Gregoire budget coming out early - about Dec. 7-8

posted 08:52 PM 11/20
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That's the word from the Office of Financial Management late today. Consider the two-week speed up another sign that yesterday's revenue forecast is hastening the governor's response to an ever-growing budget shortfall.

Gov. Chris Gregoire will unveil her supplemental spending plan the week of Dec. 7, OFM spokeswoman Kate Lykins-Brown confirmed.

The shortfall grew to $2.6 billion this week after revenue forecaster Arun Raha predicted revenues through June 30, 2011, to be $760 million less than he predicted in September. The total revenue fall-off since February 2008 is about $5.3 billion, according to Raha.

Gregoire and majority Democrats have signaled they are willing to look at new revenues and taxes to blunt the depth of cuts.

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UPDATED: Budget gap hits $2.6B; tax hikes suggested

posted 05:06 PM 11/19

State revenue forecaster Arun Raha said today the state's expected revenue through June 2011 has fallen by another $760 million.

Revenue update: forecast down $760 million more

posted 10:03 AM 11/19

State revenue forecaster Arun Raha said today the state's expected revenue through June 2011 has fallen by another $760 million.

Butt out: Health agency kicking smokers out in Tumwater

posted 06:25 PM 11/18

Smokers for a long time have been unwelcome in or near the doors of public areas, including state agencies.

AARP poll: Washington members strongly favor health reform

posted 12:16 PM 11/17

The AARP says its recent poll shows a 68 percent majority of its Washington state members favor the major elements in the national health-care reform before Congress. About 29 percent oppose it.

Report: Hunger is up in Washington

posted 02:45 PM 11/16

The Children's Alliance put out the word today, citing a Department of Agriculture report. Here's from the advocacy group's news release this afternoon that ties the trouble to the economic recession:

Gregoire: Hands tied for most of $2 billion in needed cuts

posted 01:42 PM 11/16

Gov. Chris Gregoire talked a little more in length this morning about problems her budget office faces in trying to find $2 billion in cuts in the 2010 supplemental budget. She mostly ploughed old ground but said she thinks the new budget shortfall could grow to $2.5 billion after Thursday's quarterly revenue forecast is delivered.

Caseloads up, revenue down, shortfall is $2 billion

posted 11:59 AM 11/13

The latest news isn't so good on the state budget front. Not that this should feel so much like news after two years of dreadful developments.

Gregoire, lawmakers face 'trial' for budget cuts

posted 09:17 AM 11/13

It's not quite the International Court of Justice at The Hague, and no one is alleging war crimes — not yet. But the Seattle Radical Women group plans to convene a "People’s Court" trial Saturday in the Seattle area's Columbia City.

Supreme Court rejects Federal Way's teacher pay-gap claims

posted 08:54 AM 11/12

The decision that came out this morning was a unanimous 9-to-0 ruling and written by Justice James Johnson. Its opening paragraph says this: