Locke Warns Legislature on Budget Discipline | Seattle News

Seattle News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Jul 18, 2026 · 1m

Former Washington Governor Gary Locke is sounding the alarm on the state Legislature’s reckless spending, warning that one-time funds are being used to fund permanent programs without sustainable plans — a move eroding public trust. Locke, a Democrat, criticized lawmakers for shifting money around and borrowing without clear repayment, leaving voters and interest groups disillusioned. He pointed to the recent “millionaire’s tax” as a case in point — even with new revenue, Washington still faces deficits and risks breaking promises to taxpayers. Echoing his predecessor Christine Gregoire…