State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, voted against the final passage of the 2025-27 operating budget Sunday, warning that the real threat to Washington’s economy isn’t just the spending plan itself, but the damaging policies that have led to the state’s growing budget shortfall. While others debated the budget’s specifics, Fortunato...

State Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, voted against the Senate Democrats’ proposed two-year, $78.5 billion budget and issued the following statement: “Today’s budget vote is a stark example of fiscal irresponsibility. Instead of addressing the $7 billion budget shortfall caused by their own poor planning, the legislative majority has chosen to rely...