Gov. Gregoire's statement on state Senate budget proposal

For Immediate Release: February 27, 2008

OLYMPIA � �I appreciate the hard work of the state Senate on its budget proposal.

�As with the House of Representatives� budget, I am encouraged to see that the Senate included funding for many of my safety initiatives, my highest policy priority for this session. I am particularly pleased with the investments to better monitor sex offenders and to improve safety for our communities and vulnerable individuals. As recent events across the nation have demonstrated, we must do more to improve campus safety.

�In addition, I am pleased that the Senate proposal included funding for flood control projects in the Chehalis Basin, an area ravaged by floods last December where residents need our help.

�While the state�s economy remains strong, it is not immune to slowing national economic trends. With that in mind, I think we must leave a healthier surplus than proposed by both the Senate and the House.

�With proposals from both the House and the Senate now on the table, we can begin work on finding common ground and narrowing our differences.�

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