tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52384084362731725392024-03-05T10:27:26.644-08:00schmudgetThe blog of the Washington State Budget & Policy Center.Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-53412688113852089772010-01-19T11:10:00.000-08:002010-01-19T11:15:22.814-08:00In order to continue reading schmudget . . .. . . subscribe to our new feed at <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/blog/RSS">http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/blog/RSS</a>.<br /><br />Some recent posts you may have missed:<br /><br /><a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/governor2019s-201cbook-2201d-budget-still-emphasizes-cuts-over-revenue">Governor’s “Book 2” Budget Still Emphasizes Cuts over Revenue</a><br /><br /><a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/increasing-the-sales-tax-and-funding-the-working-families-tax-rebate">Increasing the Sales Tax and Funding the Working Families Tax Rebate</a><br /><br /><a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/modernizing-the-sales-tax">Modernizing the Sales Tax</a><br /><br /><a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/governors-gregoire-tax-proposals">Governor Gregoire's Tax Proposals</a><br /><br /><a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/investing-in-washington2019s-workforce">Investing in Washington’s Workforce</a>Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-71705425725000112242010-01-13T14:17:00.000-08:002010-01-13T14:38:56.098-08:00schmudget has moved<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 145px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubodnKehyphenhyphenBLlPXxlDSPYDMWzA523KA-WoErtojSLETBSmeAdIai0XIb9h7fg0LsYGfDPbnFOXqNpN99p0O4CGi2gpKTq82e54pP4v5vAisSsJudhiA9Pk-unX_IJKGNEOSnX-8-ipL-o/s200/website.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426354490502712770" /></a><br /><br />We've fully integrated schmudget into our newly redesigned <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget">website</a> and will no longer update the blogger.com site.<br /><br />For our faithful RSS subscribers: in order to continue receiving top-notch budget and policy analysis through your RSS feeder, you need to subscribe to our new feed at <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/blog/RSS">http://budgetandpolicy.org/schmudget/blog/RSS</a>. <br /><br />If you subscribe to schmudget by email, you should continue to receive updates. Let us know at schmudget(at)budgetandpolicy.org if you do not.Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-53420157177137606002010-01-13T13:56:00.000-08:002010-01-13T14:02:31.366-08:00A Balanced Approach: Increasing and Modernizing the Sales TaxIn our new <a title="Increasing and Modernizing the Sales Tax" href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/increasing-and-modernizing-the-sales-tax">Policy Brief</a>, the Budget & Policy Center offers a balanced approach to dealing with the recession's impact on the state budget. To maintain our economic competitiveness and essential services for struggling families, we recommend that policymakers generate additional resources by modernizing and temporarily increasing the state sales tax -- Washington's largest source of revenue -- and funding the Working Families Tax Rebate.<br /><br />Our proposal would generate an additional $1.2 billion in resources that could be used to prevent further economically damaging cuts. The remaining deficit could be closed through a combination of additional revenue strategies, an extension of federal recovery funds, and one-time transfers and changes (including accessing the Rainy Day Fund).<br /><br />It is important to note that tax increases under this proposal would remain a modest share of total actions taken to close shortfalls during the FY2009-11 biennium. The graph below shows that tax increases under the proposal would account for <em>barely one-sixth</em> of total measures taken to balance the budget over the course of the biennium. Budget cuts, federal funds, fund-transfers and other changes, would each constitute larger shares of total budget solutions.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbNeTfsJD-BiYk5DB80Qv332jw007-R3abfHwg4GzPXaKb03N7qhpPNUVmLjJ9FxeIhtPdPwgcKKzaORsNsOERjM7sR0CBHzplvXY6igaQYdzo8VUVpjAnBE0bJGO_LOXsnHTdkeTL6Q/s1600-h/image_preview.