In December, as regular readers of this blog likely know, Gov. Chris Gregoire proposed leaving $1.2 billion in state savings this year to help stave off major budget cuts in future lean years.

After a bleak revenue forecast and months of hearings, House and Senate budget writers have instead proposed leaving $750 million in savings. It's still a lot of money, they note.

Not enough, Gregoire said Monday. She called $750 million "simply unacceptable."

So what's acceptable, reporters asked.

Gregoire said she's told lawmakers where that number should be.

So…where should it be?

"I'm not negotiating publicly," the governor said.

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