Next piece of budget moves

posted 01:42 PM 01/26
Permanent Link.

House Democrats unveiled their plans for the supplemental budget today, saying its not a budget, but a program-by-program plan to cut total spending by $640 million. It's called the "Early Action Savings Bill."

Quick impressions: they keep the pledge to "cover all kids" by subsidizing families up to three times the poverty level. Gregoire wanted to freeze it at 250 percent. They keep adult day health, but reduce the vendor rate. Indeed, many vendor rates are down including boarding homes and nursing homes, those two down by an average 3 percent.

What I've come to think of as the Obama money is in there at the same rate: $780 billion in increased federal matching funds for Medicaid. And the welfare grants: $133 million in contingency funds.

Family leave is still suspended, the Basic Health Plan continues to allow one new client for every two that leave the plan.

Overall, it’s a fairly detailed non-budget bill. Much more so than the ’09 supplemental rolled out in December, which relied a lot ofn "Governor Directed 1% cut" to describe reductions. But there is still some hazy budget fog.

Item 158 is my favorite: $330,000 in "General" reductions in Juvenile Rehabilitation.

Look it up in the back and this is how it's explained: "GENERAL - This item includes across the board reductions to contracts and goods and services."

OK then.

I've included the item list with this post.

Comments

Matheson to depart Department of Retirement Systems

posted 04:26 PM 01/07

She's not sure where she's going, but wants to get out of political appointments.

Arnold-Williams steps down after all

posted 01:18 PM 12/22

Looks like the Secretary Robin Arnold-Williams is leaving.

Where the whacking is (That's you, DSHS)

posted 12:18 PM 12/18

Small agencies are targeted, the the biggest loses more than 700 FTEs.

It's like the night before that holiday

posted 09:15 AM 12/18

Anticipation runs high today, as we're about to see the governor's budget proposals.

11,700 jobs lost in November

posted 02:40 PM 12/16

As expected, the joblessness rate is going up.

Stephani on leaving Children's Administration

posted 04:41 PM 12/02

CA director says she's taking a break, without immediate plans.

Gregoire orders another $260 million in cuts

posted 03:04 PM 11/25

More cuts to add to the earlier cuts, which should set things up the for the next round of ...

Slippery parking lot partially open, work continues

posted 05:53 PM 11/21

The natural resources lot is partially open, final solution to slipping problem ellusive.

Linville looking better for budget chair

posted 01:29 PM 11/21

Rep. Kelli Linville, who now heads the budget subcommittee on audits and government, may edge out the affable Rep. Hans Dunshee for chair of the House budget committee .

And the answer is 'Unfortunately, no'

posted 12:38 PM 11/20

Can't use public art money to save the Beall mosaic in the GA Building.

Do not buy performance audits? Don't tell the auditor

posted 09:30 AM 11/19

The governor's merciless "Do Not Buy" list of state programs includes performance audits, the bang-for-the-buck reviews of government efficiency.

General counsel departs, other changes in Gregoire cabinet?

posted 12:11 PM 11/17

Richard E. Mitchell, Gov. Chris Gregoire's general counsel, is leaving her administration, the only post-election departure so far.

Obama's team on making civil service cool

posted 11:25 AM 11/12

President-elect Obama's transistion team talks about making government work cool again.

Trade state raises for keeping jobs?

posted 11:22 AM 11/11

In an interview with the Seattle Times, Gregoire suggests pay raises could be traded for less layoffs.

Election update

posted 11:04 AM 11/07

GOP solidifying narrow leads in Congressional 8 with Reichert, state Senate 17 with Benton, pulling ahead in state Senate 2 against Rasmussen.

Idaho goes (teeny bit) blue; Alaska keeping Stevens

posted 11:26 AM 11/05

Corruption or no, Stevens is around. And CD1 in Idaho may have flipped parties.

Election, caught on tape

posted 10:33 AM 11/05

See two haggard reporters attempt to make sense of things late on election night

Gregoire declared winner.

posted 10:28 PM 11/04

Chris Gregoire declared winner by AP, networks.

