Governor Gregoire unveils Supplemental Budget Proposal

About a week or so ago, it was disseminated to the public that the Washington State has a budget surplus of $1.4 billion. Shortly afterward, Governor Christine Gregoire announced she would release her Supplemental budget proposal, stressing to her Democratic colleagues in the legislature that the "extra" money in the state coffers was not to go for new programs, but to "pay the bills" (that is, existing expenses). Some R's (Republicans) in the legislature skeptically applauded her assertion that the money should cover existing programs. Some D's in the legislature took offense to what was construed by her as an indication that Democrats love to spend, spend, spend, and press releases were issued frantically to assuage the voting public that spending would be kept under control.

Today, Gov. Gregoire unveiled her budget proposal:

Gregoire releases budget that blends spending and savings

Governor Gregoire has proposed a supplemental budget that would take the one-point-four (b) billion dollar surplus and increase spending by about 500 (m) million dollars and put about 900 (m) million in savings. Her plan calls for 223 (m) million dollars in new or expanded spending on education, energy, pensions and Puget Sound cleanup. Her plan also includes 281 million for a teachers' pay hike, higher human services caseloads and school enrollments and health care. Gregoire wants to put 905 (m) million dollars into savings and paying down the state's pension liability. The supplemental budget adds to the two-year 26 (b) billion dollar spending plan that was approved earlier this year. The governor's proposal goes to the Legislature, which convenes January ninth.

Here's another one:

Washington governor wants to boost emergency systems

Washington coastal counties would get a new radio warning system for tsunamis under Governor Gregoire's plan to boost emergency preparedness. The governor's supplemental budget proposal to the Legislature includes half-a-million dollars to install hazard broadcasting radios (in Grays Harbor, Clallam, Jefferson and Pacific counties). She also is asking lawmakers for another half-million dollars to improve communication networks for emergency workers. Gregoire says lessons from the country's worst disasters have shown that the state should be ready for up to five days without help from the federal government.

In the interest of my readers, I will be making my rebuttal points one at a time (I've found excessivly long posting to be a real "snore", and I'm sure you do, too.)