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Washington revenue drops $760 million in latest forecast

by AP

Posted on November 19, 2009 at 10:54 AM

Updated Thursday, Nov 19 at 12:45 PM

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OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington's state checkbook has lost another $760 million, pushing the state's budget deficit past $2 billion through mid-2011.

Thursday's official revenue forecast sets the table for Gov. Chris Gregoire to write an updated state budget next month. The Legislature will start working on the problem in January.

It's a pretty big problem. Legislators already cut billions from state spending earlier this year. But they'll have to cut even more, or raise taxes, because state revenue continues to shrink.

Gregoire and some top Democratic legislators have said they're open to tax hikes.
 

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southside said on November 19, 2009 at 12:43 PM

of course there open to tax hikes! there democraps!

ptcvolunteer said on November 19, 2009 at 2:47 PM

At least in Waaaahington they have a SALES tax. That way EVERYONE has to contribute more not just "them"...

sadiemae said on November 19, 2009 at 11:21 PM

So Gregoire and her top Democratic legislators were elected by the Dems up in King county, let them absorb the tax hikes!

shallowend said on November 20, 2009 at 8:39 AM

But Washington is so much more business friendly then Oregon! How could this be? I thought that the sales tax was the answer to every thing! If the Washington basic health plan had been cut as Republicans wanted, this would be a non-issue. Fortunately, a conservative think tank (Herritage Foundation) asked the wrong question and concluded that the cuts would result in over 1500 deaths by children under age 5 annually. A number of true "right to life" Republicans then voted against the cuts. Moral: Every cut in state budget has consequences in terms of human beings. It's easy to say "cut the budget" as long as you don't want to acknowledge the human costs.

notsocasual said on November 20, 2009 at 10:12 AM

Shallow, you are quite right. EVERY cut has consequences, but then again every spending choice a state makes has consequences. Personally I don't like the thoughts of making cuts that would result in the death of 1500 kids and neither should any caring human being. But there are likely cuts that could be made that would have limited or no impact on kids and these cuts are the last to be considered because of the fear mongering and the vote pandering of the vast left wing conspiracy. A perfect example from this side of the river comes from a few years back when some Government group (I don't remember which one) paid $200,000 for a program where some "hippies" grew blackberries. Tell me, just how hard is it to grow blackberries that we have to pay some group $200K to do it. Cut the frivolities then I will gladly say raise taxes if there isn't enough to go around. Until then stop playing the "kid card" and playing with emotions.