This morning, Gregoire released her proposal for the state's next three-year budget. The damage in terms of cuts is to the tune of $3.5 billion, the bulk of which is in Health and Human Services. Highlights from the budget can be found on the Washington State Office of Financial Management website, but be prepared: it's pretty brutal as is, and even so, it counts on a heavy chunk of change from the upcoming federal economic stimulus package and dips $600 million into Washington state's rainy day fund. Yeesh. more ›