Spending

The case for reform and a comprehensive approach to transportation policy

September 11, 2013

Below is an op-ed I recently submitted to the Seattle Times. They declined to publish it — saying they don’t print op-eds in response to things that have already been published — so I’m taking this opportunity to share it with you. Feel free to share your feedback with me... Read More...

Senate budget prioritizes education, government reform – without new taxes

June 08, 2013

Following the Senate’s passage of a $33.4 billion budget that does not rely on new taxes and invests more in education than the proposal approved by the House of Representatives this week, I released the below statement: “For the second time this year, the bipartisan Senate coalition has passed a budget... Read More...

Ericksen TV: Building a budget without raising taxes

April 18, 2013

Earlier this week, I recorded a brief video outlining the process the bipartisan coalition in the Senate went through to build a budget plan that makes substantial investments in K-12 and higher education without raising taxes. You can watch the video, which also outlines several bills I’m working on that... Read More...

Senate budget keeps promise to fund priorities without raising taxes

April 05, 2013

Today the Senate passed a budget that keeps our promise of making substantial investments in education without raising taxes. This is a good budget for Whatcom County. There are portions of this budget that we will continue to work on but now the debate is about how we spend, not... Read More...

Ericksen TV – Keeping our promise of a budget with no tax increases

April 04, 2013

In this week’s edition of Ericksen TV, I outline the operating budget plan brought forward by the Senate, highlighting the fact that the budget keeps the promise of funding priorities like education and environmental cleanup without relying on tax increases. Read More...

Supreme Court’s two-thirds tax threshold ruling presents opportunity to let voters ‘cement their will in the constitution’

February 28, 2013

This morning I released the following statement regarding a ruling from the state’s Supreme Court that the two-thirds tax approval threshold, approved by Washington voters five times, is unconstitutional: “The people of Washington state have expressed their desire for a higher bar for tax hikes many times, most recently in overwhelming... Read More...

Minority caucus tax proposals underscore need for higher bar for approval of tax hikes

February 12, 2013

Taxes proposed by members of the Senate’s minority caucus underscore the need for a constitutional amendment cementing a two-thirds legislative-vote threshold for approval of tax increases. Thursday’s meeting of the Senate Ways and Means Committee will feature public hearings on six tax proposals brought forward by minority-caucus members (a full agenda... Read More...

Blueprint for a Better Washington series

December 21, 2012

Over the 2012 legislative interim, I took a look at some of the major issues facing our state and outlined what I see as positive solutions to move us forward by focusing on the cost and quality of the services being provided, rather than the method by which they’re provided. Read More...

Senator Ericksen’s Blueprint – Constitutional Amendments to Create Jobs and a Better Budget

September 10, 2012

In this week’s Blueprint for a Better Washington, Senator Ericksen outlines the three constitutional amendments he’ll be proposing in the 2013legislative session. Taken together, they will simplify and focus the budgeting process and create needed jobs in our state. They are: Cementing the two-thirds approval threshold for tax increases; Prohibiting a state... Read More...

Welcome to Senator Ericksen’s Blueprint for a Better Washington

September 03, 2012

Senator Ericksen provides an introduction to his forthcoming Blueprint for a Better Washington series. The series will provide the framework for positive change in Olympia, with each message outlining a solution in issue areas like transportation, job creation and taxes, to name a few. Ericksen_Blueprint_Intro. Read More...

Senator Doug Ericksen

42nd Legislative District

Spending

Legislative Tools