 Deputy Republican Leader
Time to bust some budget myths
 Dear Friends and Neighbors,
The Legislature reached a significant milestone Wednesday at 5 p.m. when the Senate and House finished work on their own bills. Bills considered necessary to implement the budget are exempt from this deadline. We now continue the process of holding hearings on bills that passed in the opposite chamber. Next week we will receive an updated state revenue forecast, an event I hope will bring renewed focus on the budget.
The majority party has been using scare tactics -- saying that our only choice is between a budget that slashes and burns vital services or a budget that massively increases the size of government using the largest tax increases in state history.
This is a false dichotomy, and this week Senate Republicans proved that there is a third way. We got a head start on the budget process by releasing our full budget proposal on Tuesday. It's a plan that funds all of our priorities, invests in education and public safety, and includes reforms to make government work smarter and more efficiently. And we accomplish this without irresponsibly raiding the constitutionally-protected rainy day fund or raising taxes on Washington families who are already struggling during the state's affordability crisis.
You can read more about this honest, reasonable, commonsense budget below.
Thanks to all of you who have contacted me this session about issues that are important to you. I look forward to talking to even more of you in our upcoming telephone town hall. In the meantime, if there is anything I can do for you, please call, write or send me an e-mail. It’s an honor to serve as your state senator.
Sincerely,
 Drew MacEwen
Senator, 35th Legislative District
VIDEO UPDATE:
Sen. Drew MacEwen Talks Ferries, Public Safety, and Fixing the Budget
KMAS 1030 AM / 103.3 FM | March 11, 2025
Click here to watch the video.
In this conversation between KMAS' Jeff Slakey and state Senator Drew MacEwen, we cover some of the major issues facing Washington State right now.
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Ferries & Transportation: The state has been struggling with ferry service disruptions, and while electric ferries are the long-term goal, they’re not a realistic solution today.
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Government Efficiency: Bureaucracy is a word we hear a lot, but what does it really mean for everyday people? We discuss inefficiencies in state government—like redundant inspections and permitting delays—that slow things down and waste resources.
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Law Enforcement & Public Safety: A bill moving through the legislature could change how sheriffs are appointed in certain counties, raising concerns about accountability and elections. We also talk about staffing shortages in law enforcement and the growing need for public defenders and prosecutors.
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State Budget: Washington is facing a significant budget deficit, not because of declining revenue, but due to increased spending. We discuss what steps legislators are considering to bring the budget under control.
Click here to watch video.
IN THE NEWS:
Ferguson unveils plan to return WA ferries to full domestic service levels
By Simone Carter, McClatchy News Service | March 10, 2025
 A Washington State Ferry makes its way from Vashon Island to Tacoma at sunset in August 2024. The Olympian.
Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled plans March 6 to fully restore the state’s domestic ferry service by this summer.
...Ferguson noted that the state will delay the hybrid-electric conversion of two of the largest ferries in the state.
Senate Republican Deputy Leader Drew MacEwen issued a press release after Ferguson’s announcement calling for “urgent action” to increase Washington’s ferry fleet. The Shelton Republican said it’s crucial that the state builds more vessels — and soon.
“I’m not opposed to new technologies and having electric-driven ferries, but the reality is that the technology is not yet there to mass-produce these boats,” MacEwen said.
“We need to look at building diesel-efficient ferries while we wait for technology to catch up with other forms of propulsion.”
Click here to read the full news article.
And click here to read my press release on the topic.
 VIDEO POLICY UPDATE:
 Click here to watch now.
In this video, I discuss why the proposed road usage charge is an unfair and regressive tax that would disproportionately hurt rural Washington residents. We highlight the negative impact it would have on working families and outline better solutions for addressing transportation funding.
Time for the Legislature to return to responsible, commonsense budgeting
 It's time for my friends in the Legislative Majority to stop the scare tactics. The myth that we must either make drastic cuts to key services or brace for a crushing level of new taxes has been busted.
The budget proposal unveiled by Senate Republicans this week is proof that state lawmakers can adopt a new two-year operating budget that is better for education, protects our state’s most vulnerable citizens, and invests in public safety, without increasing the tax burden on struggling Washington families or foolishly raiding the state’s rainy-day fund.
The $ave Washington approach works by applying basic family-budgeting principles on a much larger scale:
- The $75.6 billion Republican plan represents a 5% increase in spending from the two-year budget that will expire June 30. State revenues are expected to grow 7.6 percent.
- Spending is focused on priorities: For the first time in six years, K-12 education would receive a larger share of the budget, with hundreds of millions more going to special education and classroom materials.
- The plan would preserve and maintain services for seniors, people with developmental disabilities, and those needing behavioral-health treatment.
- It would also make grants available to communities for hiring law-enforcement officers.
 WATCH VIDEO OF SENATE REPUBLICANS ROLLING OUT THE $AVE WASHINGTON BUDGET.
To help make the additional investments in priorities, the Republican budget plan would freeze the rates and eligibility threshold for state-subsidized childcare, institute reforms at the Department of Children, Youth and Families to reduce administrative costs in favor of increasing front-line workers – “boots on the ground,” and avoid new Democratic spending that hasn’t gone into effect yet.
Our budget proposal would honor our state employees by providing each one with a $5,000 bonus, and there would be no furlough days (sought by Governor Ferguson) included.
The remaining savings come from a collection of reforms and efficiencies that make government work better.
The bottom line is that there are solutions, and we simply have to get back to responsible budgeting. It’s time to ask government to tighten its belt and stop asking more from the taxpayers.
COMMENTARY:
 
Across our nation, there has been an ongoing push to expand and construct high-speed rail networks aimed at alleviating congestion, improving transportation efficiency, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, the results of these ambitious projects have been underwhelming, with many initiatives falling far short of expectations.
In my own state of Washington, significant taxes have been imposed through car registration fees, large tracts of land have been condemned to make room for rail lines, and construction progress has been painfully slow. In addition, these projects have consistently run over budget with minimal tangible outcomes.
Given the persistent delays, escalating costs, and the modest progress made on the high-speed rail project, it would be far more prudent to redirect those taxpayer dollars toward rural infrastructure projects that are crucial to the broader economy.
In particular, U.S. Highway 2 has been grossly overlooked by former Governor Inslee’s administration. ...Despite its importance, this vital highway has remained underfunded and neglected, creating serious safety risks for those who rely on it every day.
Click here to read my full editorial.
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