Legislature needs to trim spending

ON Tuesday, the state reported revenues down another $63 million. The Legislature has been in session for a month now and still has not cut state spending for the fiscal year that ends June 30. It should get moving before the hole gets any deeper.

Two unknowns make an excuse for delay. The state's next revenue forecast will be down, but legislators are not sure how much. Federal stimulus money will be coming, but legislators are not sure how much, how fast or for what. So they wait.

The Republicans' financial spokesman, Sen. Joe Zarelli of Ridgefield, says the financial gap is poised to be a billion dollars by June 30.

For the two-year period beginning July 1, the financial gap may be $8 billion. It's "probably 20 percent of our budget," says Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane.

Because some budget items, such as basic education, cannot be cut at all, other things may have to be slashed 40 percent, she says. Senate Democrats may vote out a tax increase — but any tax increase would go to recession-battered voters.

Our point is this: No matter what happens, big spending cuts are inevitable. The deficit is simply too large. And that means legislators had better start agreeing on cuts — substantial ones — right now.

Their reluctance is understandable. Every program has a constituency and defenders. No legislator wants to offer up his chicken for the communal soup. It is understandable, but not excusable.

We asked Sen. Brown to name one substantial program that's "just toast," no matter what. She didn't name any. She said her caucus is waiting for the preliminary revenue forecast of Feb. 19 — a week from today.

Gov. Christine Gregoire offered up painful cuts in her proposed budget two months ago. A governor is one person, and a caucus is many. It's harder for a caucus. Understandable — but not excusable.

A month ago, Budget Director Victor Moore said he wanted the list of cuts on the governor's desk by Jan. 31. The House voted some, though not enough. The Senate voted none.

When the Feb. 19 numbers come out, both houses should be ready to act — not to make excuses to delay.