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 260px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZbNeTfsJD-BiYk5DB80Qv332jw007-R3abfHwg4GzPXaKb03N7qhpPNUVmLjJ9FxeIhtPdPwgcKKzaORsNsOERjM7sR0CBHzplvXY6igaQYdzo8VUVpjAnBE0bJGO_LOXsnHTdkeTL6Q/s400/image_preview.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5426348076945386930" /></a><br /><br />Click <a title="Increasing and Modernizing the Sales Tax" href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/increasing-and-modernizing-the-sales-tax">here</a> to read the entire report.Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-59513735874368228482010-01-12T13:18:00.000-08:002010-01-12T13:23:46.060-08:00New Policy Brief: Increasing and Modernizing the Sales Tax<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/increasing-and-modernizing-the-sales-tax"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXlE2jpsMhrvR26beRuKZCZvVa_937F-7phqq2DBf7t_XHEXQpjDzdTKK4K-T3y48L6TkeD3dfWuUlom9imdpN3ek3RUU3l_vUS2fblXzX5abU_pIt8ZuvERlJfD7J1ct7y18ejgU9KU/s200/pdf_version_Page_01.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425966821007460338" /></a><br /><br />Washington has responded to our national recession thus far with<br />$3.5 billion in cuts. Facing a new $2.6 billion shortfall, even deeper<br />cuts are being proposed that would harm our ability to have an educated<br />workforce, a strong health care infrastructure, and economic security.</p><br /><br />A more balanced approach is needed. One option is to modernize and<br />temporarily increase our state's major revenue instrument--the sales<br />tax—and pair it with the Working Families Tax Rebate.</p><br /><br />For more detail on this proposal, see our new <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/increasing-and-modernizing-the-sales-tax">policy brief</a>.Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-51460003491745610302010-01-05T09:00:00.000-08:002010-01-05T09:00:00.083-08:00FY09-11 Budget Would Cut Economic Security Spending by 23%<em>Come visit us at our new web site: <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/">http://budgetandpolicy.org</a></em><br /><br />Cuts in the Governor's supplemental budget proposal combined with already enacted spending reductions would amount to a 23 percent drop in funding for programs that help people meet their basic needs. <br /><br />According to a new <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/governors-budget-shows-need-for-balanced-approach">analysis </a>by the Budget & Policy Center, the Governor's budget would reduce state funding for programs that provide child care assistance to working families, eliminate the General Assistance - Unemployable program, which provides financial and medical support to people who are unable to work due to disability, and more.<br /><br />The table below details the cuts in the Governor's supplemental budget in the area of economic security.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOHWG-dqK2otsNcA7P7gcbkLEgI4Sdu1EgBHGHUH4ElKB7hIs3l4gWTKi-arXsa1vv-Wjt1iZrPumZh8hdrx2d1yIizEGoxKVaBj33maOFvyViimSOnMxeiPJalMSyiASJOSKJBQwgmQ/s1600-h/122009_govbudget_economic.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 365px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqOHWG-dqK2otsNcA7P7gcbkLEgI4Sdu1EgBHGHUH4ElKB7hIs3l4gWTKi-arXsa1vv-Wjt1iZrPumZh8hdrx2d1yIizEGoxKVaBj33maOFvyViimSOnMxeiPJalMSyiASJOSKJBQwgmQ/s400/122009_govbudget_economic.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421129071380036898" /></a>Stacey Schultzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00969288644852487774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-64707954886303437872010-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:002010-01-04T14:00:44.317-08:00FY09-11 Education Budget Cuts Would Total 14% - Higher Ed Gets 23% Hit<em>Come visit us at our new web site: <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/">http://budgetandpolicy.org</a></em><br /><br />The Budget & Policy Center recently released an analysis of the Governor's supplemental budget proposal that includes $1.6 billion in cuts to vital state programs and services. To read the entire paper, click <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/governors-budget-shows-need-for-balanced-approach">here</a>.