Nancy Churchill says Washington’s $78.5 billion state budget signals runaway government growth and demands urgent taxpayer pushback.

Nancy Churchill says this budget fight isn’t just politics as usual

Nancy Churchill
Dangerous Rhetoric

Olympia has officially gone off the rails. In a jaw-dropping display of government bloat and fiscal recklessness, Democratic lawmakers just rammed through a $78.5 billion operating budget—the biggest in Washington state history — and even some Democrats are sounding the alarm. When you’ve lost your own governor, maybe it’s time to admit things are spinning out of control.

This isn’t a budget. It’s a blueprint for economic sabotage. At its core is a desperate push to fund an increasingly radical agenda by bleeding taxpayers dry. While the left celebrates its “investments,” everyday Washingtonians are stuck footing the bill — watching their paychecks shrink and their freedoms erode. And here’s the kicker: Governor Bob Ferguson, a loyal progressive activist for years, is finally blinking at the chaos his party created.

What’s buried in this bloated beast?

The new two-year budget clocks in at a staggering $78.5 billion—nearly $3 billion more than the last one. According to The Center Square, this spending spree is fueled by an avalanche of new taxes: expanding the capital gains tax, dramatic increases in property taxes, fuel tax hikes, and slapping more costs onto businesses just trying to survive. All of this while working families are already buckling under inflation, out-of-control housing costs, and stagnant wages.

Democrats call it a “moral document.” But morality doesn’t look like endless government dependency and budget gimmicks built on borrowed time. It’s not moral to push the same failed policies under the noble guise of “equity” while ignoring the financial cliff we’re heading toward.

Warning: Economic meltdown ahead

The business community isn’t buying the spin. In fact, they’re calling this budget what it is: a direct threat to Washington’s future. Leaders from Puget Sound industries called it a “kamikaze economic policy” and warned it will drive employers out of state, kill innovation, and choke our competitiveness.

This isn’t abstract theory. Businesses are already pulling back. The state’s increasingly hostile tax and regulatory environment makes it clear: if you build something in Washington, prepare to be punished for your success. And now lawmakers are pouring gasoline on the fire, all to keep the progressive machine running a little longer.

Fiscal irresponsibility on full display

Even The Seattle Times—no friend of conservatives—is tapping the brakes. In a rare show of backbone, their editorial board warned lawmakers to “return Washington to responsible fiscal footing.” That’s because the current budget isn’t just big—it’s built on sand. Temporary revenue spikes and fantasy projections about economic growth don’t make for sound policy.

They’re right about one thing: it’s time to stop treating windfalls like permanent paychecks. Rising interest rates, looming recession signs, and a nation stretched thin should be a wake-up call. But instead of buckling down, Olympia’s diving deeper into the delusion.

Even Ferguson Is getting nervous

Here’s where things really get interesting: Governor Ferguson — yes, that Bob Ferguson—is distancing himself from this disaster. He publicly questioned the budget’s reliance on new taxes and called for “affordability, stability, and fairness.” Translation: his own party is going too far, too fast, and even he can’t sell this mess with a straight face.

That’s a big deal. Ferguson’s open discomfort shows the fractures in Democratic leadership are growing wider. This isn’t just a policy disagreement — it’s a power struggle, and it could reshape the political battlefield heading into 2026.

The Republican alternative: $ave Washington

While Democrats torch the budget books, Republicans have stepped up with a serious alternative. Their “$ave Washington” plan is about cutting taxes, shrinking government, and getting back to basics: public safety, education, and economic growth. No games. No bloated bureaucracy. Just common sense.

This isn’t just a rebuttal — it’s a rescue plan. One that actually respects taxpayers instead of exploiting them. And it doesn’t forget about rural communities, small business owners, and blue-collar families who are always forced to carry the weight of Seattle’s failed experiments.

Time to hit the brakes — hard

Let’s be clear: This budget fight isn’t just politics as usual. It’s a turning point. We’re watching a government that’s outgrown its purpose, outspent its means, and lost touch with the people it’s supposed to serve. Voters are waking up, and the message is simple: no more blank checks. No more sacrificing Washington’s future at the altar of progressive ideology.

Even Governor Ferguson knows this is unsustainable. So let’s take him at his word. Let’s demand a course correction while there’s still time to make one. Once trust is gone—once jobs, investment, and freedom leave the state — it’ll be a long road back.

What you can do right now

According to the Washington Senate Republican Caucus, Democratic lawmakers have locked Republican lawmakers AND the public out of final budget talks. No hearings. No debate. No transparency. Just a secret backroom deal between radical Democrats. That’s not how a government of the people should operate.

Here’s how you fight back:

Use this link — https://governor.wa.gov/contacting-governor/contacting-governors-office/send-gov-ferguson-e-message — and send Governor Ferguson a short, polite message. Ask him to veto any budget that piles on new taxes and bloated spending. Tell him we don’t need higher taxes—we need real cuts to spending.

Next, email the “four corners,” the Democratic and Republican caucus leaders in the Senate and House. You can email them directly at: Jamie.Pederson@leg.wa.gov, John.Braun@leg.wa.gov, Laurie.Jinkins@leg.wa.gov, and Drew.Stokesbary@leg.wa.gov.

Keep it simple: “No New Taxes.” “Cut Spending.” “Demand Transparency: A public and open process should be followed for developing our next budget!”

Let these politicians know you’re watching them. Remind them the budget belongs to us—not just the Seattle elite. The people of Washington deserve leadership that’s grounded in reality, not fantasy. It’s time to take our state back — one email, one phone call, one vote at a time.

Nancy Churchill is a writer and educator in rural eastern Washington State, and the chair of the Ferry County Republican Party. She may be reached at DangerousRhetoric@pm.me. The opinions expressed in Dangerous Rhetoric are her own. Dangerous Rhetoric is available on thinkspot, Rumble and Substack.

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