OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Gov. Chris Gregoire says the Legislature needs to be bold as it tackles a state budget that is billions in the red and the state faces a moribund economy.
In her State of the State address Tuesday, the Democratic governor tells a joint session of the House and Senate that lawmakers need to remake how state government works, not just cut services to balance the budget.
She also says voters sent a clear message not to raise taxes.
Gregoire reiterated her proposals to create a Department of Education and change the state ferry system into a regional operation. Gregoire also wants to repeal automatic increases in pension plan benefits and cut more than $1 billion from unemployment insurance and workers compensation costs.
The Legislature began its 105-day session on Monday in Olympia.
