Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, issued the following statement after the November revenue forecast indicated further decline in expected revenue.
“Here we go again. Washington’s final 2025 revenue forecast shows another drop in expected revenue. Growth keeps sliding despite historic revenues, but the thirst for more government spending is outpacing what the state takes in. Washington has a spending problem, not a revenue problem.
“Sales tax, B&O tax, and use tax collections all came in lower than expected. When families can’t afford everyday life and employers can’t afford to stay open, the state’s revenue falls apart. That’s exactly what we’re seeing.
“Some Democrats point to a recent Moody’s analysis showing Washington may already be in or near recession territory. If that’s true, it’s even more alarming – especially because many of the other states flagged share the same big-government policies that have helped push Washington down this road.
“The part of the forecast that should concern every Washingtonian is the outlook for jobs. Our state is expected to add only 11,000 jobs in 2025 – barely a blip – and add zero in 2026. Zero. We don’t get back to even modest job growth until 2029. For perspective, Washington has averaged more than 2% annual job growth for most of the last decade and a half. The next four years are projected to average barely half a percent.
“That is historically weak. And it’s a warning sign.
“Good family-wage construction and manufacturing jobs are disappearing as those industries look for friendlier states. But the larger picture shows that our economy is stagnating, housing permits are collapsing, and affordability keeps getting worse.
“This is what happens when state spending spirals out of control and policies prioritize ideology over economic reality. These policies are pushing our state toward a more centralized, heavy-handed government model that looks a lot like socialism, and it’s dragging our economy down with it.
“Last session’s $9 billion tax increase didn’t solve anything; it just hurt families, small businesses, and the people who need us the most. Now we’re heading into 2026 with even more budget problems, and some in the majority are already eyeing new taxes, including an income tax.
“It doesn’t have to be this way. The solution is disciplined, prioritized budgeting that focuses on working families, small businesses, and the core services people depend on. Washington needs fiscal restraint, not more ideology and not more taxes. It’s time to get our state back on solid ground.”