut one-sixth of state general fund expenditures on natural resources, including conservation, forest management, water quality, food safety, and recreation.1

Natural Resources Pie
 

The Governor’s budget proposals would make matters even worse, impairing the state’s ability to deliver services essential to the health of our state, like keeping our air and water clean, and making sure toxic spills get cleaned up. Because the natural resources budget is just over one percent of state general fund spending, it can often get lost in the budget shuffle. But these are necessary investments in the health of our people and environment and require a more balanced approach than the further cuts proposed by the Governor. 

1. Total cuts to natural resources rise to 25% if cuts to state parks that were offset with new revenue sources are included. The natural resources budget includes the following agencies: Ecology, Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resources, State Parks and Recreation Commission, Agriculture, State Conservation Commission, Puget Sound Partnership, Growth Management Hearings Office, Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, Environmental Hearings Office, and Columbia River Gorge Commission.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Policy Agenda

We have released Framework for Prosperity, a comprehensive policy agenda for the 2013-2015 biennium. We make specific recommendations for targeted investments that would bring our state closer to providing prosperity for all Washingtonians. We also provide revenue options to help pay for those investments. Click on the image below to download a PDF of the agenda.

 

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Catch the Budget Beat

During the 2013 legislative session we will host regular Budget Beat calls and and podcaBudget Beatsts to bring you updates and breaking news from Olympia, timely policy analysis, and share resources and upcoming community events.

Check out the archive of Budget Beat calls and podcasts. 

Join the Budget Beat calls every other Friday at noon!  

Budget Matters 2012

Our first annual policy conference was a great success! More than 300 people came together to hear from policy makers, national and state policy experts, and community leaders from around the state. Our special lunch speaker was Van Jones.

Van jones at Budget Matters 

Here are some of the PowerPoint presentations from the break-out panels.

-The Affordable Care Act: Maximizing the Opportunities

-Building a Prosperity Economy in Washington State

-Building a 21st Century Revenue System

-Effective Messaging Strategies

For pictures and more information, check out our event page.