<br /><br />In the area of education and opportunity, the total budget cuts, including the enacted cuts and the Governor's supplemental budget cuts for the 09-11 biennium, would amount to a 14 percent reduction in spending from preschool to universities. Higher education and worker training would be hit particularly hard, with a 23 percent cut in total.<br /><br />The table below details the Governor's proposed budget cuts in efforts to improve education and opportunity in the state.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcbkSG3tsXFEaEZU9Fj5fZc3aa9PoHMtL55o2oA_m-OjvtYbGeVwNZl3i_x2b4KJOHQ19HUzXvBUmLguPbBRMaTctfIa5xlGrEqA0y_iaunztU7h_eqkUeY7mL8HggW4OkhteChbc6Jw/s1600-h/122009_govbudget_education.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 298px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbcbkSG3tsXFEaEZU9Fj5fZc3aa9PoHMtL55o2oA_m-OjvtYbGeVwNZl3i_x2b4KJOHQ19HUzXvBUmLguPbBRMaTctfIa5xlGrEqA0y_iaunztU7h_eqkUeY7mL8HggW4OkhteChbc6Jw/s400/122009_govbudget_education.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421128318630167074" /></a>Stacey Schultzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00969288644852487774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-9909446586293033162009-12-31T09:00:00.000-08:002009-12-31T09:00:03.978-08:00FY09-11 Budget Cuts to Health and Environment Would Total 15%<em>Come visit us at our new web site: <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/">http://budgetandpolicy.org</a></em><br /><br />Yesterday the Budget & Policy Center released an analysis of the Governor's supplemental budget proposal that details cuts in health and the environment, education, and economic security. To read the entire report, click <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/governors-budget-shows-need-for-balanced-approach">here</a>.<br /><br />Every area of the budget has been affected by the enacted budget cuts and will continue to suffer under the Governor’s supplemental budget proposal. Taken together, the enacted cuts and the Governor’s supplemental budget proposed cuts include a 15 percent reduction in efforts to maintain healthy people and a clean, safe environment.<br /><br />The tables below detail the budget cuts in the area of healthy people and the environment. These cuts span public and environmental health; child and family services; health insurance access and affordability; and long-term care, developmental disabilities, and mental health. In the following days, we will continue to highlight specific cuts in areas throughout the Governor's budget proposal.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueI0xZDPQufmm7kvafcbn3Kk9T1uWd3c2UHt_l-UGN1dJw2ir1jkLXu8ZVfgm0HCLXDYCx5dyfE1TCuRaCoib-cQ-qZX2CmbLfEl8sau-REzcc0fJ_Lgsl2De1Pn1szNvlJy49g4HWcM/s1600-h/123009_govbudget_healthypeople1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgueI0xZDPQufmm7kvafcbn3Kk9T1uWd3c2UHt_l-UGN1dJw2ir1jkLXu8ZVfgm0HCLXDYCx5dyfE1TCuRaCoib-cQ-qZX2CmbLfEl8sau-REzcc0fJ_Lgsl2De1Pn1szNvlJy49g4HWcM/s400/123009_govbudget_healthypeople1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421126514074445506" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MioWuAZe2_C3x4U3jmiXRb3S9cdDYGN1wan8NjQ6PWaW5xTd8POOPXzn-Hf-ey3EYMvpsN4yZoYIhwzctR-hVLyzFG7Urz708Bfbhc6hTVwq_06as1u00EemVws6gq-Bhviw8spCGic/s1600-h/123009_govbudget_healthypeople2.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 346px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MioWuAZe2_C3x4U3jmiXRb3S9cdDYGN1wan8NjQ6PWaW5xTd8POOPXzn-Hf-ey3EYMvpsN4yZoYIhwzctR-hVLyzFG7Urz708Bfbhc6hTVwq_06as1u00EemVws6gq-Bhviw8spCGic/s400/123009_govbudget_healthypeople2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421125652105833442" /></a>Stacey Schultzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00969288644852487774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-16204716780996319192009-12-30T09:27:00.000-08:002009-12-30T10:00:19.580-08:00Governor's Budget Shows Need for Balanced Approach<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqr-hRZjRCUBoCDyS-WUPJD9n6-T4ZR-aIh-hU2_sI6qYfFQyi9EYjDAbVaRh2mq3oPi-zHKVYnmHvwsNsgijnIqMduaoZbwsjkfR-Hyqny8sPAtIZIhqCzuNcWI29a-Ch5MYKGghefFE/s1600-h/123009_1stpage.