WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Statement from House Speaker Frank Chopp regarding Governor Gregoire’s budget proposal:

“This recession has had an unprecedented impact on our state’s economy, and after three straight years of deep budget cuts, we have very few options left.  I understand just how difficult it was for the Governor to write this budget – we are facing the same bleak numbers in the Legislature.

“I am very heartened that she included a revenue package in her proposal.  The service reductions and program eliminations that will result from cutting $2 billion more in the current biennium will be devastating for people in communities all over the state.  We owe it to our school children, to our citizens with disabilities, and, frankly, to the future of our state to have a discussion about alternatives.”