This morning, the state Senate will reveal their plan for a 2009-2011 operating budget; the House will release their version tomorrow. Given an unavoidable $9 billion shortfall, major cuts are only to be expected. Schmudget reported that if the Senate uses the entire Rainy Day Fund and frees up all available federal funds, legislators will still have to reckon with a deficit of $3.1 billion; that's where the program slicing and dicing comes into play. Stream the budget unveiling proceedings live at Washington State Public Affairs' website, tvw.org, or check online sometime after 10:30 a.m. today to find out what the Senate's budget looks like. more ›

The news today that the state budget crisis is than originally projected is like one of those expensive studies you read about that finds a wholly predictable result, such as that pretty people get helped more when they fall down or that women in bikinis lead straight men to make stupid choices. It's a giant collective "duh" moment, where our fearless politicos in Olympia finally come out and admit the reality that existed a few months ago but is finally "official," even though everyone with half a brain and a moderate attention span knew it then, much as they know things are going to continue getting worse. more ›

Thanks to dramatic state budget deficits, the Washington state Department of Health has decided to discontinue three of its programs: colorectal screenings (poor people don't get cancer), water-contaminant testing, and the state's prescription drug monitoring system. The colorectal screening program--targeted towards low-income communities--and the prescription drug monitoring system were not yet in full swing, and by axing them both, the department will save $14,000. If there's one department we don't want to see make any more cuts, it's this one. Bill and Melinda Gates, have you considered donating to the state of Washington this year? more ›