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqr-hRZjRCUBoCDyS-WUPJD9n6-T4ZR-aIh-hU2_sI6qYfFQyi9EYjDAbVaRh2mq3oPi-zHKVYnmHvwsNsgijnIqMduaoZbwsjkfR-Hyqny8sPAtIZIhqCzuNcWI29a-Ch5MYKGghefFE/s200/123009_1stpage.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421090336081158898" /></a><br />Today the Budget & Policy Center is releasing an analysis of Governor Gregoire's supplemental budget for the FY09-11 biennium. For the second year in a row, the Governor’s budget proposes deep cuts to core public services in response to the continuing economic and fiscal crisis in the state. Combined with the cuts already enacted in the current biennium, the Governor’s supplemental budget proposal would result in a nearly 14 percent reduction in the state’s investments in education, health care, and economic security.<br /><br />The damage to our education system, health care infrastructure, public safety, and environmental protections would impact all Washingtonians. The Governor’s supplemental proposal would also create immediate harm for many. For example:<br /><br /> * Over 65,000 people will lose access to affordable health insurance;<br /> * 16,000 children will lose health insurance coverage;<br /> * Over 20,000 people who are unable to work due to disability will lose financial and medical assistance;<br /> * 12,300 students from lower income families will lose an important source of financial aid;<br /> * 10,000 working families per month will lose child care assistance;<br /> * 1,500 three-year-olds will lose access to early learning opportunities.<br /><br />Relying heavily on deep cuts represents one potential approach to the budget shortfall. Over the coming months other ideas will be presented, including more balanced approaches that propose raising revenue to avoid drastic cuts that will harm our state’s residents and economy.<br /> <br />Click <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/reports/governors-budget-shows-need-for-balanced-approach">here </a>to read the entire paper and come visit us at our new web site, <a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/">www.budgetandpolicy.org</a>.Stacey Schultzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00969288644852487774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-56844310396138725862009-12-18T08:43:00.000-08:002009-12-18T10:54:01.570-08:00Failing to Extend Federal Recovery Funding will Cost JobsFederal fiscal relief to states is set to expire at the end of 2010, but state fiscal shortfalls (including Washington State's) are expected to last into 2012 or longer. A new round of fiscal relief could help offset the damaging cuts proposed in the Governor's recent budget and provide a boost to the recovery. In order to be of use to Washington State, Congress must act soon so these funds can be included in the budget process.<br /><br />In Washington State, there has been record drops in state revenue at the same time as dramatic increases in the need for public structures that provide health care, economic security, and job retraining. We are not alone. At least 38 other states have mid-year deficits that have opened up after balancing their budgets earlier this year (<a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=711" target="_blank">more detail</a>). The actions that states must take to close these deficits could cost the economy as many as <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=2988">900,000 jobs</a>.<br /><br />In the last round of deficit-closing, most states including Washington State relied heavily on federal fiscal relief. These funds helped stave off even deeper cuts in health care and education and provided a boost to the economy. The graph below shows how much of the total state fiscal gap was closed through federal recovery funds. It also shows how deficits continue into fiscal year 2012, after the federal relief has ended.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cbpp.org/images/cms/11-11-09stim-f1-rev12-18-09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 251px; height: 348px;" src="http://www.cbpp.org/images/cms/11-11-09stim-f1-rev12-18-09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-46582303687310680062009-12-16T14:02:00.000-08:002009-12-16T14:45:01.127-08:00Governor's Budget would Reduce Opportunity for Students from Preschool to UniversityThe table below lists key budget cuts in education from the Governor's proposal released last week. (Click on it for a larger version.)