Budget session Thursday
Got a thought on how to help solve the state's budget woes?
Thursday may be your chance in Eastern Washington. That's when the Office of Financial Management brings its road show to the Lair Student Center auditorium at Spokane Community College, for two hours, starting at 5 p.m.
The hearings are proving pretty popular -- or at least well-attended. The first session in Tacoma drew 450 people and the second in Everett close to 400. The governor's office moved the Spokane session to a larger venue to accommodate a similar response in Spokane.
Because of the big crowds, people who speak will be asked to keep their comments to two minutes to allow as many other speakers as possible. They'll take written testimony, and people who want to offer ideas but don't want to speak will be allowed to submit comments in writing.
And if you've got other plans for Thursday, but want to submit your ideas, you can do it online, by clicking here to go to the governor's budget web site .
Gov. Chris Gregoire assigned OFM to hold the hearings to keep them focused on budget matters, but she stopped by the first two. There are no plans for her to show up in Spokane, despite what you may have heard on TV.