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Gov. Gregoire calls November special session

For Immediate Release: September 22, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced that she will call legislators in for a special session, beginning Nov. 28, 2011. Her decision comes one week after Dr. Arun Raha, the state�s economist, lowered the state�s revenue forecast for the 2011�13 biennium by $1.4 billion.

�Congressional gridlock, the European debt crisis and high unemployment continue to take their toll on consumer confidence and our state�s economy,� Gregoire said. �Once again, we are facing a budget shortfall and once again I�m calling the Legislature back into special session to address the state�s budget. My only option is across-the-board cuts, and that option is unacceptable. Solving this budget crisis will require the Legislature to act.�

Raha is expecting another negative revenue forecast Nov. 17. Gregoire plans to tackle both negative revenue forecasts in one special session and hopes to finalize a budget with healthy reserves before Christmas. More than one month ago, Gregoire asked state agencies to detail how additional 5 to 10 percent cuts would affect their abilities to serve Washingtonians. She expects agencies to begin delivering those packages today.

If the Legislature approves a budget before the end of special session, Gregoire plans to spend the regular session focusing on policy bills to support job creation and economic growth.

�Let�s get this budget done right in one swoop well before Christmas and then turn our focus to supporting jobs and growing our economy,� Gregoire said.

Since the national recession began, the state has made nearly $10 billion in cuts. Gregoire has warned that additional reductions will continue to hurt public health, safety and education programs.

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