Leader Reives Statement on House Budget Vote

This is not the budget that House Democrats would have proposed, but it is the best proposal we will see this Session. It continues to fund opportunity scholarships and does not address many of the critical investments we need across state government.

There are raises for teachers and state employees in this budget. Over the past 3 years we have had state revenue that has not kept pace with inflation and population growth, further exacerbating the vacancy crisis of state employees that has existed since before the pandemic.

Freezing the income tax cuts is an essential acknowledgment of the reality we are facing and that nonpartisan economists are forecasting. If we do not stop this slide toward insolvency, there will be dire consequences in the near future and our ability to fund state government at a basic level will be at risk.

I voted for the House Budget today understanding that there are a lot of policies I disagree with and hope to see removed during the conference period. The House is serious about governing this state and it is up to the Senate to come to the table in good faith.