Contact Information

  • Governor's Communications Office, 360-902-4136

Gov. Gregoire's statement on budget final approval

For Immediate Release: April 25, 2009

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire released the following statement today on the passage of the 2009�11 operating budget:

�Reaching an agreement on the 2009�11 operating budget required nothing less than great courage and compromise from our elected lawmakers. I applaud the members of the House and Senate � especially House Speaker Frank Chopp, Representative Kelli Linville and Representative Mark Ericks, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, Senator Margarita Prentice and Senator Rodney Tom � who tackled the difficult decisions head-on to negotiate a responsible budget that will guide Washington through the next biennium.

�The budget contains plenty of pain and sacrifice for Washingtonians. In the weeks, months and even years to come, the people of Washington will feel the pain of the difficult choices required to address a budget crisis. This year is all about austerity and sacrifice, but equally it is about wise and careful choices to ensure we come out of this recession strong while sustaining and creating jobs for our hard-working families right now.

�Now the work really begins. We have to take this frugal budget and make it work. We must and will do the work to serve Washingtonians efficiently and intelligently -- all within the new limits set by this budget.�


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