Budget Priorities

Income tax sweeps Senate Freedom Caucus ‘Galloping Gertie’ Awards
April 29, 2021
Awards ceremony honors ‘epic fails’ of 2021 legislative session OLYMPIA – The new income tax passed by majority Democrats in the Washington Legislature earned top honors in the first annual Galloping Gertie Awards, presented by the Senate Freedom Caucus to honor the biggest fails of the 2021 legislative session. The... Read More...
COVID-19 and Washington’s Economic Outlook
April 22, 2020
Today, I had a briefing on how COVID-19 is impacting the state’s economy. The state’s Chief Economist unsurprisingly delivered some pretty devastating news. You can read the full report by clicking here.   Read More...
Fortunato introduces property tax constitutional amendment
March 05, 2020
Recent changes in the state’s property tax, added pressures from local tax levies and rising home values mean more people are struggling to pay their property taxes. That is why state Sen. Phil Fortunato, R-Auburn, and the Senate Republican Caucus are pushing to amend the state’s constitution to restructure Washington’s... Read More...
Announcing the Tax Watchdog Committee
January 31, 2020
Last year, legislative Democrats approved $26 billion in new taxes over the next decade. One the proposals in that package included an increase in the regressive business and occupation (B&O) tax on everything from health-care providers to housing services. Despite the state Department of Revenue indicating the bill violates four... Read More...
Raiding state’s rainy-day fund is ‘stupid but not unconstitutional’
December 20, 2019
State Sen. Phil Fortunato is disappointed that Gov. Jay Inslee’s supplemental budget proposal seeks to raid the state’s constitutional rainy-day fund to the tune of over $300 million. Fortunato, R-Auburn made this statement regarding how the governor’s proposal could leave Washington vulnerable in the event of an economic downturn. “In... Read More...
Keeping our economy strong
April 15, 2019
It’s budget season as we enter the final weeks of the 2019 legislative session. Watch my latest video update where I discuss the dueling budget proposals and where our state is headed. Read More...
Is it time for the rest of the county to escape from Seattle?
July 14, 2017
By now, you should have received my final legislative update for the year.  Unfortunately, Senate rules governing election-year communications required that my final update be mailed prior to the end of our legislative business this year.  You can read the entire newsletter by clicking the picture below. In the newsletter,... Read More...
Senator Fortunato meets Law Enforcement Academy grads
Senator Fortunato meets local graduates of the Basic Law Enforcement Academy
July 13, 2017
Senator Fortunato was privileged to attend the June 28, 2017 Basic Law Enforcement Academy graduation ceremonies of Class 750.  The academy is an essential institution that trains officers to protect us and  themselves, and even to keep safe the people they are duty-bound to arrest. It ensures that every local officer has consistent... Read More...