Spokane7
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January 5, 2011 in City
Washington lawmakers balk at cutting safety nets
No tax hikes on agenda, except transportation
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, talks to reporters as Senate Republican Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, looks on.
(Full-size photo)
OLYMPIA – There’s no chance the Legislature will ask voters for a tax increase for anything – except maybe for highways and other transportation projects – legislative leaders said Tuesday.
But Democratic and Republican leaders of both chambers all balked at a proposal by Gov. Chris Gregoire to end two key programs for low-income residents, state-sponsored Basic Health coverage and payments to disabled people who aren’t able to work, known as the Disability Lifeline.
Appearing at a forum to preview the upcoming session, the four legislative leaders agreed they’d have to find ways to cut billions from the state’s general fund spending without raising taxes to fill some of the gap between expected revenues and the cost of state programs and salaries.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said there was a chance the Legislature could put a “transportation package” on the November ballot, asking voters for a tax increase to pay for major road and infrastructure projects. “Any details would obviously have to be worked out. I’d like to see the North-South Corridor as part of the projects.”
Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, was doubtful: “The state doesn’t have any money. It’s going to be difficult to get anything past the voters.”
All were opposed to Gregoire’s proposal to eliminate state-funded Basic Health and the Disability Lifeline.
“I don’t think it’s in our best interest to eliminate this,” House Speaker Frank Chopp said.
Hewitt agreed, saying the programs need some revisions, such as a reduction in benefit payments or tighter limits on eligibility, but were still needed to “catch the people at the bottom.” The state might consider making everyone reapply for the programs, as it did in 2003, which resulted in a 30 percent drop in participation because some recipients were no longer eligible.
“We’re going to look for an alternative to completely eliminating them,” Brown said.
Party leaders disagreed sharply on how big of a role cuts to state employee wages and benefits would play in budget discussions. Labor costs account for nearly three-fourths of the state budget, said Hewitt, so labor will have to be part of any solution.
State employees already have wage freezes and furloughs, Brown said. They may face more cuts, but “collective bargaining is not the fundamental cause of the recession or the economy we’re in,” she added.
Supermajority for taxes unconstitutional, judge rules 
west on January 05 at 8:30 a.m.
Wow, 75 percent of all the billions that state gets in revenue..goes to employees. No wonder there is no money for anything else. Any private work place in America that gave 75 percent of their profits to their employee’s would be bankrupt in month. Go figure……simple economics 101….
johnclarke on January 05 at 9:35 a.m.
agreed West. While Labor is always the highest expense of any business….wow.
MrNatural on January 05 at 10:50 a.m.
Keep in mind that the calculations regarding labor costs these days include a lot of overhead, much of which goes right back to the private sector in this state.
I would like the Spokesman to investigate just how the labor costs are broken down and what the net benefit actually is to the individual state employee.
Include the qualifications and certifications these employees must have as well.
regardless it is a shame that those who can least afford these cuts are the ones that suffer the most
Bruce (aka thatoneguy) on January 05 at 10:03 p.m.
Jobs jobs jobs… hahaha, they didn’t tell us they meant THEIR jobs.
joetheinformed on January 06 at 9:48 a.m.
I don’t know what Gregoire’s game is, but she lost me as a supporter. So easily putting poor people to the guillotine after CLAIMING she would protect the most vulnerable in this state has made me wish I never voted for her. If she can’t find a way to cut state worker’s pay further or forgo unnecessary projects to make up for budget deficits then she has lost my support. The first thing out of her mouth was to eliminate programs for people who’s lives depend on them. She is no Gary Locke, that is for sure. I thought in Washington State we care about our most vulnerable, not stomp on them.
Bob_Knows on March 06 at 4:45 p.m.
So 75% of money goes to employees? How about we have a lay off and cut the bloated staff? How about cutting pay by 50% and putting up a “Help Wanted” sign at the new pay rate. I’d bet we could fill all the jobs by Friday, if we started on Thursday. Maybe the state gravy train needs to end.