The vote was 63-33, shortly before midnight Friday. Here are just two views on the budget.

“This budget creates jobs in every corner of the state,” said Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, who chairs the House Capital Budget committee. “Right now at least 25 percent of the construction industry is sitting on its hands, waiting. We’re going to put them back to work.”

And the top Republican on that committee said,

"(N)ow is not the time to take on greater burdens of purchasing more public lands while not being able to adequately care for the land we currently own," said Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake. "Now is not the time to be spending our grandchildren’s money."

Here's more from both...

[More:]

April 25, 2009
Capital Budget will create jobs ‘in every corner of the state’

OLYMPIA – The House voted late yesterday on a $3.27 billion two-year construction budget that will keep plenty of contractors busy with repair and maintenance of public buildings, as well as new construction projects.

“This budget creates jobs in every corner of the state,” said Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, who chairs the House Capital Budget committee. “Right now at least 25 percent of the construction industry is sitting on its hands, waiting. We’re going to put them back to work.”

The biggest chunk of money in the budget goes to education-related projects. A total of $877 million is set aside for public schools and skills centers, including the school construction assistance grant program. This program throws a vital lifeline to school districts faced with a sudden, pressing repair need, like a leaky roof or a plumbing failure.

College and university campuses will receive funding for preservation and repair, as well as investments in new construction projects. The Miller Hall renovation project at Western Washington University and the Applied Technology and Classroom Building at the WSU-Vancouver campus are two projects that will move forward thanks to capital budget monies.

Aside from education, the recipient of the second-largest amount of capital budget funds is the state operating budget. For the 2009-2011 biennium, a total of $777.1 million in cash is being transferred to the operating budget to help close a record shortfall. The transfer is necessary in order to avoid even more drastic cuts to public education and health care.

“This one-time transfer represents jobs. It keeps teachers in classrooms. It keeps nurses caring for our most vulnerable citizens,” Dunshee said.

The budget received a welcome boost of $189 million in federal recovery dollars. $144 million is specifically to support housing priorities, such as the purchase and rehabilitation of foreclosed properties and the creation of affordable housing.

“These projects will help stabilize neighborhoods in communities across Washington,” said Rep. Timm Ormsby, D-Spokane, House Capital Budget committee vice-chair. “We’re grateful that the federal government recognizes the importance of affordable housing and is giving us some help.”

Overall, the budget reflects the reality of the current economic climate, while still making targeted investments for the long term. Additional highlights include:

* $732 million for higher education projects
* $100 million for affordable housing
* $26.8 million for Skills Centers throughout the state
* $28 million for the Building Communities Fund
* $7.5 million for Youth Recreational Facilities Grants
* $10 million for restoration and rehabilitation of historical buildings and other structures

The budget passed by a vote of 63 to 33 shortly before midnight Friday. The Senate will likely vote on it Saturday. The bill number is SHB 1216.

A somewhat opposing view...

Ranking Republican on Capital Budget Committee
votes against budget

Rep. Judy Warnick, ranking Republican on the Capital Budget Committee, voted against the state capital budget tonight.

The 13th District lawmaker says the usually agreeable budget has several components that will negatively affect communities and the state's long-term debt.

"We are in troubled times that call for prioritization," Warnick said. "I fought long and hard in budget negotiations to use our bonding capacity wisely, to fund projects that create jobs, fix buildings and maintain crucial infrastructure. Unfortunately, there are a several places in this budget that do not spend bonded dollars and dedicated funds wisely."

Warnick said many legislators voted against the capital budget because it spends irresponsibly during a recession.

Warnick expressed concern that $777 million taken from the capital budget for the operating budget assumes an increase in the state's bonding limit to make up for this loss.

"This budget shifts cash used for important community projects that create jobs in order to backfill poor spending practices in the operating budget," Warnick said. "This not only hurts the prospects of other community projects and school construction, it could hurt our state's bond rating. Right now families are watching their credit rating, just as the state should be concerned about its debt limit."

Warnick told colleagues on the floor that the state's natural resources are what make Washington the great state it is, but warned against spending further money on the acquisition of state lands during a recession.

"We cannot afford to purchase more property," Warnick said. "Make no mistake – I love our state’s wilderness, the rivers, the trails and our natural diversity. I am truly proud of our parks in Washington, I am proud of the progress we’ve made cleaning up our unique Puget Sound, I am proud of our natural resources and the care we have given them.
However, now is not the time to take on greater burdens of purchasing more public lands while not being able to adequately care for the land we currently own. Now is not the time to be spending our grandchildren’s money."

The House of Representatives passed the budget 63-33. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.