Advertising

The Seattle Times Company

NWjobs | NWautos | NWhomes | NWsource | Free Classifieds | seattletimes.com

The Seattle Times

Local News


Our network sites seattletimes.com | Advanced

Politics Northwest

The Seattle Times political team explores national, state and local politics.

Blog Home | RSS feeds Subscribe

September 29, 2009 at 2:45 PM

Comments (175)     E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

Gregoire says she's willing to discuss taxes to plug state budget gap

Posted by Andrew Garber

Gov. Chris Gregoire seems to be softening her opposition to raising taxes as way to help deal with another looming budget shortfall.

Her budget writers are projecting a shortfall next year of around $1 billion and the governor says there's no fat left to cut.

"My number one concern right now ... is how do we do the cuts? How do we get there?" she told reporters at a news conference this morning. "There are no good options because the cuts are either social services, corrections, health care or education."

The governor said she's told legislative leaders to make their case for taxes, including the possibility of sending voters a proposal.

"I didn't want revenue last year because I couldn't figure out how you could do a revenue package that wouldn't hurt the economy. I'm still stuck in that rut but I've told leadership to come make your case," Gregoire said.

"I've told them come on in and convince me that's the right thing to do and that people will support it. At some point the people, I assume, don't want us to take any more cuts. I'm already hearing about 'why did you cut education?' Well there aren't any options."

Her tone this morning was different from last week when she addressed business leaders at the Association of Washington Business policy summit. At the time Gregoire wouldn't rule out a tax increase but told the gathering, "Tell me a tax that you're going to increase that will give you $1 billion that doesn't hurt business, hurt individuals, hurt our recovery."

Gregoire today also reiterated the case she's making to Boeing to keep its second 787 production line in Washington state instead of building it in South Carolina.

She argued that Washington is the best place for the second line, but noted "I also need to put it in perspective. Which is to say that if we don't get the second 787... we're still the home to Boeing."

"I will just be logical about this," she said. "We are the home of 80,000 aerospace workers. An infrastructure that is second to none in the country. We have higher education ... geared solely to aerospace. You can't put that up over night."

E-mail E-mail article      Print Print view      Share Share

The spend-happy Gov is willing to raise taxes, well there's a big shocker....... Inept in her first term, inept in second trying to fix her...  Posted on September 29, 2009 at 4:23 PM by That's what you get. Jump to comment
We the voters need to ensure politicians understand that we will vote out any politician that proposes or votes for new or increased taxation....  Posted on September 29, 2009 at 4:39 PM by DarwinAwardWinner. Jump to comment
Now didnt Dino Rossi warn us this would happen....Gregoire is a liar, she has raised taxes in the past after saying should wouldnt. Looks like we...  Posted on September 29, 2009 at 3:27 PM by RedState. Jump to comment

Recent entries

Feb 9, 10 - 8:37 PM
Husky Stadium, Safeco Field cut out of tax plan... for now

Feb 9, 10 - 12:31 PM
High-speed rail: spend $50 billion?

Feb 8, 10 - 8:23 PM
Report spells out tuition increases under Senate bill

Feb 8, 10 - 6:08 PM
Gregoire wants more clarity on school funding case

Feb 8, 10 - 4:50 PM
Senate Ways and Means passes bill that would ease way for tax increases

Advertising

Advertising

 
Most read
Most commented
Most e-mailed
 
 

Most viewed imagesMore

Advertising

Browse the archives

September 2009

August 2009

July 2009

June 2009

May 2009

April 2009

Contributors

Jim Brunner
Covers politics.

Keith Ervin
Covers King County government.

Lillian Tucker
Covers the Legislature.

Andrew Garber
Covers politics and state government from Olympia.

Emily Heffter
Covers Seattle City Hall.

Mike Lindblom
Covers transportation.