Budget Dominates Legislative Previews

With the legislative session opening tomorrow, several Sunday papers previewed the issues. Unsurprisingly, the governor's proposed budget dominates .

In the Seattle Times, Ralph Thomas and Andrew Garber note the opportunity:

...politically, this may be the ideal time for Gregoire and Democrats to push expensive new initiatives.

... There's so much extra cash ... that Democrats can spend heavily on programs the public supports, and at the same time take good care of their political allies, including public-employee unions and human-services advocates.

And they probably can do it all without having to raise a single tax between now and the next election.

But the spending comes with foreseeable risk.

Under the governor's proposal, the state would spend about $525 million more than it would collect in taxes during the next two years.

And in the ... 2009-2011 budget cycle, state spending on existing programs would exceed tax collections by more than $1.2 billion, according to projections from Gregoire's budget office.

Even that gloomy scenario could prove optimistic, said Kriss Sjoblom, an economist with the business-backed Washington Research Council ...

"If these represent down payments on Gregoire's priorities," he said, "the risk is that the economy is going to repossess them."

The governor remains undeterred, calling the forecast of future deficits "a blunt instrument" and noting that previous forecasts were overly pessimistic, as shortfalls became surpluses.

Steve Mullin, president of the Washington Roundtable, AWB's partner in the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy, says it's time to be cautious.

"... our top priority for this session is budget sustainability," said Steve Mullin .... "There are a lot of legislators who have served during economic downturns. We'll be counting on them to urge caution."

The budget also figures prominently in Jerry Cornfield's legislative preview for the Everett Herald. He detects Democratic leaders' desire for restraint.

With the prospect of a $1.9 billion surplus for the next two years, many Democrats harbor thoughts of using the cash to solve problems and pursue dreams.

Party leaders insist they can moderate their members' exuberance.

There is an unmistakable and somewhat unexpected restraint in the tone of House Speaker Frank Chopp, D-Seattle, and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, when they talk of an agenda of education, health care, jobs and other issues.

David Ammons also reports on the prospects for restraint.  Here's a nice quote and good counsel from Rep. Dunshee.

"We didn't get a mandate, we got an opportunity," says Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, new vice chairman of the House budget panel. "We should always be cognizant that they can throw us out in two years. We should avoid the overreach."

Two important figures are saying the right things.

The budget writers, House Appropriations Chairwoman Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, and Senate budget Chairwoman Margarita Prentice, D-Renton, plan to put the brakes on runaway spending impulses. Sommers, in particular, talks about saving even more than the $600 million that Gregoire suggests.

Building up the savings account is a good start. Long-term sustainability, however, should be the primary objective, so the savings cushion has time to grow.