Statement from Rep. Parker on November special session
Today Gov. Christine Gregoire announced she would call the Legislature into a 30-day special session beginning Nov. 28. Rep. Kevin Parker, R-Spokane, agrees with the need for a special session and believes it should be used to make lasting changes to state government that benefit the economy. The 6th District lawmaker had this to say:
“I applaud the governor for her decision to call a special session. I'm ready to roll up my sleeves and be part of the solution to another budget shortfall. This is the time for real reform. The economic indicators point to a very slow economic recovery, so we cannot count on a great amount of revenue growth. However, revenues for the 2011-13 biennium are still projected to grow by about $2.1 billion, or 7.5 percent, from the 2009-11 biennium.
“In Spokane County, employment levels have not changed in twenty months, economic activity has not improved in two years, and the average household has the same spending capacity as it had in 1996. Our budget is unsustainable and the time for meaningful government reform is at hand so we can get Spokane and Washington working again.
“The solution is a three-prong approach: job growth, efficiencies and fundamental reform. All three are necessary for a sustainable budget. I continue to support solutions introduced earlier this year that can be passed now to create jobs and harness our state's entrepreneurial spirit. I hope we can look back on this special session and the 2012 session and be proud of what we did to bring new opportunities to the people of our state.”
Contact: Sarah Stewart, Public Information Officer, (360) 786-7720
