House Republican budget leader Rep. Travis Couture released a new budget framework Thursday aimed at helping working Washingtonians without raising taxes.
The Affordability First Budget Plan calls for no new or higher taxes and seeks to curb what Couture, R-Allyn, described as years of unsustainable spending that have pushed the state toward another multi-billion dollar budget shortfall.
“For Washingtonians, the pain is real,” said Couture, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. “Groceries cost more. Housing costs more. Gas and child care cost more. But Olympia keeps spending more and delivering worse results. This budget says enough is enough and protects people who have nothing left to give.”
The proposal identifies nearly $4 billion in savings through spending reductions, efficiencies, and the elimination of lower-priority programs. Couture said the plan protects core services, avoids cuts to K-12 classrooms, and does not reduce benefits or service delivery.
It also restores funding for programs cut or underfunded in the current budget, including Medicaid services, hospital relief, food assistance for vulnerable Washingtonians, wildfire prevention, infant care for drug-exposed newborns, and law enforcement hiring.
Couture said the current budget depends too heavily on gimmicks like one-time money, delayed obligations, and revenue that never materialized.
“Washington has spent more than it expected to collect for four straight budgets,” he said. “That’s not sustainable for the people of Washington state, and it shouldn’t be how government operates.”
Couture’s plan restores voter-backed spending limits tied to inflation and population growth, boosts tax relief for working families, requires zero-based budgeting so agencies justify every dollar, and independent audits to eliminate waste and abuse. It also protects food assistance for seniors, veterans, foster youth, and working Washingtonians facing homelessness, while streamlining Medicaid eligibility to prevent coverage gaps and lower health care premiums.
The plan targets runaway administrative growth in state agencies and higher education while prioritizing frontline services.
“This is not a partisan proposal,” Couture concluded. “It’s a reality check. We can stabilize the budget and make Washington more affordable – but only if we stop defaulting to higher taxes and start practicing fiscal restraint.”
The 2026 legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 12.
Affordability First: A Budget for the Working Class | Executive Summary