Gov. Gregoire responds to Senate Democrats' budget proposal

For Immediate Release: March 28, 2005

Gov. Christine Gregoire today commended Senate Democrats on their budget proposal, but said she has concerns about some of the specifics.

�In general, the Senate majority did a good job,� Gregoire said. �I�m looking forward to seeing the budget from the House next week. And then I will work with both the House and the Senate to settle on a budget that all of Washington can live with, and afford.�

The governor said she is heartened to see that the Senate Democrats followed her approach of making budget decisions on three principles: good schools, health care for children, and strengthening the state�s economy.

The governor offered these specific reactions to the budget proposal:

Education

• �I�m pleased to see that the Senate fully funded class-size Initiative 728, and I commend the Senate for funding teacher-pay Initiative 732.�


• �While I also am pleased that the Senate has joined with me in increasing enrollment at state colleges and universities, I am disappointed in the Senate tuition policy, which gives with one hand and then takes away with the other. We can�t go on � as the Senate does � raising tuition and then grabbing new tuition dollars to pay for increased enrollment. I want the state to meet its responsibility to meet the demand for new enrollments, and I want tuition to go to improving the quality of education that students get in our higher education system. I also think the tuition increases the Senate would authorize are too high � I proposed 5 percent at four-years institutions and 3 percent at community colleges � but I�m sure we can work that out.�

Health care

• �The Senate does a good job here. They maintain the current enrollment of 100,000 people in the Basic Health Plan. They fund community clinics and backfill the loss of federal funds for community mental-health services. The Senate increases Medicaid reimbursements rates for hospitals, so they can continue to care for Medicaid patients. And they agree that we need to increase drug- and alcohol-treatment services, so we can help people overcome addictions instead of just watch them wind up in jail, prison or hospitals.�


• �While I am pleased that the Senate agreed with my plan to expand Medicaid medical services to more children, I am disappointed that the Senate did not expand health care for immigrant children. These are the children of farmworkers who harvest our crops. They need health care, too.�

Taxes

• �I�m glad to see there is no general tax increase, which could hurt the state economy. I also am pleased to see that the Senate relies on the same taxes that I proposed to fully fund Initiative 728.�


• �The Senate budget includes a couple hundred million more than I proposed in new tax revenue, but they use it to address concerns that both Republicans and Democrats have about funding the state pension system. I proposed a different method for funding pensions � one that is fiscally sound, but costs less.�

On one last issue, Gregoire said she disagrees with the Senate�s funding of Kids Come First.

�My budget proposed $13 million to improve the way Child Protective Services takes care of abused or neglected children. The Senate provides only $5 million,� she said. �I just don�t understand that. We have to do more to stop abuse and neglect of children.�

# # #