Next Week is Budget Week

The Senate budget comes out Monday, with the House version scheduled for a Tuesday release. The initial releases, with no revenue package attached, suggest dire consequences, inviting interest group support for higher taxes.

 

Here's Brad Shannon's report.

Budget writers in both chambers have talked about a $9 billion budget shortfall for 2009-11. But that's a misleading term, referring to the shortfall between the hopes of continuing spending levels from 2008 and the reality of state revenues available in 2009-11.

[Sen. Rodney] Tom said earlier this week that cuts to real programs amount to about $3.7 billion to close the $9 billion gap. 

Joe Turner writes that Speaker Frank Chopp says decisions about a tax package - if any  - will be made over the next two weeks.

 

The Seattle Times reports on a possible $500 million hit for higher education, public school teacher layoffs, and other cuts.  Rich Roesler tells us Sen. Adam Kline supports new revenues, including an income tax. Clearly, Kline has company.

 

We continue to believe that, difficult as the resetting will be this session, spending must be reset to a sustainable level - a level not requiring increasing the tax burden on families and employers.