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDt_0TMK06jNO5rCP6LemSYERqPMpoo12haLzBqR37vHVw4KayJp1v9GJp_vIqTBeCRWCKK2JYKogyN4DZVXrJkcInzFGg40UDu_N3eMkpQkoL3QVPXADQUgFSPcO4N_81BwzZsB6J8Q/s1600-h/091216edoppgov.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 296px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDt_0TMK06jNO5rCP6LemSYERqPMpoo12haLzBqR37vHVw4KayJp1v9GJp_vIqTBeCRWCKK2JYKogyN4DZVXrJkcInzFGg40UDu_N3eMkpQkoL3QVPXADQUgFSPcO4N_81BwzZsB6J8Q/s400/091216edoppgov.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415967844455350322" /></a>Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-6445712849246899702009-12-11T07:35:00.000-08:002009-12-11T07:55:12.766-08:00Governor’s Forthcoming Revenue Proposal Only a Drop in the BucketIn the 2010 legislative session, Washington State will have to address the continuing effects of the economic recession. Governor Gregoire has signaled a willingness to take a more balanced approach between cuts and revenue enhancements. In the context of the total size of the fiscal impacts of the recession, however, her revenue proposal will only be a drop in the bucket and will not save crucial services.<br /><br />During the last session, the state cut $3.6 billion in public services—cuts that will hurt state priorities such as the quality of education at every level, the availability of affordable health insurance, and the quality of our health care infrastructure. There were a few pieces of legislation that raised revenue, but no meaningful tax increases.*<br /><br />The Governor’s budget proposal that was released on Wednesday follows in the same vein, with no revenue increases and $1.6 billion in cuts. However, the Governor also announced that she would introduce a second budget in January that would include roughly $1 billion in cuts and $700 million in revenue increases.<br /><br />The Governor's proposal is a start to the conversation, but a bolder, more balanced approach is needed.<br /><br />First of all, the $700 million would do nothing to save programs that help working families pay for child care, prevent costly health problems by supporting at-risk pregnant women, and clean up toxic sites. These are just a few of many cuts proposed in the Governor’s first budget proposal that she has not signaled will be protected in her second proposal.<br /><br />And even with the Governor’s forthcoming revenue proposal, the approach the state has taken to the total budget shortfall will still be severely imbalanced. Combining the Governor’s proposal with the previously enacted revenue policy, revenue increases would only make up eight percent of the total solution to an over $11 billion problem (see graph below). Cuts in core public services will total 40 percent.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIasLUVCye2WIpCQvnXdabxnLHDa_NobB7J1CTlYXUWPHmfPP_hMZkKDbPl_RPSOKuJ4PB-f9v11xpfZHfcOhXWQAdzYeFDy40PBYE2joTFXIjEaW6saQfwI1kKTRUoKLFGG2n-jiSZ9E/s1600-h/balanced121009.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 248px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIasLUVCye2WIpCQvnXdabxnLHDa_NobB7J1CTlYXUWPHmfPP_hMZkKDbPl_RPSOKuJ4PB-f9v11xpfZHfcOhXWQAdzYeFDy40PBYE2joTFXIjEaW6saQfwI1kKTRUoKLFGG2n-jiSZ9E/s400/balanced121009.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414005603680052162" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"> <span style="font-size:85%;">* Revenue legislation passed in the 2009 session gave the Department of Revenue more oversight of purchases for resale, authorized multi-state lottery agreements, increased out-of-state auditing, and opened new liquor stores.</span></span>Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-60658803608103066612009-12-10T09:12:00.000-08:002009-12-10T09:16:52.739-08:00Governor's Budget will Create Costly Problems Down the RoadThe budget cuts released yesterday by the Governor include several items that would only end up creating more costly problems down the road. This approach will diminish the quality of life for thousands of Washingtonians now and in the future. It also defers higher costs to the state that will inhibit our economic recovery going forward.