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July 22, 2010 in City
Governor may call special legislative session
SEATTLE — Gov. Chris Gregoire says if $480 million in Medicaid matching money doesn’t come from the federal government by Aug. 9 she’ll have to consider a special session of the Legislature to deal with the budget.
She told KOMO Radio today she’ll consult with legislative leaders to limit a session to a day or two.
Gregoire says the state is facing a projected $3 billion in the next budget and the slow economic recovery is forcing fundamental changes in state operations.
To give the public a say in expected cuts, Gregoire is asking for ideas on a website and holding a series of forums. Meetings were held Monday in Tacoma and Wednesday in Everett. Others are planned Tuesday in Vancouver and next Thursday Spokane.
© Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Couple acquitted of caging 2 boys 
liarsinnews on July 22 at 11:34 a.m.
Gregoire needs to be shown the door and never be seen or heard from her again!!!
PhiltheBibliophil on July 22 at 12:10 p.m.
Blame the Party of NO in Washington. D.C. Republicans stand for, no taxes, no jobs, no benefits, no restoration of infrastructure, nothing made in America, no nothing except greed, stupid wars and further destruction of everything that ever stood for America. Show them the door in November! Gergoire may not be the answer, but Dino sure as heck isn’t either! Bring back the Magnuson’s, Jackson’s, Foley’s, and especially Dan Evans!
Coffee on July 22 at 1:10 p.m.
I will and that will be the democrats since they are the dominant party in both Washington State and DC.
mikeln on July 22 at 2:35 p.m.
Could it be the useless wars we are in that are the real problem? These wars serve only the wealthy and you can bet their children are not the ones dying or coming home, damaged for life, some of them ending up in prison. Stop these wars for profit or our nation will cease to exist. The wealthy can chose to live elsewhere while we pay the price.
hersfeld on July 22 at 2:39 p.m.
I am sick and tired of hearing how our government employees are “so underpaid” or paid at “poverty wages.” For a dose of cold reality go the State Department of Employment Security’s database for a report of exactly what the average wages are for our “underpaid” government employees. Link follows. http://www.workforceexplorer.com/admin/uploadedPublications/10470_OES_Databook_6-2010.pdf
For example, our “underpaid” elementary teachers on average make $56,457, a firefighter makes $63,742, a court clerk makes $39,799. These figures DO NOT include the gold plate medical, vacation, and generally guaranteed employment.
Give every government employee an across the board 10% paycut. It happens in the private sector so what makes the public sector immune.
mikeln on July 22 at 3:03 p.m.
Gee, give a person a living wage, one that can support a family, with safegards to keep them from losing everything and all you hear are complaints. What do you get when you cut their pay……. a Wal-mart employee, in other words, someone who lives in fear of, well, everything. We are going to hell at the speed of a bullet.
SpokaneLiberal on July 22 at 3:06 p.m.
The average teacher in Washington also has 18 years of experience. 56K for a teacher with almost 20 years in is not that highly paid. Compare it to any corporate job when someone is 20 years in.
Few if any private companies have done 10% cuts in pay. Crane operators make more than teachers and firefighters. Industrial designers make more. Pastors make more than teachers.
MrNatural on July 22 at 3:19 p.m.
I am sick and tired of hearing how our private sector employees are so “under paid” or paid “poverty wages”…when is the last time you checked a bankers, brokers, doctors, nurse, or pharmaceutical reps pay stub. Or how about a plumber, contractor or electrician and what they charge?…I haven’t seen these private sector occupations taking a ten percent cut. I don’t see anyone in general government service as a wealthy person but I can tell you that they should be paid well enough to put up with unappreciative lambasting morons who find them always a convenient scapegoat for their personal misery. Furthermore those wage calculations also account for a ton of indirect costs and overhead that do not go to the worker (heat, light, computers). All these people want is to do a good job for the public they serve and to have the common respect afforded anyone else
The torch and pitchfork crowd always harps on less government and them gripes when they can’t get service… The demand continues to climb for public safety and infrastructure. We expect people with education or professional training in government positions to sustain a good standard of living but don’t want to offer them a normal wage to put up with the constant crap they get from the condescending malcontents who wouldn’t know humble if it bit them on the rear.
Your problems are not the state employees who are doing their best with what the public affords them. Next time you need a policeman or a fireman or teachers go grab one of the numerous Wal-Mart greeters or burger flippers because if that’s all you want to pay then that’s the kind of professional service you’re going to get.
hersfeld on July 22 at 3:28 p.m.
Government employees make upwards of twice as much as the average private sector employee.
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/Want-to-get-rich_-Work-for-feds-92316619.html#ixzz0mW8Cif9t
Data compiled by the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis reveals the extent of the pay gap between federal and private workers. As of 2008, the average federal salary was $119,982, compared with $59,909 for the average private sector employee. In other words, the average federal bureaucrat makes twice as much as the average working taxpayer. Add the value of benefits like health care and pensions, and the gap grows even bigger. The average federal employee’s benefits add $40,785 to his annual total compensation, whereas the average working taxpayer’s benefits increase his total compensation by only $9,881. In other words, federal workers are paid on average salaries that are twice as generous as those in the private sector, and they receive benefits that are four times greater.
spokanada on July 22 at 3:36 p.m.
Hersfeld,
What does the wages of federal employees have to do with the current budget crisis in Washington State? You are comparing apples with oranges.
MrNatural on July 22 at 3:41 p.m.
Well Hersfeld…you seem to be using these statistics like a drunk uses a lampost…for support but not illumination.
If you get a chance ask your average fireman, or any city clerical support person what they take home…then you will know the truth…oh and don’t forget to ask them about all the education training and experience they needed to get the job out of thousands of applicants.
lewis8457 on July 22 at 3:52 p.m.
Can you say State Income Tax? Its a coming this is one more good reason to have one.
MrNatural on July 22 at 4:05 p.m.
You’re right Lewis…I think that because this is an election year we won’t hear anything about raising taxes until January 1st and then watch out. The Fed, State and locals will raise taxes…no matter which party wins.
SpokaneLiberal on July 22 at 4:37 p.m.
If government workers are so well paid and private sector so underpaid then a high earners income tax will be a back door 10% cut plus pick up some change from Gates and Allen. You must support an income tax right hersfeld?
Albert on July 22 at 5:36 p.m.
Vote for me! I will cut State employees by 40% - like immediately. I will then cut all State payrolls by 25% and require that all employees pay 50% of their “benefit costs”, just like the private sector does. I will REQUIRE all persons who receive ANY form of State aide to show proof of citizenship AND residency in Washington for at least the past 24 months. Finally, I will appoint Chrisy as the Director of Liberty Park.
Orange on July 22 at 5:53 p.m.
Hate to say it, but I have to agree, if the economy doesn’t make a very fast rebound, we’re facing income taxes.
Dino for Gov. I love saying that. Creates more posts. :)))
Orange on July 22 at 6:42 p.m.
And you have to stop with the tax breaks we’re giving to the data centers popping up in Central Washington (Quincy). Maybe when the economy rebounds, but this is really bad timing.
misjustice on July 22 at 8:01 p.m.
@ Orange; don’t you mean Dino for Senate?
He’s not running for Governor…
Orange on July 23 at 5:39 a.m.
Gov Sen who cares. He’ll run for Gov again some day.
misjustice on July 23 at 8:24 a.m.
…and lose, again! ; )