Comments

1
If she can suspend I-732, can someone explain why she can't suspend Eyman's nonsense?
2
Doesn't Gregoire say "In any other time I would not sign this budget" EVERY time she signs a budget?

3
Look on the bright side, with all that extra money the millionaires will solve every single one of these problems. State parks have been proven that when you cut funding, they clean themselves.
4
Given what the governor has to work with, these are not unreasonable choices, I suppose.

Basic Health does become obsolete with the new high-risk pools.

After today children cannot be insured in Washington State on individual insurance policies, so maybe the legislature can help the governor and insurance commissioner fix that problem if they do actually eliminate Basic Health.
5
When we talk about a reduction of 3% in compensation for state employees, are we talking about a freeze in raises, or an actual reduction in compensation? The public sector tends to use different language than the private sector in this regard.
6
@Dougsf

I think this is mostly taken in the form of furloughs
7
Interesting to see the 520 and viaduct replacements survived unscathed...
8
@1 for the win. Technically, 728 and 732 are after the 2 year mark, so she can do that, but ...

Also @7 - notice no real cuts to WSDOT - even though gas tax revenues are WAY DOWN ... either 520 dies or the Deep Bore Tunnel dies - but one has to go.
9
@6 - Oh yeah, you're probably right.
10
Gregoire is a dope. I hate hearing words come from her face.
11
There were a significant number of things in the budget that couldn't be cut because federal funding was attached. Because of federal mandates and other rules, they were untouchable. If I remember correctly, the big infrastructure projects like 520 and the tunnel were in this category.
12
@ DevilYouKnow

Argh! I knew there must be a reason. Still depressing though how children, the disabled, the elderly, and other vulnerable populations will be hurt by this and a big frickin tunnel gets the green light.

Enjoy driving folks because our highway system will be the only healthy thing left in this state in five or six years...
13
@12 actually, it will be worse.

Congestion projections show a nightmare on the highways.

(source: WSDOT, read all the fine print for their studies)
14
The money we're spending in one day on our two giant wars would cover the gap and then some. Congress needs to save the states and cut defense spending now!
15
@1, because she's scared.

@7 and 11, the transportation budget is separate from the general fund. wait until January for the fun to begin with this.
16
#15: If only there were people in Olympia who had the power to change laws...

Cancel deep bore tunnel + throw a kickass $200 million party for the entire state = balanced budget.

(That's oversimplifying, but barely.)
17
Who is going to pick the State's Apple Crop? Is creating an Agriculture Emergency going to give the State the Right to send State Unemployed to WORK in the Fields in Detention Camps?? And the Assisted Suicide Law ahead for the Weak and Elderly? Without Basic Health, there goes the ABLE Work Force for all these SERVICE JOBS! The State isn't Ashamed of Immoral Commerce, they are Hopping on the Bandwagon!.The Carpetbaggers can now Eminent Domain Neighborhoods and put in Racetracks and Soccer Stadiums and Casinos to feed money to the Banks and Wall Street since last year's Supreme Court Ruling. They have to Follow the Money!
Heck, the State could become the Immoral State and have it's own Insignia instead of that Worthless Mountain and Salmon that doesn't keep the local City Bonds in Good Standing on Wall Street.
18
Who is going to pick the State's Apple Crop? Is creating an Agriculture Emergency going to give the State the Right to send State Unemployed to WORK in the Fields in Detention Camps?? And the Assisted Suicide Law ahead for the Weak and Elderly? Without Basic Health, there goes the ABLE Work Force for all these SERVICE JOBS! The State (and so Christine Gregoire) isn't Ashamed of Immoral Commerce, they are Hopping on the Bandwagon!.The Carpetbaggers can now Eminent Domain Neighborhoods and put in Racetracks and Soccer Stadiums and Casinos to Feed Money to the Banks and Wall Street since last year's Supreme Court Ruling. They HAVE to Follow the Money!
Heck, Watch the NEW Immoral State with it's Own Insignia replace that Wormy Apple and Salmon that doesn't keep the local City Bonds Solid on Wall Street.

Please wait...

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