<br /><br />Budget cuts to state investments that focus on prevention and other longer-term benefits include the following:<br /><ul><li>The budget would suspend all funding ($13.9 million) for non-emergency dental care for adult clients of Medicaid. This will have a direct impact on the health of 120,000 Washingtonians. Further, by not funding prevention and early treatment, the budget will likely increase the need for more expensive emergency dental care in the future.</li></ul><ul><li>The budget proposes eliminating all state-funded early learning programs for three-year olds from lower income families ($10.5 million), directly affecting 1,500 children. High quality early learning programs set the stage for success in life and are expected to confer economic benefits to the state in the future.</li></ul><ul><li>The budget significantly reduces funding for the Water Quality Program, a cut that will damage our ability to plan for healthy water. Ensuring the quality of our water through preventing and cleaning up water pollution has a direct impact on human and environmental health in communities throughout the state. Neglecting this government responsibility will be costly to reverse.</li></ul><ul><li>The budget would mean that over 65,000 people would lose health coverage by eliminating the Basic Health program ($160.6 million) and sharply limit the availability of childcare assistance ($88.5 million) to working families. State investments in health insurance and childcare help to encourage and support employment for families that are struggling to stay out of poverty.</li></ul><ul><li>Family preservation services seek to preserve or reunite families. They assist families in crisis by improving parenting skills and family functioning. Children are protected while being able to remain in their own families. The Governor’s budget would slash funding for these programs in half ($5.9 million).</li></ul><ul><li>The budget would eliminate funding ($28.1 million) that reduces premature births and infant mortality by providing support for lower-income women with at-risk pregnancies. Without these support services, families and the state will inherit more costly problems down the road.</li></ul>Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-75451679436515974962009-12-09T10:39:00.000-08:002009-12-09T10:48:37.798-08:00An Imbalanced BudgetGovernor Gregoire released her 2010 supplemental budget proposal this morning. It includes $1.6 billion in cuts to essential public structures that promote health, education, economic security, and safe and thriving communities.<br /><br />As required by law, the budget works inside existing revenue constraints. The Governor acknowledged her concern over this budget and plans to release a second budget that will include necessary revenue increases in order to avoid the most damaging cuts.<br /><br />The Governor is right to be concerned about the effects this budget would have on Washington’s economy and people during these tough economic times. A balanced approach that includes meaningful revenue increases is a better alternative.<br /><br />The budget released today proposes completely eliminating or suspending efforts including (this is only a partial list):<br /><ul><li>Basic Health, which provides affordable health insurance to 65,000 people.</li><li>General Assistance for the Unemployable, which provides help to people who are unable to work because of disability.</li><li>Health insurance coverage for 16,000 lower income children.</li><li>Benefits for Medicaid clients including vision, podiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, prescription drug assistance for elderly patients, hospice care, dental, and maternity support.</li><li>Funding to send more than 1,500 3-year-olds to preschool.</li><li>State support for all-day kindergarten in high-poverty areas.</li><li>Class size reduction efforts.</li><li>A program that equalizes school funding between wealthy and poor school districts.</li><li>Tuition assistance for over 12,000 lower-income students.</li></ul>Stay tuned to schmudget for more analysis of the Governor’s budget.Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-47146598571396633092009-12-07T07:00:00.000-08:002009-12-07T07:00:00.634-08:00Raising Taxes Would Prevent Economically Damaging Budget CutsLater this week, the Governor is expected to release her supplemental budget to close the $2.6 billion deficit that is a result of the ongoing economic crisis. State lawmakers will have difficult decisions to make in the upcoming months, as they find a way to balance the state budget. We encourage them to take a balanced approach that includes revenue enhancements as well as spending reductions to protect essential public structures such as health care and education.<br /><br />Raising revenue is a better alternative for our state economy than budget cuts. In a <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=1346" target_blank="">paper</a> for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Nobel Prize winning economist Joseph Stiglitz and Peter Orszag, now director of the Office of Management and Budget, wrote, “In the short run (which is the period of concern during a downturn), the adverse impact of a tax increase on the economy may, if anything, be smaller than the adverse impact of a spending reduction, because some of the tax increase would result in reduced saving rather than reduced consumption.”<br /><br />Last February, the Budget & Policy Center released a <a href="http://www.budgetandpolicy.org/documents/econletter021909.pdf" blank_target="">letter</a> signed by over 20 economists and public policy experts in Washington State urging lawmakers to take a balanced approach, including revenue increases, when addressing the state’s budget deficit. “Implementing deep cuts in government spending and declining to raise revenue through tax increases is not an effective strategy to guide Washington State out of this recession,” the letter states.<br /><br />The letter remains a potent reminder to lawmakers to consider all options for balancing the budget in the challenging months ahead. We certainly hope that they will.Stacey Schultzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00969288644852487774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-40740952579508227662009-12-03T17:04:00.000-08:002009-12-03T17:05:07.207-08:00The Unprotected BudgetPrimarily as a result of the recession, Washington State, <a href="http://schmudget.blogspot.com/2009/11/35-states-face-new-budget-shortfalls.html">like most states</a>, is now facing a large deficit ($2.6 billion). As we pointed out in our recent <a href="http://schmudget.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-slideshow-on-state-economic-and.html">slideshow</a> on the state economic and fiscal outlook, most of the budget is off-limits to cuts. This means that an all-cuts budget would require elimination of entire programs and services.<br /><br />A new presentation by the Senate Ways and Means Committee staff provides more detail on this issue. They estimate that only $7.7 billion of the state budget is vulnerable to cuts in the coming session, with programs that provide economic security for lower income Washingtonians being especially exposed.<br /><br />They break down the $7.7 billion into three categories: 1) timing (nearly $10 billion will already be spent by the time the new budget is signed), 2) legal restrictions such as state constitutional requirements, federal law, and debt and pension obligations, and 3) strings attached to the federal recovery funds.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7039JdObGJqQaItwyT2nDOJG1m8QQu3dZpYtq-8xf5PlRGLCcWblWf7BwSAzmS71WaPmv1SAcHV7SEZHazQc7MaCgGjFnw3Q_pzyV2kyD2Rnt1uYs4Xk6oaSmly6TUYbAU27ugZxPu0/s1600-h/Budget+S+W%26M+12.3.09_Page_09.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7039JdObGJqQaItwyT2nDOJG1m8QQu3dZpYtq-8xf5PlRGLCcWblWf7BwSAzmS71WaPmv1SAcHV7SEZHazQc7MaCgGjFnw3Q_pzyV2kyD2Rnt1uYs4Xk6oaSmly6TUYbAU27ugZxPu0/s400/Budget+S+W%26M+12.3.09_Page_09.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411158435623948962" border="0" /></a><br />The graph below breaks down the vulnerable part of the budget into program areas.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijf9WbmU5Si-s8Wo1IC3MOxA1PLcagtGAvrx17VXF3_FPCifSc638TDjkoRlTiMzUpAnWmbBomDOThfmsgmuMEmNyKrPWRiRmrpDYS_FD8loBzDZ-xCjTmcQRIP8FMu7Omt7ncbqj0ThU/s1600-h/Budget+S+W%26M+12.3.09_Page_10.