Governor calls latest session ‘very successful’
The recent legislative session was “very successful” because it increased state funding for education and health care, as well as setting the stage for a rainy-day fund that can be used in an economic downturn, Gov. Chris Gregoire said Tuesday.
In an interview with The Spokesman-Review editorial board, Gregoire brushed aside criticism that the budget increases approved for this two-year budget cycle could lead to shortfalls down the road.
Although economic forecasts are projecting a $600 million shortfall in four years, those numbers are just estimates, she said. Two years ago they were projecting shortfalls, and the state actually wound up with a surplus. State tax revenues currently are higher than expected, and imports and exports remain strong, she added.
“I just can’t tell you where we’ll be in two years,” she said.
The budget spends about $1.8 billion more for education, giving voter-approved cost-of-living increases to school staff, small class sizes and accounting for inflation and population growth, she said. Voters will be asked to approve a constitutional amendment for the rainy-day fund in November.
On other topics, Gregoire and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown agreed that even though a study group has recommended scrapping the state’s current tax system for an income tax, it’s not likely to happen soon.
“Now is not the time,” the governor said. “I can tell you that the electorate isn’t there.”
Gregoire said she supports Attorney General Rob McKenna’s call to investigate possible price gouging by oil companies. She launched similar investigations when she was attorney general but never proved anything.
“Just because we haven’t found anything doesn’t mean there isn’t something there,” she said.
She said she also supports legislation to limit the president’s ability to call up the state’s National Guard troops for domestic service. States are willing to help each other out in cases of emergency, but should be allowed to control their own troops, she said.