Rep. Kagi expects Legislature to cut a half billion dollars from current budget within a week

By Evan Smith

Contributing Writer

Democratic State Rep. Ruth Kagi says she expects the Legislature to cut a half billion dollars from the current budget within a week.

Legislators are starting the third week of the special session that Gov. Christine Gregoire called to cut $2 billion from the 2010-12 budget.

Kagi is a member of the House ways and means committee.

She said Saturday that the committee held hearings last week on bills needed to implement the Governor's proposed supplemental budget. She said that many laws need to be changed to make the level of cuts proposed.

While Kagi and other budget writers work in Olympia, other legislators stay at home until the budget-writing committees have something for them to act on.

Kagi said that she expects the Legislature to pass an "early action" budget this week that will cut about a half a billion dollars that can be agreed upon now.

“I am hoping that we will be able to pass the budget next week and then work on the more challenging cuts when we come back in January,” she said.

She also said that she hopes the Legislature will be able to put a revenue package on the ballot.

“If we don't, I don't think we will be able to pass a budget” she said. “The cuts will just be too deep and the consequences too disastrous.”

Kagi represents Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Woodway, south Edmonds and the rest of the 32nd Legislative District.