Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement Wednesday regarding the 2020 supplemental operating budget agreed to by House and Senate negotiators:

“I’m pleased the majority has heeded Republicans’ calls to slow spending increases in light of the current economic uncertainty we face, but I remain concerned the budget has not been pulled back enough. It relies on a revenue forecast that does not account for the global economic shocks likely to occur if the coronavirus pandemic continues to disrupt supply chains and consumer demand.

“This budget could have helped blunt the impacts of a future economic downturn by using our $2.4 billion surplus to make prudent long-term investments like paying down our unfunded pension liabilities or investing in forest health to reduce the cost of wildfire suppression.

“There are a lot of good things in the budget, but it’s not a good long-term budget for the State of Washington.”