Spokane7
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April 23, 2011 in City
Special session starts Tuesday in Olympia
Gregoire sees ‘tough work’ on finalizing state budgets
OLYMPIA – The Legislature will go into extra innings Tuesday morning after finishing its regular session Friday with major decisions still to be made.
Gov. Chris Gregoire, who called a 30-day special session to finish work on the budget and other related fiscal issues, said she was disappointed the Legislature didn’t reform the state’s education system but not overly critical that it needed more time to write its budgets.
“The Legislature has come together and done significant work on behalf of the people,” she said Friday afternoon. But differences between the House and Senate over a $32.5 billion operating budget must still be negotiated, a $3 billion capital projects budget must be passed, and a long list of bills that will change laws to reconcile the budget with billions of dollars worth of cuts must be passed.
“We’ve got tough work ahead,” she said. But legislators should not consider it “Round 2,” with a wide-open charter to discuss all topics, she said.
Standing with the Republican and Democratic leaders of both chambers, Gregoire said the session will be narrowly focused on the three major state budgets – general operating, capital projects and transportation – and changes to state law needed to make those budgets work. Those changes may need as many as 60 separate pieces of legislation to pass, and some of them involve “tough policy decisions.”
The proclamation calling the special session describes its limited scope, and bills not related to the budget won’t come up unless Gregoire and the four legislative leaders agree. Asked if the Legislature will take the full 30 days available under the state constitution, she replied: “I hope not, but never say never.”
Some Republican lawmakers were critical of the need for a special session. Sen. Kevin Parker, R-Spokane, said legislators knew the general scope of the state’s fiscal problems in November, and even though it is expected to have more money in the coming biennium than it has now, it was disappointing they couldn’t finish in the allotted time. Rep. Joel Kretz, R-Wauconda, called it frustrating.
“This is beyond frustrating, it’s ridiculous,” said Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy. “It’s like they gave up.”
One of the budget pieces fell into place Friday, hours before the regular session adjourned. The House passed and sent to the governor a $9 billion transportation bill that includes money for roads, bridges and ferry projects for the next two years.
Included in a 47-page summary of projects the bill will cover are $72 million to continue work on the North-South freeway and $15.7 million for Interstate 90 corridor improvements in the Spokane Valley. It sets aside $12 million to replace the 67-year-old ferry at Keller, although much of that comes from sources other than the state.
The list of projects, which total about $5.6 billion, also calls for the state to spend $32 million to finish construction of a 64-car ferry for Puget Sound, and spend another $124 million to begin work on a new 144-car ferry. Ferry riders will face a 2.5 percent increase in rates in each of the next two years.
It sets aside money to shore up slopes, resurface state highways, renovate rest stops, improve rail lines and ferry terminals and handle runoff.
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
ZagChuck on April 23 at 3:29 a.m.
At $32.5Billion, this biennium budget is $4.6 Billion more than the last ( it was $27.9 Billion). I don’t know anyone who received a 17% percent increase over the last two years, but I’m certain that anyone who did wouldn’t be at the bosses desk asking for more, but that’s exactly what the fee increases and tax increases are all about; Democrats not able to control their addiction to OUR money.
A 17% increase in spending is still not enough for the Democrats, though. They’ve gone beyond their well deserved title of “tax and spend liberals,” and have become the party of “Over-tax and Over-spend liberals.” Every voter should be outraged!!
Now, for the 2nd time in as many years, the taxpayers are going to be on the hook for 30 days of “Special session” at $20,000 per day. What were these elected officials doing in Olympia since January???
Democrats control both houses and the Governor’s mansion, all they have to do is write a budget and pass it. They are the only ones to blame for this horrible management of our state and our money. Call them daily and tell them to do the job they were elected to do.
DickAdams on April 23 at 5:36 a.m.
I`m outraged. Big time. How dare Gregoire say, “The Legislature has come together and done significant work on behalf of the people”. If the ledger was in the private sector, they would be filing bankruptcy, Chapter 7. “On behalf of the people” says, Gregoire and Lisa Brown, with their reckless spending habits, when they have shackled the taxpayers of the state of Washington. By all rights, Gregoire and her spend thrift friends should be impeached. What a disgraceful group of thief’s.
Ninch on April 23 at 7:02 a.m.
Good decision on the Keller Ferry…it is old, small, and quite an adventure even in calm waters.
Please note that except for the Keller Ferry (free and integral part of a state highway) that other ferries will be charging increased fees to help offset costs.
The article should have referred to matching federal transportation funding for I-90, U.S. 395, etc.
These are authentic transportation projects and in fact create real jobs. No boondoggles here.
berrybestfarm on April 23 at 7:35 a.m.
I understand the frustration and urge to say the democrats are over spending. Thank goodness we have a balanced budget requirement in our state so they can not over spend! This is not an excuse however to keep giving to special interests at the expense of the vulnerable or basic infrastructure needs.
Dennis Patterson—Deer Park
ZagChuck on April 23 at 9:01 a.m.
Dennis, if only that were true.
One of the Dems’ many tricks is to delay a $250million payment to K-12 Education by one day, pushing it into the next fiscal year, and kicking the can further down the road to deal with later. Deficit spending with accounting tricks. is just one of MANY examples.
Let’s also not forget their budget, which spends every dime received, is predicated on projected revenue. 23 of the last 24 quarterly revenue projections have been wrong, and so is this one. Before we reach the end of this budget cycle, we’ll have over-spent the revenue. Then we can pay $20,000 per day for another month of “special session” while the democrats still fail to do their jobs.
Smokie on April 23 at 9:31 a.m.
Too bad there is a balanced budget requirement in our state. Republicans could have done their usual borrow and spend tactic to provide more tax loopholes for the wealthy, always at the expense of the middle class they are intent on destroying. Who wouldn’t vote Republican then?
ericdx on April 23 at 12:01 p.m.
Smokie,
And how would they do that, since the Democrats controll both chambers and the governor’s mansion, how would the Republicans manage that feat. The fact is, it is your own beloved democrats that are doing those things, so do even try to blame this on teh republicans. you and your crony democrats have controlled the governors office for over 20 years,. and the state houses have not been under republican control for even longer (at best the senate was 50/50) Much of the fault for the state finance issues lie squarly at the feet of the democratic party of Wasington, and your tax and overspend mentality, pared with your willingess to sway to special interests at the cost of basic services (remember, the prime duty of the legislature is to ensure adiquate funding of school, yet how much has been cut from schools in the last 6 years? Closing on a half a billion dollars or more?)
Get a clue, put down the democrat kool aide, and pull your head out.
Dazzeetrader11 on April 23 at 12:56 p.m.
SMokie…there’s very little in the way of loopholes. ALmost none anymore. WHy don’t you read the other comments and even the article. This is ALL just Dem Lib spending when nobody was looking or when they ALL were looking. Cut the unions out. Have the Casinos pay real tax. Cut every branch of government both in number and in salary. Get rid of L & I. Forget prevailing wages., Every one should be cut. And quite whining over cutting programs that were’nt even there 10 years ago.
Survival depends on those things.