Bill Bruch - LD 10 Rep. Pos. 2 (R)

Background / qualifying experiences

I have been a resident of La Conner for 16 years. I Am a former La Conner Town Council member where I served on the Parks Commission, Park and Port Committee, Utilities Committee and helped to develop and approve La Conner’s budgets. I also served on the Association of Washington Small Cities Advisory Committee. I have 30 years of practical business experience that includes being a property manager; former realtor, estate planner and town merchant.

State economic recovery

Government’s response to Covid-19 has put us in an $8.5 billion deficit. If elected I will work to help get small businesses and schools open and thriving again. The best thing we can do in the Legislature to facilitate this is to cut taxes and regulations that hurt those businesses and the working families. We should lower B & O taxes, property taxes, sales taxes and gas taxes where possible to immediately stimulate the economy.

State budget deficit

We need to focus on efficiency, be fiscally responsible and go to a zero based budgeting so every state agency would review each dollar that is spent (line by line). Each agency should reduce their budget by at least 10%, this will help us reduce costs, cut government waste and re-prioritize to meet current commitments. All new capital budget projects need to be put on hold until the current projects can be completed.

State regressive tax structure

I want to lower the tax structure and reduce taxes in Washington state. I believe you know how to spend your money better than the government does. If elected I will be working to cut taxes and end needless government mandates. The majority party and my opponent have continually voted to increase B & O taxes, gas taxes, sales and real estate taxes. I want to decrease these taxes.

Fully fund state’s public education

The cost per student for our public schools is about $16,000 per student per year. I am advocating that parents receive $8,000-$10,000 per child, allowing students to be educated in home schools, private schools, trade schools, charter schools, or Christian schools. This would save taxpayers money and easily could be done with voucher programs. Also I would like to see financial credits and scholarships to low-income, special needs and active duty military.

Climate change in Washington

We need to do everything reasonably we can to help prevent pollution and promote a clean and healthy environment. More clean energy alternatives for consumers; hydroelectricity, solar power and electric cars are a good start. To help prevent forest fires that put tons of carbon dioxide in the air we need better forest management practices and to thin out and responsibly log and replant our forests.