Published: Saturday, January 23, 2010
Workers' pay one of Washington state's first cuts
OLYMPIA — Lawmakers agreed Friday to rub out some of the red ink in the state budget by shutting down government each month and freezing pay for thousands of workers for another year.
They also moved to lock in place millions of dollars in savings made by state agencies in the last few months at the urging of Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Combined, actions taken in the Senate and the House will slice $115 million in spending out of a budget with a $2.6 billion deficit.
Though they may not do much to fill the gap, the budget-cutting votes are only the first strides in what will be a difficult journey to balance the budget, Democrats said.
Minority Republicans said larger steps should have been taken.
“I think we're sending a message that we're really not serious about balancing the budget,” said Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the budget.
Friday marked the Legislature's initial swipe at the deficit in the 2010 session. Democrats had pieced together a package of bills of which two were passed in the Senate and one in the House.
In the Senate, Democrats used their majority to push them both through.
On a 29-14 vote, the Senate passed the wage freeze enacted last year, which primarily affects nonunion workers at state agencies, colleges and universities
The other, which has stirred much anger from organized labor, could lead to 13 days of temporary layoffs, better known as furloughs, for workers. It will carve an estimated $69 million from payroll costs.
Leaders of state agencies must achieve a certain level of savings through salaries. If they don't, Senate Bill 6503 directs the closing of government offices one day each month starting this June. The bill exempts many groups of workers, including state troopers, prison guards, park rangers, fish and wildlife enforcement officers and college instructors
This bill passed 27-17. No Republicans supported it, and two Democrats were among the dissenters. Five senators did not vote.
Union workers are fighting the bill, urging legislators to eliminate tax breaks, close tax loopholes and, if needed, raise taxes to find money to balance the budget rather than take it out of the earnings of employees.
Democrats, in floor speeches, praised workers and said they wouldn't be considering such a measure if not for the state's dire economic condition. Raising revenue will be part of the final equation of getting rid of the deficit, they said.
Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, the lead GOP voice on budget matters, said furloughs will not solve the short- or long-term problem of a budget in which “our revenue does not connect with our spending.”
Meanwhile, the House passed a bill that puts in place $46 million in spending cuts made by agencies the past few months.
Debate was partisan, but the vote on House Bill 2921 was not. It passed 77-19 with four liberal Democrats, including Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, joining Republicans in dissent.
The bill would chop the equivalent of about 175 full-time jobs from the government work force, although officials said some of those jobs already are vacant. These layoffs are in addition to 3,000 positions axed since the 2009-11 budget was adopted last year.
These newest savings come from nearly every branch of government.
The Department of Social and Health Services is trimming $22.4 million, a big chunk through layoffs in several divisions, and the Department of Corrections will pare $6.8 million in part by eliminating administrative jobs and axing positions in the Community Corrections Officer Assessment Pilot program.
Some cost savings have occurred and are getting logged in for the first time with this bill. One example is $430,000 the state Parks and Recreation Commission will save with the now-completed transfer of Wenberg State Park to Snohomish County.
A fourth budget-cutting bill to suspend cash bonuses for state workers will be voted on next week.
The House and Senate will swap bills for final action. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said Thursday it will take “one to two weeks” to get the legislation to the governor to sign.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623, jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
They also moved to lock in place millions of dollars in savings made by state agencies in the last few months at the urging of Gov. Chris Gregoire.
Combined, actions taken in the Senate and the House will slice $115 million in spending out of a budget with a $2.6 billion deficit.
Though they may not do much to fill the gap, the budget-cutting votes are only the first strides in what will be a difficult journey to balance the budget, Democrats said.
Minority Republicans said larger steps should have been taken.
“I think we're sending a message that we're really not serious about balancing the budget,” said Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, the ranking Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the budget.
Friday marked the Legislature's initial swipe at the deficit in the 2010 session. Democrats had pieced together a package of bills of which two were passed in the Senate and one in the House.
In the Senate, Democrats used their majority to push them both through.
On a 29-14 vote, the Senate passed the wage freeze enacted last year, which primarily affects nonunion workers at state agencies, colleges and universities
The other, which has stirred much anger from organized labor, could lead to 13 days of temporary layoffs, better known as furloughs, for workers. It will carve an estimated $69 million from payroll costs.
Leaders of state agencies must achieve a certain level of savings through salaries. If they don't, Senate Bill 6503 directs the closing of government offices one day each month starting this June. The bill exempts many groups of workers, including state troopers, prison guards, park rangers, fish and wildlife enforcement officers and college instructors
This bill passed 27-17. No Republicans supported it, and two Democrats were among the dissenters. Five senators did not vote.
Union workers are fighting the bill, urging legislators to eliminate tax breaks, close tax loopholes and, if needed, raise taxes to find money to balance the budget rather than take it out of the earnings of employees.
Democrats, in floor speeches, praised workers and said they wouldn't be considering such a measure if not for the state's dire economic condition. Raising revenue will be part of the final equation of getting rid of the deficit, they said.
Sen. Joseph Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, the lead GOP voice on budget matters, said furloughs will not solve the short- or long-term problem of a budget in which “our revenue does not connect with our spending.”
Meanwhile, the House passed a bill that puts in place $46 million in spending cuts made by agencies the past few months.
Debate was partisan, but the vote on House Bill 2921 was not. It passed 77-19 with four liberal Democrats, including Rep. Maralyn Chase, D-Edmonds, joining Republicans in dissent.
The bill would chop the equivalent of about 175 full-time jobs from the government work force, although officials said some of those jobs already are vacant. These layoffs are in addition to 3,000 positions axed since the 2009-11 budget was adopted last year.
These newest savings come from nearly every branch of government.
The Department of Social and Health Services is trimming $22.4 million, a big chunk through layoffs in several divisions, and the Department of Corrections will pare $6.8 million in part by eliminating administrative jobs and axing positions in the Community Corrections Officer Assessment Pilot program.
Some cost savings have occurred and are getting logged in for the first time with this bill. One example is $430,000 the state Parks and Recreation Commission will save with the now-completed transfer of Wenberg State Park to Snohomish County.
A fourth budget-cutting bill to suspend cash bonuses for state workers will be voted on next week.
The House and Senate will swap bills for final action. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, said Thursday it will take “one to two weeks” to get the legislation to the governor to sign.
Reporter Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623, jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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