Advocacy groups oppose cuts in Gregoire proposal
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Gov. Chris Gregoire's budget proposal, suggesting deep cuts to numerous programs across the state, was immediately met with resistance from groups who say the most vulnerable populations will be hardest hit.
And some lawmakers who will be presenting their own budget proposals when the Legislature meets next month noted that Gregoire's budget is not the last word.
Gregoire unveiled a no-new-taxes budget plan Thursday to fix a nearly $6 billion deficit. The cuts under her proposal would be felt across state government, including K-12 and higher education, social services, prisons, health programs and state parks.
Health and human services took the biggest hit, with a combined $1.5 billion in cuts to programs likse free vaccines for poor children and the state's Basic Health Plan, which provides health care for people making less than $22,800 a year.
Also eliminated would be a program that would end cash payments and treatment subsidies for the disabled and other people who cannot work.
Robin Zukoski, an attorney with Columbia Legal Services who represents people under that program, said if it is eliminated, 21,000 people would be left with nothing.
"There's no alternative for these folks," she said.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said one "glaring flaw" in the governor's proposal is the assumption that the state will receive about $1 billion in federal assistance.
She said the cuts, as deep as they already are, may get worse "because of the assumption of the federal money and because we have another revenue forecast to go through."
"I have a concern that people think this is as bad as it could get," she added. "It might not be."
Brown said it will be up to lawmakers to find creative ways to address the budget problems "with the brunt of the impact going on the most vulnerable people in the state."
"I'd like to think there are more options than the governor is currently presenting," Brown said. "It will be our job as the legislative session begins to think about what some of those options are."
And some lawmakers who will be presenting their own budget proposals when the Legislature meets next month noted that Gregoire's budget is not the last word.
Gregoire unveiled a no-new-taxes budget plan Thursday to fix a nearly $6 billion deficit. The cuts under her proposal would be felt across state government, including K-12 and higher education, social services, prisons, health programs and state parks.
Health and human services took the biggest hit, with a combined $1.5 billion in cuts to programs likse free vaccines for poor children and the state's Basic Health Plan, which provides health care for people making less than $22,800 a year.
Also eliminated would be a program that would end cash payments and treatment subsidies for the disabled and other people who cannot work.
Robin Zukoski, an attorney with Columbia Legal Services who represents people under that program, said if it is eliminated, 21,000 people would be left with nothing.
"There's no alternative for these folks," she said.
Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said one "glaring flaw" in the governor's proposal is the assumption that the state will receive about $1 billion in federal assistance.
She said the cuts, as deep as they already are, may get worse "because of the assumption of the federal money and because we have another revenue forecast to go through."
"I have a concern that people think this is as bad as it could get," she added. "It might not be."
Brown said it will be up to lawmakers to find creative ways to address the budget problems "with the brunt of the impact going on the most vulnerable people in the state."
"I'd like to think there are more options than the governor is currently presenting," Brown said. "It will be our job as the legislative session begins to think about what some of those options are."