No spending spree, House Democrats say

OLYMPIA — House Democrats, insisting that "We're not on a spending spree," on Tuesday proposed a $478 million supplemental state budget that plows money into health care and education, while leaving nearly $1 billion in reserves.

The House plan also removes the $5 day-use parking fee from state parks and adopts $56 million worth of business tax breaks, including one for aerospace suppliers.

The House and Senate supplemental budgets are fairly close in spending, savings and tax cuts, but resolving differences could be difficult on some points, said House Appropriations Chairwoman Helen Sommers, D-Seattle.

The House, for instance, wants $25 million for a new housing program, and the two chambers have somewhat different tax-cut lists.

The House's relative restraint in spending surprised some observers who had expected the more liberal House to write a fatter budget.

Conservatives still were unhappy, saying majority Democrats in both chambers are too willing to spend down the state's projected reserves of nearly $1.6 billion.

"The Democrats just don't seem to know when to say 'no,' or 'enough,' " said Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, ranking Republican budget leader.

Perhaps anticipating the new wave of criticism that quickly materialized, House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, told a budget news conference, "We're not on a spending spree. To say we are spending-crazy ... is crazy. We are being very responsible."

The House budget is expected to clear the full House on Friday. The proposal includes more spending for children's health care, expansion of the Basic Health Program for the working poor, remedial help for high-schoolers struggling with the Washington Assessment of Student Learning and economic development.

Lawmakers face a March 9 adjournment deadline.

After the two houses and the governor hammer out a final agreement, the new spending will be added to the two-year, $26 billion budget that was adopted last spring.

The budget includes $171 million for K-12, including $31 million for WASL help, and $5 million for a 1 percent pay bump when teachers hit their 25th year.

The proposed $46 million boost for higher education includes 230 enrollment increases in high-demand fields and startup funds for an Everett branch campus of the University of Washington.

The budget includes more than $50 million for the prison system, $13 million for resource agencies and $122 million for the Department of Social and Health Services.

The House agrees with the Senate's plan for a $49 million contribution to the state's pension system and $300 million more for pension reserves.