House Republican Leader highlights improved relations after Inslee’s exit

The atmosphere in Olympia feels different to Washington House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary of Auburn, who credits Democratic Washington Governor Bob Ferguson for creating what he describes as a more constructive working environment.

After enduring what he calls strained relations under former Washington Governor Jay Inslee, Stokesbary sees encouraging signs of collaboration that he believes will benefit the entire state.

“It’s refreshing to have a governor who lives on the same planet as the rest of us,” Stokesbary told “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. “While we’re certainly not going to agree with Governor Ferguson on everything, it is a significant improvement from the previous administration.”

Sidelined no more

During Governor Inslee’s tenure, Stokesbary said Republicans often felt sidelined and unheard.

“Last session, when Jay Inslee was governor, I think we had one meeting the entire session,” Stokesbary recalled. “In my one meeting with Governor Inslee last year, the very first topic I brought up was the Climate Commitment Act.”

Stokesbary had wanted to discuss waiving certain fuel taxes for farmers.

“When I brought this up with Governor Inslee, his answer was, ‘The Department of Ecology tells me they’ve solved the problem, so I don’t know what you’re complaining about. Next topic, please.’ It was a 10-second conversation. Fast forward to a year later, Governor Ferguson admitted that the state government has failed to deliver on the promise to provide this exemption and promised to fix it,” he said.

“We’ve had four meetings with Governor Ferguson this year, and he’s only been in office for a few weeks,” Stokesbary noted. “It’s a night and day difference.”

He said this proactive approach has fostered a more collaborative environment, allowing for meaningful discussions on critical issues facing the state.

Stokesbary also said this willingness to acknowledge shortcomings and work toward solutions has been a breath of fresh air for Republicans.

“The ultimate test will be if it’s fixed in four years, but to have a governor admit the state government has failed and promise to find a solution is a heck of a lot better than what we were getting from the other guy,” Stokesbary said.

He wants to see Ferguson’s promises translate into tangible actions.

Areas of cooperation

Another area of bipartisan cooperation has been reforming emergency powers. Stokesbary contends the COVID-19 pandemic exposed the limitations of existing laws, which were primarily designed for short-term, urgent emergencies like natural disasters.

“Governor Ferguson has said, ‘Let’s reform how we do this,’ so the legislature has a more prominent role,” Stokesbary shared. “It’s a sensible approach that ensures we are better prepared for long-term emergencies.”

Law enforcement is another issue where the two leaders have found common ground. Washington has the fewest number of law enforcement officers per capita in the country.

“Governor Ferguson campaigned on fixing this and has been working to provide more resources to cities and counties to bring more people into the profession,” Stokesbary noted. “We might not get to first place overnight, but we shouldn’t be dead last.”

Budget shortfalls and spending

Republicans remain in the minority, with only 39 out of 98 seats in the House.

“We represent about 3 million Washingtonians across the state,” Stokesbary emphasized. “All 39 of us are dedicated to doing real work for the people of Washington. We want to make regular people’s lives more affordable, make their communities safer, and improve our public schools.”

Lawmakers are also grappling with what some estimate to be a $12 billion to $15 billion budget shortfall. Stokesbary said new taxes are not the answer and believes the shortfall may not be as large as feared.

He pointed to several approved but yet-to-be-implemented programs as opportunities for cost savings. Pausing their launch—before services are delivered or relied upon—would free up funding and prevent the state budget from being burdened with recurring expenses. Instead of committing scarce resources upfront, lawmakers could wait to see if tax revenue continues to meet expectations before deciding whether these programs are financially sustainable.

He compares the situation to the movie “Christmas Vacation,” where Clark Griswold expects a holiday bonus that never arrives.

“It’s like ordering a pool because you think you’re getting a Christmas bonus, but then you don’t get the bonus,” he said. “If we just paused and said, ‘Let’s not build the pool quite yet,’ we could solve a lot of our problems.”

Stokesbary explained that state tax revenue continues to grow, just not as fast as some would like.

“If we simply spent the same amount as the last two years, we would have a surplus,” he said. “We have more tax money coming in this year than last year, so if we continued spending at the same levels, we could pay for everything.”

Governor Ferguson’s budget approach

Ferguson’s plan to save approximately $4 billion to address the budget shortfall has been met with cautious optimism.

“Our state faces a historic budget shortfall,” Ferguson acknowledged recently. “This challenge demands thoughtful leadership and a commitment to fiscal responsibility. My team and I have scoured state spending for savings and efficiencies. We must prioritize while protecting the core needs of Washingtonians.”

Ferguson said his budget savings proposals are built on four key principles: good government efficiencies, reconsidering recent spending, maintaining essential services, and protecting vulnerable populations.

“We have to ensure state agencies are running as lean as possible and right-sizing government,” Ferguson stated. “Many of these reductions should be made even if there was not a budget shortfall.”

Stokesbary supports this approach, emphasizing the need for fiscal prudence.

“We have more tax money coming in this year than last year,” he reiterated. “If we continued spending at the same levels, we could pay for everything. We simply need to be more disciplined in our spending.”

Stokesbary said there are improving relations between the governor and house Republicans, and that is setting a new tone in Washington state politics.

“It’s about finding common ground and working together to solve real people’s problems,” he shared. “We’re serious legislators, and while we’re in the minority, we want to come up with real solutions.”

Charlie Harger is the host of “Seattle’s Morning News” on KIRO Newsradio. Follow Charlie on X and email newstips here. 

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