Go to the politics section for more local and national politics coverage.

Politics Northwest

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

November 25, 2009 at 1:40 PM

Gregoire, state budget director explain budget shortfall in new video

Gov. Chris Gregoire and her budget director Victor Moore have posted a video of them explaining the state's $2.6 billion budget shortfall.

In the video, Gregoire doesn't advocate a tax increase to help balance the budget, but she does argue that cuts will hurt the most vulnerable citizens.

Moore says that 70 percent of the budget is off limits, because it goes for such mandated programs as basic education, Medicaid and debt service.

"What is in that 30 percent we can cut?" Gregoire asks. "It's programs, like public safety ... financial aid, mental health services. It's care for seniors ... if we cut their programs, what do they do? The answer is, they go homeless. Those are not good options."

E-mail article Print Share

Comments

No comments have been posted to this article.

Read all comments / Share your thoughts

Politics Northwest

Gregoire, state budget director explain budget shortfall in new video

The Seattle Times Company

Services

News

Marketplace

Subscriber Services

Other editions