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December 5, 2011 in News
Budget chief to Legislature: Time’s a-wasting, pass a budget
State spends $41 million a day
OLYMPIA — The state can’t wait until next year to make changes to its budget that will reduce spending, the state’s budget director told legislators today.
In response to recent comments by legislators that they doubt significant budget revisions will be accomplished in the special session, Office of Financial Management Director Marty Brown said the state currently spends $41 million per day.
“Every day that goes by, we can’t get that money back,” Brown wrote in an e-mail to legislators that was also sent to reporters. ” Your state agencies need time to put into effect the policy and budget changes that affect clients and providers all over the state. Faced with all this, I do want to say that time is of the essence.”
Legislators were called into a special session that began last Monday because economic projections show the state is planning to spend about $1.4 billion on programs, policies and salaries than it will take in through June 30, 2013, the end of the two-year fiscal period.
On Nov. 17, Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed some $2 billion in cuts to state programs and departments, urging the Legislature to pass that amount in a supplemental budget, then ask voters to approve a half-cent sales tax for the next three years to “buy back” about $500 million worth of programs.
Since the special session began last month, however, neither house has exhibited a sense of urgency about the budget. Although each chamber’s budget-writing Ways and Means committees have held hearings on the governor’s proposal — and have more scheduled this week — neither chamber has taken a floor vote on a substantive bill. Actual floor activity has been minimal, with the Senate holding “pro forma” sessions from the middle of last week through today in which most members need not even show up on the floor.
The special session can run a maximum of 30 days, which would be Dec. 28, although Gregoire has said she hopes legislators can agree on budget revisions before Christmas.
At a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on Friday afternoon, however, a senior Republican member openly doubted that any budget action would occur before next year.
Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, asked if anyone in the room thought the Legislature “would vote the governor’s budget out by the end of special session… I don’t think it’s going to happen. Are we really going to do that?”
Committee Chairman Ross Hunter, D-Medina, replied that was a question “the chair is unable to answer.”
Hinkle asked for a show of hands for those who thought the Legislature would vote on the governor’s budget. Hunter didn’t allow that vote to proceed, and began taking testimony on a bill to reduce the state’s payments to rural hospitals.
In his e-mail to legislators, Brown warned against waiting until next year’s regular session, which starts on Jan. 9 and runs for 60 days.
“Many of the savings assumptions in the Governor’s proposals are based upon January implementation dates. If we go to February or later our assumed savings drop and other more difficult decisions need to be made,” he wrote. “I intended to make some of these points in my testimony earlier this week but circumstances prevented it.”
Brown’s testimony before the Senate Ways and Means Committee was interrupted by protesters who have flocked to the Capitol to urge legislators to avoid some or all of the cuts proposed by Gregoire through the elimination of certain tax exemptions or other tax increases.
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steptoe_fan on December 05 at 12:37 p.m.
the crime here is that the current gov called this session AND her party has no clue as to what should be done !
pass ALL of her cuts and cut an additional 10 percent just to be on the safe side, for ONCE.
state democrats of the legislature are next to blame. not one of them understand the concept of proactive.
Scoutster on December 05 at 1:03 p.m.
Those of you who think this is easy, go here and balance the budget.
http://www.educationvoters.org/budget-calculator/
_Obamanation_ on December 05 at 1:50 p.m.
Took all of about thirty seconds Scoutster. I don’t see the hang up! It’s time to cut and move on.
cryssT on December 05 at 4:55 p.m.
Those legislators better enjoy the per diem from the special session and next January because if nothing gets done or improves they will all be replaced. Wonder if that makes them eligible for unemployment?
DickAdams on December 05 at 6:54 p.m.
I agree with 3 of posters. I shall not waste my time using the link Scoutster provided.
D Statler on December 05 at 7:35 p.m.
There is so much waste in the upper levels of state’s departments and commissions. The overpaid top regulators at the UTC alone would cut a cool million. One need not look any farther down the list but the very next department. Cut that top administrator and save another $130,000 . I don’t understand why most of these do nothings were not cut earlier. The workers can do their jobs without the mismanagement.
Privatization of services is another great alternative in some cases. Services and wages coming from somewhere besides our taxes.
I find it very funny that the last budget was agreed to when it is obvious that numbers didn’t add up.Here they are again. Back in Olympia pointing fingers. We the people are in for some serious cuts. Mainly because these elected officials won’t take the time to start at the top of the budget and trim the fat. Then cut less of the muscle that really keeps the state running. This special session should set the tone for the next elections. Accountability will be had at the ballot box.
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on December 05 at 8:02 p.m.
Obamanation: took less than 30 seconds actually.
Go to “new revenues,” click “income tax for high earners, paired with lower property tax rates” — reduces state property tax by 20% and eliminates the B&O tax for all small businesses. Would be offset by a tax on all joint incomes above $400,000 ($200,000 for individuals). Boom.
Pigrobin on December 05 at 8:23 p.m.
Budget!! We don’t need no stinkin’ budget.
Dazzeetrader11 on December 05 at 8:57 p.m.
Cut the jobs she has. Unions jobs should be cut by 1/3rd. We have jobs…just not union jobs. Inslee will be no better since the Unions are already endorsing him for his “donations” to them in return. This practice has bitten Gregoire and Wa St taxpayers.
So glad when she’s gone.
So glad when Obama’s gone. SO glad when Verner’s go…wait she IS gone but still trying to sign union contracts. She should be sent out early for this.
nslopeofw on December 05 at 10:32 p.m.
Took me about a half an hour. Saved the kids and teachers, got rid of all the freebee’s for those who can afford to pay their fair share, and increased zero tax. It was easy.