January 11, 2011 in News, City, Region

Gregoire calls for bold approach to financial crisis

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OLYMPIA – Amid the tension of a state budget some $4.6 billion out of whack and proposals to cut programs for some of the state’s poorest and most vulnerable, Gov. Chris Gregoire tried to sound upbeat Tuesday with a promise Washington would come out of the recession stronger if everyone can just “be bold.”

“We will rebound and we will provide a brighter future for our children,” Gregoire told the Legislature in her annual state of the state speech.

Republican response ranged from cautiously positive to slightly caustic. If Gregoire is serious about some of her reforms for state salaries, unemployment insurance and workers compensation, they’re on board, Republican leaders said; if she’d made some of these changes years ago like they wanted, the state would be in better shape right now.

“The governor has switched parties,” Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, said.

But they promised to oppose some Gregoire proposals like higher fees at state parks and described her plan to reorganize the Puget Sound ferry system as “DOA.”

Democrats also are anxious to see details of the governor’s plans for consolidating state government and education systems, said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane. But Gregoire didn’t bring up two of the most controversial cuts she’s proposed, elimination of state-sponsored Basic Health and the Disability Lifeline, Brown noted.

Those proposals already met with resistance from both parties.

Among the governor’s initiatives:

*A single cabinet department with an appointed secretary to oversee education from preschool through graduate level. It would come with the ability of state colleges and universities to raise tuition to higher levels if state support is lacking.

*Consolidation of other state departments, such as Fish and Wildlife with Natural Resources.

*Changes to unemployment insurance that would cut rates, and to the workers compensation system that would get injured employees back to work quicker and save employers money.

*Reductions in hours for state workers and reforms to state pensions.

The governor has been previewing her legislative initiatives for several weeks with press conferences and briefing papers. So Tuesday’s speech held few surprises, down to the obligatory kudos for successful sports teams like the University of Washington and Eastern Washington University football teams.

But it did mix the talk of dire budget conditions, which has blanketed the Capitol for months, with an upbeat approach.

“It hit the right tone for the times we’re in,” Brown said.

Yes, the choices are difficult, Gregoire said: “You will have choices that keep you awake at night. But our decisions aren’t nearly as tough as those being made by too many of our friends and neighbors who have been forced out of work, out of their homes and out of hope.”

“There are those who say we cannot provide real change,” she said. “This year, let’s prove the cynics and the skeptics wrong.”

Republicans seemed to keep their cynicism in check, but were skeptical on some points. If the governor wants the private sector to pull the state out of the recession, she should do more to cut government regulations, House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt of Chehalis said.

Consolidating education or some of the other agencies may or may not work, “but at least she’s put them on the table,” said state Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield.

Democrats are anxious to see the specifics of Gregoire’s government reforms because it’s difficult to put together the 2011-13 budget without details on the size and structure of the agencies, Brown said.

Seven comments on this story so far. Add yours!

• 

  mikeln on January 11 at 7:26 p.m.

  I thought cutting regulations got us in the mess we are in now. By private sector, I’m sure they are talking about the banks.

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  Dazzeetrader11 on January 11 at 10:25 p.m.

  Sorry Mike…it’s the unions that are the foundation for continued failure in Wa St. It’s funny how she won’t cut those pensions being supported by the sate. She’d rather somehow blame the Pubs for cutting social services when she, her favorite tribes ( who pay nothing) and her unions (who get everything. including big salaries, big benefits, big pensions.all funded by the taxpayer). Her and Verner have a lot of nerve calling for “boldness” when they themselves know the source of the problems with deficits.

  Verner’s worse…she doens’t have REAL deficits..only “proposed” ones.and who gives her thosenumbers?…Cooley and his crew. This expalins why, despite all her whining, nothing negative ever happens.

  She wants re-election and she say enything to get that. At least Gregoire’s on the way out. Verner will bleed Spokane for 5 more years. Gregoire has done nothing but generate debt. Lisa Brown (her protege in waiting) will do the same thing…

• 

  polistra on January 12 at 4:37 a.m.

  Cynics are never wrong about politicians. Well no, cynics are usually too optimistic and sunny.

• 

  DHF on January 12 at 6:27 a.m.

  I am so proud of our Gov. She finally stepped up to the pay window and now she realize’s that we have a problem. I attribute that to the additional brain cell that she grew recently which now makes two. Hopefully she can share her new found wisdom with her Democratic Controlled Legislature and get our house back in order.

• 

  hunternomore on January 12 at 7:31 a.m.

  Here’s the thing. The State of WA has no income. The West side supports the whole state. Cutting unemployment. A joke. How about creating more jobs, then people don’t need unemployment. People unemployed in this State are there because they were laid off by employers. This state needs a state income tax. Of course, no one wants to actually pay for anything in this state, which is why it is so poor, in every way.

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  Dazzeetrader11 on January 12 at 8:23 a.m.

  Actually I had a call yesterday from Olympia from one of the senators. The State has penty of income…close to an all time high. It’s the spending that’s crippled the state.

  It’s the doom and gloom talk that might make you believe the state is out of money. Well the State is out of money because She’s spent insanely. All she needs to do is cutr off some of her social programs ( which she’s trying to blame on Repubs…you know those “heartless” ones) and her rewarding the unions with taxpayer money. Those issues get clear up, the state is in the black again. This is Gregoire driven. It’s HER shortfall because SHE spent the state into disaster.

  Same with Verner. Save with Obama with his max debt. Seems like the Liberal Dems will need to change their ways or ask for more taxes to pay for their sins. New Leaders anyone?

• 

  509ifyourlucky on January 12 at 2:03 p.m.

  Why wasn’t there a republican response on the state of the state show.