In a pointed rebuke of Governor Bob Ferguson’s latest comments on the state budget, Representative Travis Couture (R-35th District) joined The Ari Hoffman Show this week to issue a clear warning: Washington doesn’t have a revenue problem—it has a spending problem.
Governor Ferguson made headlines earlier in the day when he announced he would not support the Democrats’ proposed $12 billion tax plan, which was intended to cover what his administration described as a growing deficit due to necessary spending increases. While some viewed this as a potential pivot away from tax-heavy policy, Representative Couture dismissed the move as political posturing.
BREAKING: WA Gov Bob Ferguson rejects Democrats proposed $12 billion in taxes
Before you get too excited, he said in his statement "We need a balanced approach, using a reasonable amount of progressive revenue and adopting solutions to reduce our spending." Translation: More…
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) April 17, 2025
Couture emphasized that while rejecting $12 billion in new taxes may sound bold, any tax increase is unacceptable. “The only acceptable number is zero. Zero new taxes, zero dollars in new taxes,” he declared.
Hoffman agreed and said, “He (Ferguson) says it’s going to take a combination of fiscal responsibility and progressive revenues. Translation? More taxes.”
“They’re robbing the poor to give pay raises to the political elite…We can pass a balanced budget today, without raising a single tax. That’s the truth. And that’s what WA deserves.”
Rep @TravisSCouture's warning: WA doesn’t have a revenue problem, it has a spending problem. pic.twitter.com/eO7pFW3ULc
— Ari Hoffman 🎗 (@thehoffather) April 18, 2025
“A Game of Find Another Rock”
Couture accused the governor of playing a “funny little game of Find Another Rock,” arguing that despite public rejection of previous proposals like the wealth tax, the administration continues to seek new avenues for increasing taxes. He warned that these policies disproportionately burden working-class and low-income Washingtonians, particularly through potential increases in property taxes and other regressive measures.
“Washington State has a spending problem, not a revenue problem,” Couture said, citing a $7 billion deficit figure from a nonpartisan legislative analysis. He noted that the governor’s office has already identified $4 billion in potential cuts, while watchdog groups like DOGE Washington have found an additional $2 billion in waste.
“We’re almost there,” Couture said. “There could be no new taxes needed.”
“Who’s Winning in This Budget?”
In a blistering critique of the state’s priorities, Couture pointed to spending increases for bureaucratic salaries and what he described as “perks for criminals,” while claiming the budget cuts vital services for the state’s most vulnerable citizens.
He cited recent legislative action that reduced postpartum care support, child support programs for low-income mothers, and services for disabled residents. “They’re robbing the poor to give pay raises to the political elite,” he said.
Couture noted funds are going to “laser hair removal for transgender inmates” and other programs he described as “wasteful” or “misguided.” He also criticized expenditures on DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) grants and Medicare fraud, accusing the administration of funding ideological or out-of-state causes at the expense of Washingtonians.
Silencing the Debate
Couture also spoke to a growing sense of frustration on the House floor, claiming that Republican lawmakers have been repeatedly silenced during budget debates. He referenced a particularly tense moment when debate was shut down over amendments to restore voter rights and parental rights protections.
“They ended our First Amendment rights—and by extension, the voices of over three million Washingtonians,” he said. “It’s very authoritarian. They don’t like the points we’re making, and they know they’re wrong.”
Despite being in the minority, Couture says Republicans are pushing back. He celebrated the recent defeat of several controversial bills, including legislation that would have overhauled juvenile detention and added new gun restrictions.
“We ground that floor into dust,” he said. “We might be outnumbered, but we’re never outclassed.”
National Attention and What’s Next
According to host Ari Hoffman, the situation in Olympia is drawing attention from across the country. “People from other blue states are reaching out, saying their states aren’t even this crazy,” he remarked.
Couture ended the interview by reiterating his message to the governor and the Democratic majority: “We can pass a balanced budget today, without raising a single tax. That’s the truth. And that’s what Washington deserves.”
As budget negotiations continue, Couture and his colleagues vow to keep fighting what they view as reckless fiscal policy. Whether or not their message resonates with the broader public remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the battle over Washington’s budget is far from over.
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