This is it! This is it!

posted 03:58 PM 11/04

Here we go!

How I voted

posted 04:05 PM 11/03

One reporter reveals his voting process.

Who is M. Andrew Ross?

posted 12:31 PM 11/03

The man who gave $400,000 to back assisted suicide talks about why.

That was Rep. Williams' final campaign?

posted 02:04 PM 10/31

Williams says his unopposed run this year was his last.

GMAP: no good for campaigns?

posted 11:23 AM 10/29

It's data! And measurement! And excitement! Nearly.

Uniform Medical Plan going away? No, but change coming

posted 03:48 PM 10/28

The state may transfer management of its most popular insurance plan to a private contractor.

State worker enrollment opens; still incredible bargain

posted 03:14 PM 10/27

Bad news: costs go up. Good news: still super cheap.

Republicans visit me, move on

posted 11:56 AM 10/27

Alas, you just can't get ahead of the curve this time of year.

Key to recovery: the road or the dollar?

posted 11:36 AM 10/24

Palin: the Idaho years (redux)

posted 11:08 AM 10/23

Other than big hair and fat belts, Sarah Palin didn't leave a lot of impressions behind at the University of Idaho.

Make that 300 children under supervision have died

posted 11:10 AM 10/23

Turns out Dino Rossi was low balling when he said 200 kids under state supervision have died in four years.

Soy yo, el periodista magnifico

posted 10:46 AM 10/22

Dora la Exploradora es amiga mia.

And now, the video report

posted 12:11 PM 10/21

What's that smell? Politics?

What alarms opponents of I-1000

posted 10:54 AM 10/21

After the assisted suicide of a paralyzed rugby player, British authorities may take action.

Gregoire the exploradora

posted 10:55 AM 10/21

Dora the Explorer is the Governor's Mansion Halloween theme.

Q and A on assisted suicide and Oregon Health Plan

posted 11:27 AM 10/20

Oregon's Health Plan does pay for assisted suicide if a patient requests it. So far, 19 people have used the state-paid version over the 10 years the Death With Dignity Act has been in effect in Oregon.

Olympians: Powell endorsement has "great" impact

posted 10:07 AM 10/20

Here's the latest from our completely unscientific Web poll on former Republican Secretary of State Colin Powell's endorsement of the Democratic nominee.

Gregoire picking up or not?

posted 12:18 PM 10/17

Is Gregoire picking up steam, or has the Obama train passed her by? All indications are for a squeaker Nov. 4.

Joe the Plumber, uncut

posted 10:45 AM 10/16

Here's the longest, clearest clip I could find from the third man in the presidential debate, Joe "The Plumber" Wurzelbacher.

Foster care back in the headlines (not in a good way)

posted 11:00 AM 10/15

A starvation case in Carnation may have been another missed chance to prevent abuse.

The lines cross in governor's race.

posted 06:06 PM 10/14

And that's how we draw excitement, kids.

Ka-chow

posted 09:49 AM 10/14

Blog hits are up, and we need to par-tay.

First Mike says look it up

posted 12:09 PM 10/10

First Mike makes a mysterious allusion.

And now, the video report

posted 09:48 AM 10/09

We make our videographer splice Gregoire and Rossi until they nearly make sense.

RIP: family leave, family tax credit, property tax deferral

posted 03:50 PM 10/07

Three programs that never got off the ground get buried.

Sign language press release a first?

posted 11:00 AM 10/07

DSHS thinks this YouTube video is the first state press release in American Sign Language.

State workers' lost pension money, CEO's phat paychecks

posted 04:14 PM 10/06

One exec gets $60 million cash, more than that in other benefits, working for the now-bankrupt Lehman Brothers.

Beware L&I, Rossi is coming

posted 11:29 AM 10/06

GOP candiate for guv Dino Rossi is no fan of L&I, but does like DVA.

Olympians: Palin; Tacomans: Biden

posted 09:52 AM 10/03

The juges give 'em a 9.2 for sticking the landing, despite not doing much while in the air.

