“We will be carefully considering this proposal in the days and weeks to come. But any of the choices we make will have a serious negative impact on the social structure of our state, the education of our children, and the future of our economy. We are out of good options.
Clearly, we will pass a balanced budget before the session ends, just as we always do. And, just as always, it will not look exactly like the one the Governor has proposed today.
How it will differ I clearly can’t say at this point. But it is important to remember that our enemy is the recession, not the people of our state. The steps we take must reflect the kind of state we want Washington to be in the future.”