State budget cuts coming

[KT2000]

Gregoire is asking for recommendations:

The Governor is asking for ideas on how to trim next years budget.
Please go to her special website
http://www.transformwabudget.ideascale.com

http://peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100722/NEWS/100729994/governor-may-call-special-session
OLYMPIA - Gov. Chris Gregoire says if $480 million in Medicaid
matching money doesn't come from the federal government by Aug. 9 she
will have to consider a special session of the Legislature to deal
with the state's finances.

She said Thursday she would consult with legislative leaders to limit
a session to a day or two.

Washington and about 30 other states built their current budgets on
an expectation that Congress would continue higher Medicaid matching
payments, which were part of an economic stimulus package.

Congress has not yet decided on whether to continue the additional
Medicaid dollars.

It was hoped that lawmakers could wait until they return in January
to deal with potential budget problems.

Heading into the 2011-2013 spending period, the state's operating
budget is about $3 billion in the red - and the slow economic
recovery is forcing fundamental changes in state operations including
brief unpaid furloughs of state employees.

To give the public a say in expected cuts, Gregoire is asking for
ideas on a website - www.transformwabudget.ideascale.com - and
holding a series of forums.

Forums were held Monday in Tacoma and Wednesday in Everett.

Two more are planned next week - Tuesday in Vancouver and on Thursday
in Spokane.