DOH releases final medical pot rule

posted 12:55 PM 10/02

The Department of Health has issued its final word on what exactly constitutes a 60-day supply of medical marijuana.

Postma: Nix on bailout bill

posted 12:05 PM 10/01

Republican James Postma says the government should shore up the dollar, not bail out investment firms.

Delavar: Congress shouldn't buy bad debt

posted 04:27 PM 09/29

Baird and Delavar don't agree on the war, don't agree on Wall Street bailout.

Dear: 'This is not a false alarm'

posted 04:49 PM 09/26

Public purchase of bad debt will be necessary to stop the credit crisis, says Joe Dear.

In Chocolate vs. Vanilla, Freedom always wins

posted 12:10 PM 09/25

How to watch a political debate with the public's eye.

Rep. Alexander: leave state worker contracts alone

posted 11:41 AM 09/24

Alexander reiterated his long-standing position that reductions in state spending should be made through government doing less, not across-the-board cuts to worker benefits.

McDermott on 'King Henry'

posted 04:51 PM 09/23

Rep. Jim McDermott suggests the Wall Street bail out will ensure a cushy landing for Bush employees looking for work in four months.

Idaho Vandal cheerleaders, skimpy outfits

posted 11:51 AM 09/23

You know, Vice President in waiting Sarah Palin and I have the same degree from the U of I.

Republican: state workers should pay more for insurance

posted 11:07 AM 09/23

If you're facing a $529 million drop in revenue projections, you might consider renegotiating state worker health benefits, Sen. Joe Zarelli says

Assisted suicide: immoral?

posted 02:13 PM 09/19

Stop me if you've heard this one: a reporter talks to a rabbi, a nun, a philosopher, a doctor, an ethicist, and a professor.

Updated: If a paystep is created, but no one is around ...

posted 05:06 PM 09/18

How do we know if pay Step M exists in the next biennium, if no one will qualify for it?

Dear: government must stabilize home prices

posted 12:05 PM 09/18

"This is not magic. You can't lend money to people who can't pay it back."

Taxpayers pay more than entire state pension fund

posted 12:17 PM 09/17

The public buyout of AIG cost more money than there is to pay for the retirement of all Washington public employees.

Four-day week even legal?

posted 11:18 AM 09/15

State law says state hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Federation, guv reach tenative deal

posted 10:59 AM 09/12

Shortly after midnight, the Washington Federation of State Employees reached a two-year agreement with Gov. Chris Gregoire’s negotiators.

"Hockey Mom" book outsells "Shock Doctrine" in Washington

posted 10:49 AM 09/11

What do our book-buying tendencies tell us about electoral politics?

4-day week for CTED, DVA, others

posted 02:44 PM 09/10

Several state agencies and divisions will move a four-day work week under a plan announced Wednesday by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Insurance regulation not 'disastrous' yet

posted 10:12 AM 09/10

More insurance plans being offered, Kreidler declares victory for increased regulation.

Fact checking Clue

posted 10:31 AM 09/09

Turns out Col. Mustard got the ax in the classic board game.

Fact checking I-1000

posted 11:18 AM 09/08

An examination of Oregon's data on who uses its Death with Dignity Law, and why, contradicts a few claims of anti-I-1000 campaign.

Oh, good: state picks up fed's tab on highways

posted 01:30 PM 09/05

People drive less, pay less gas tax, the feds stiff the states for their share of road project costs.

The new, old McCain

posted 10:09 AM 09/05

Sen. John McCain sought to cast himself as the humble servant saved by America, not the savior of America.

Postman pulls out

posted 05:44 PM 09/04

The state's only professional political blogger walks away.

McCain-Palin Act Boffo

posted 03:56 PM 09/04

Can McCain top his own veep's speech? Does he need to?

Would this happen to Sarah Palin?

posted 10:28 AM 09/04

New warning down at the bar and grille, guv.

Gregoire on Palin

posted 01:59 PM 09/02

Gregoire isn't that different from Palin, so why is one ready to be VP and not the other?

Delavar persona non grata with GOP

posted 07:30 AM 08/31

Candidate in 3rd Congressional District is passed up for endorsement, again.