Washington lawmakers talk about upcoming session

Top Republican and Democratic lawmakers agree: The looming budget deficit will dominate the upcoming legislative session, and the hole could get worse.

Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed a cut-heavy budget that also counts on about $1 billion in federal assistance. But some lawmakers aren't thrilled with that calculation.

"We can't balance the budget on hope," said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. "We need to see dollars."

Lawmakers convene Jan. 12 for a 105-day session. They'll be grappling with major spending cuts as the state tries to solve a projected budget deficit of about $5.7 billion.

Senate Republican budget chief Joe Zarelli, of Ridgefield, said he expects the deficit to climb as high as $7 billion after the next revenue forecast in March.

"The sooner we realize where we're at we can start moving forward," he said at a meeting with reporters Tuesday in Olympia to discuss the upcoming session.

The Associated Press sponsors the annual pre-session forum for reporters and editors in Washington state.

Last month, Gregoire stuck to her campaign pledge and unveiled a no-new-taxes budget plan that would severely cut spending, suspend voter initiatives, transfer and borrow some money, and rely on a federal bailout.

Brown said majority Democrats are reviewing the proposed cuts before thinking about alternative solutions, like taxes.

"Some of the cuts in the governor's budget I think we feel are not wise, given their impact on families," Brown said.

Gregoire was supposed to speak at the meeting, but her office canceled after her surprise trip to Iraq.

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Associated Press Writer Curt Woodward contributed to this report from Olympia.