Blueprint Deserves Reasoned Response

Before Washington state’s economy slows - like I-5 during rush hour - Gov. Gary Locke and the Legislature should intervene with a budget designed to increase the economy’s capacity and resilience.

In order for them to do so, however, they’ll have to rise above a partisan gridlock that could make a bad day on Seattle’s freeways look pleasant by comparison.

Locke got things off to a good start this week. His budget proposal for the next two years sets broad priorities that match the state’s needs. The Legislature will scrutinize his proposal and improve it. But it ought to give his priorities the respect they deserve. And, the Legislature’s leaders ought to be on notice that if they begin erecting roadblocks for the sake of partisan combat and ideological dogmatism, they’ll deserve statewide denunciation for the harm that this will do. Too much is at stake - state services are essential to our quality of life - to convert this legislative session into a warm-up for the next election.

The governor has embraced recommendations of the Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation and calls transportation relief the No. 1 priority. Good. He supports major structural reforms to increase efficiency and accountability. That’s crucial. He wants the Legislature to discuss the scope of new transportation projects before turning to the various ways to finance them. That’s wise. Success hinges on bipartisanship; if either partisan camp locks up and attacks the other no progress can occur and the people will suffer. Spokane, with several costly road and transit needs, has as much stake in this as any region does.

The governor, in our view, is both realistic and reasonable to propose lifting the Initiative 601 spending limit - imposed by voters - to allow in some additional, available revenue to pay for the education enhancements the voters mandated this fall. The alternative would be a blood bath of truly savage cuts in higher education and social services - and that would be foolhardy.

It would be foolhardy because the ultimate priority this year is to set the stage for a stronger, broader economy. To that end, the state must keep a safety net while making targeted investments. That’s why we applaud Locke’s proposals to help the aluminum industry survive, his call for rural economic development projects and his funding for stronger high-tech education programs. It’s why we appreciate the dollars he seeks to fight methamphetamine trafficking - a corrosive scourge here in Spokane.

The governor’s budget does include some features that deserve legislative scrutiny. It isn’t clear he adequately funds the additional college enrollments he proposes and, while he funds economic development investments in Tacoma and rural areas, Spokane is in serious economic straits and seeks investments as well.