Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn and ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement Monday regarding the House Democrat 2019-21 operating budget:

“House Democrats began this session arguing for new taxes. Despite our $2.8 billion budget surplus, by far the Legislature’s best starting position since the Great Recession, the majority Democrats have unfortunately chosen to double-down on their promise to raise taxes.

“We can easily write a budget that funds all of our state priorities without raising any new taxes. This includes fixing the governor’s broken mental health system, addressing the homelessness crisis, improving the K-12 special education funding formula, growing millions of new chinook salmon to feed the orca, and even giving raises to state employees.”