Gregoire proposes massive cuts for November session
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Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire, responding to the state's continuing economic woes and a huge state budget deficit, is proposing a laundry list of deep spending cuts across all areas of state government.
At a televised news conference at the Capitol, she laid out ideas totaling over $3.8 billion and endorsed nearly $1.7 billion of those for the budget rewrite she'll release in November.
The governor officially issued a call for an unusual November-December emergency session of the Legislature to adopt new budget cuts, and potentially a revenue package for the spring statewide ballot. The session, which can last for up to 30 days, begins at high noon on the Monday after Thanksgiving, Nov. 28.
A grim Gregoire outlined broad cutbacks aimed at closing a $2 billion gap that has developed since lawmakers left town in May after writing an all-cuts budget for the two-year fiscal period that began July 1. Gregoire, a Democrat who is leaving office after two terms, called the cuts "truly devastating." She blamed the state's fiscal dilemma on Wall Street, Congress, and sagging consumer confidence.
Gregoire confirmed that she will be willing to negotiate on a fee package and a revenue package that would be placed on the statewide ballot. She said she wasn't prepared to talk specifics, or to say her preferred division of cuts and new revenue to fix the $2 billion problem.
The governor's cutback options include a 1 percent additional pay cut for state employees and teachers, 10 furlough days and higher health care contributions by workers. She proposes eliminating the Basic Health Program, Disability Lifeline, and other social and health programs. She lists K-12 cuts in levy equalization, class size, bus transportation and even length of the school year, reducing it one week, from 180 to 175 days.
Higher education is targeted for budget cuts of 15 percent and state need grants could be trimmed.
State agencies of more than 25 people, including the Office of Secretary of State, would be cut by an additional 10 percent. The Governor's Office and Legislature also are cut 10 percent.
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Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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