Bipartisan coalition forms majority in Washington State Senate -Coalition focused on jobs, education and budget with shared committee structure

by | Dec 11, 2012 | Olympia News and Views

Posted 12/10/2012

 

OLYMPIA…Democrat and Republican senators announced today that they have formed a Majority Coalition Caucus to lead the Senate during the 2013 legislative session. Twenty-five state senators have committed themselves to a set of principles that will guide the work of the new caucus, including:

  • promoting job growth and a vibrant economy;
  • creating a sustainable budget and living within the state’s means;
  • providing a world-class education system through reforms and enhancements;
  • governing collaboratively to protect the most vulnerable while prioritizing the needs of middle-class Washingtonians; and
  • setting priorities for state government and holding it accountable. (more…)

Definition of a state budget – actual cuts, or cuts in “proposed” spending?

by | Nov 11, 2012 | Olympia News and Views

By RACHEL LA CORTE
Business Week

Posted 11/11/2012

 

OLYMPIA, Wash.

Revenue, reform and, of course, cuts. Those are the options Washington state lawmakers will weigh this month as they try to balance a budget deficit projected to be about a billion dollars through the middle of 2013.

But what, exactly, is a budget cut? It depends on whom you ask.

For some, a cut is a removal of something that currently exists: A prison that is shuttered. A state employee who is laid off. A person who received subsidized health care from the state who now doesn’t. (more…)