Governor calls emergency budget session for Nov. 28

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Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire has called the Legislature into emergency special session, beginning the Monday after Thanksgiving, to deal with a gaping $2 billion hole in the two-year state operating budget. The decision, which will trigger a session that can last for up to 30 days, was expected, following a dire new revenue projection that knocked another $1.4 billion hole in the budget. If the Legislature doesn't raid the "rainy day" fund and provide additional reserves, the problem becomes about $2 billion. Gov. Gregoire, in a news conference at the Capitol on Thursday, said "Our work will be brutal." She didn't talk about new taxes, and said cuts could amount to 23 percent of the $8.7 billion portion of the budget that is not constitutionally protected or an entitlement. She said the bulk of the cuts will have to come out of the four areas with the largest unprotected budgets: social programs, health care, K-12 and higher education, and prisons and community protection. The governor said the timing of the session will allow lawmakers to get the Nov. 17 revenue forecast update. She said the guess is that the problem will only grow worse. Gregoire said lawmakers can't wait until their regularly scheduled session in January.

"We've got to get going. You delay a day and the hole gets bigger."

Gregoire said she will soon send lawmakers agencies' own budget-cut ideas. Her budget office recently directed agencies to submit 5 and 10 percent budget reduction plans. Gregoire said even the 10 percent plans alone won't fix the problem, since some areas, such as corrections, can't absorb that level of cut and not affect public safety. The governor said she will have her own plan next month, and that both houses and both parties need to begin their own work so that the special session will get off to a fast start.