{"id":2389183,"date":"2025-01-11T14:09:55","date_gmt":"2025-01-11T19:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/incoming-gov-ferguson-describes-taxes-as-a-last-resort-for-wa-budget-deficit-washington-examiner\/"},"modified":"2025-01-11T14:11:24","modified_gmt":"2025-01-11T19:11:24","slug":"incoming-gov-ferguson-describes-taxes-as-a-last-resort-for-wa-budget-deficit-washington-examiner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/incoming-gov-ferguson-describes-taxes-as-a-last-resort-for-wa-budget-deficit-washington-examiner\/","title":{"rendered":"Incoming Gov. Ferguson describes taxes as a \u2018last resort\u2019 for WA budget deficit &#8211; Washington Examiner"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">32<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fincoming-gov-ferguson-describes-taxes-as-a-last-resort-for-wa-budget-deficit-washington-examiner%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2389183&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The content discusses Governor-elect \u200bBob Ferguson&#8217;s stance on addressing\u2062 Washington \u2063State&#8217;s budget deficit, stating that he views raising taxes\u2064 as a &#8220;last resort.&#8221; As he prepares for his term, Ferguson emphasizes the need too explore other options before considering any tax increases. The article likely explores his proposed strategies for managing the budget and the implications of \u200chis approach for the \u200cstate&#8217;s financial planning. However, more details would be available in the\u2063 full article.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Incoming Gov. Ferguson describes taxes as a &lsquo;last resort&rsquo; for WA budget deficit<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1932594\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>(The Center Square)&nbsp;&ndash;&nbsp;Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson has released his office&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nfib.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Governor-elect-Bob-Ferguson-Budget-Priorities.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><strong>budget priorities<\/strong><\/a>, which call for $4 billion in reduced spending by Washington state agencies while describing new taxes as a &ldquo;last resort.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The call for reduced spending is in response to a multi-billion shortfall for the upcoming 2025-2027 biennium, though the deficit for the next four years could be as high as $16 billion, according to Gov. Jay Inslee. As previously reported by The Center Square, the budget deficit is driven by an enormous&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_533f47cc-b0da-11ef-9571-371aab16ecd2.html\">increase<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;in state spending since 2014, as state&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_1684ba84-ab7a-11ef-8a1a-cf387e166d73.html\">revenue<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;is currently at <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\">record-highs due<\/a> in part to the Legislature enacting dozens of new taxes over the past decade.<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson&rsquo;s rhetoric is at odds to an extent with the philosophy of Inslee&rsquo;s budget&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thecentersquare.com\/washington\/article_58a9661e-bcb7-11ef-a4ed-47faaddbfd90.html\">proposal<\/a><\/strong>; though Inslee called for reduced spending and freezes to new spending, his budget would also add $4 billion in new taxes, primarily through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/newsom-trashes-suggestions-he-supports-a-wealth-tax-after-wall-street-journal-editorial\/\" title=\"Newsom denies backing wealth tax amid Wall Street Journal criticism\">controversial wealth tax<\/a> on millionaires that has drawn criticism over its potential impact on the state&rsquo;s economy. Inslee defended his budget on the basis that budget cuts during the Great Recession caused long-term problems for various state services.<\/p>\n<p>Regarding Inslee&rsquo;s budget, Ferguson wrote that &ldquo;I can say that I agree with some of those decisions, including the housing investments that are outlined in this report. Others <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/house-republican-panel-releases-counter-report-on-jan-6-2\/\" title=\"House Republican Panel Releases Counter Report on Jan 6\">require additional scrutiny<\/a>. While these investments have merit, we cannot afford all of them in this budget climate.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson also wrote that &ldquo;the reductions will be challenging, but ultimately, I believe they will improve our capacity to serve the people. We must review every program in state government through the following lens: Is this program more important than guaranteeing universal school lunches to every Washington student? Is it more important than childcare access for small business employees?&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Although some Democrat lawmakers have perceived the defeat of several anti-tax initiatives in November as a &ldquo;mandate&rdquo; for new revenue, Ferguson wrote that &ldquo;Washingtonians expect that we will increase revenue as a last resort. I will not contemplate additional revenue options until we have exhausted efforts to improve efficiency.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson&rsquo;s budget proposal drew cautious praise from Washington GOP Chairman Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, who&nbsp;<strong><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/JimWalshLD19\/status\/1877520846207451247\">wrote<\/a><\/strong>&nbsp;on X that &ldquo;as predicted. The incoming governor is (rightly) putting daylight between himself and the outgoing guy. Let&rsquo;s hope this holds up.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Ferguson will be sworn in as Washington&rsquo;s next governor on Jan. 15.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script>!function(){var g=window;g.googletag=g.googletag||{},g.googletag.cmd=g.googletag.cmd||[],g.googletag.cmd.push(function(){g.googletag.pubads().setTargeting(\"has-featured-video\",\"true\")})}();<\/script><script>var _bp=_bp||[];_bp.push({\"div\":\"Brid_1932594\",\"obj\":{\"id\":\"27789\",\"width\":\"1280\",\"height\":\"720\",\"stickyDirection\":\"below\",\"video\":\"1932594\"}});<\/script><script defer src=\"https:\/\/services.brid.tv\/player\/build\/brid.min.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Incoming Gov. Ferguson views taxes as a &#8216;last resort&#8217; for WA&#8217;s budget deficit, proposing $4 billion in spending cuts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2389184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160623172-1-1024x683.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[42875,38510,48329,10964,32667],"class_list":["post-2389183","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-budget-deficit","tag-fiscal-policy","tag-governor-ferguson","tag-taxes","tag-washington-state"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/AP24014160623172-1-1024x683.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2389183","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2389183"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2389183\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2389187,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2389183\/revisions\/2389187"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2389184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2389183"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2389183"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2389183"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}