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijf9WbmU5Si-s8Wo1IC3MOxA1PLcagtGAvrx17VXF3_FPCifSc638TDjkoRlTiMzUpAnWmbBomDOThfmsgmuMEmNyKrPWRiRmrpDYS_FD8loBzDZ-xCjTmcQRIP8FMu7Omt7ncbqj0ThU/s400/Budget+S+W%26M+12.3.09_Page_10.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411165076350334498" border="0" /></a><br />They also provide a possible scenario (see table below) to illustrate what $2.6 billion in cuts could mean. It includes elimination of financial aid, the Basic Health Plan, in-home services for clients with long-term care needs or developmental disabilities, and money that is used to equalize school funding between rich and poor districts.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA3AcdxScsNQrARNWMfL0PAS4inRIdlz-zvohOUrYB9uWLL67AMB_IdzeWaBrAZ8tuM8fyRrZx-ifP8EKxBhgUTewJET3GnYDHKLOCxttOCkB98qJy4ZYXlOfUKhPnfYAZLTIaN8fvL8/s1600-h/Budget+S+W%26M+12.3.09_Page_11.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 306px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFA3AcdxScsNQrARNWMfL0PAS4inRIdlz-zvohOUrYB9uWLL67AMB_IdzeWaBrAZ8tuM8fyRrZx-ifP8EKxBhgUTewJET3GnYDHKLOCxttOCkB98qJy4ZYXlOfUKhPnfYAZLTIaN8fvL8/s400/Budget+S+W%26M+12.3.09_Page_11.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411174850567463906" border="0" /></a>Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-16269311732070836912009-12-01T09:58:00.000-08:002009-12-01T10:31:51.724-08:00EOI releases "The State of Working Washington 2009"<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3LgnN3SPAbK-mF7gi4NKVT9fAoQhvKooxI0PENm28Tfx9qObSTcvSJxj12x2UDfK8cPsXXLJuIQivOES7XJuRfV-P9J9KdIsHIcgv78vfQO4M7D1819xi4cG-Y-CdhwdKI8cwC7q2AA/s1600/StateOfWorkingWashington-Dec09.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 100px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI3LgnN3SPAbK-mF7gi4NKVT9fAoQhvKooxI0PENm28Tfx9qObSTcvSJxj12x2UDfK8cPsXXLJuIQivOES7XJuRfV-P9J9KdIsHIcgv78vfQO4M7D1819xi4cG-Y-CdhwdKI8cwC7q2AA/s400/StateOfWorkingWashington-Dec09.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410337214916777154" /></a><br />Today the Economic Opportunity Institute is releasing its annual report, "The State of Working Washington." The 2009 edition focuses on economic security and the increasing difficulties that Washingtonians face to afford home ownership, health care, college tuition, and retirement savings. The report also highlights diminishing median family income over the last decade and reductions in employer provided benefits for many Washington workers.<br /><br />To access the report, click <a href="http://www.eoionline.org/"target_blank>here</a>.Stacey Schultzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00969288644852487774noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-27555483071235411762009-11-24T11:50:00.000-08:002009-11-24T12:08:32.051-08:0035 States Face New Budget Shortfalls, More Federal Fiscal Relief NeededA new <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/?fa=view&id=711">analysis</a> from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) finds that 35 states – including Washington State – face new budget shortfalls in the current 2010 fiscal year as a result of the national recession.* Each of these 35 states had already acted to close significant budget shortfalls, but have seen new gaps open up as the economic outlook worsened over the summer and fall.<br /><br />Even after the economy begins to recover, state fiscal problems are likely to linger for several years as a result of persistent unemployment. According to the report, “High unemployment and economic uncertainty, combined with household’s diminished wealth due to fallen property tax values, will continue to depress consumption, thus sales tax receipts also will remain low. These factors suggest that state budget gaps will continue to be significantly larger than in the last recession, and last longer.”<br /><br />The graph below shows the total size of state budget gaps closed during the recession of the early 2000s and current recession. In aggregate, states are projected to face sizeable shortfalls at least through 2012.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNk_VvQQIk36oDUepT6cyZfjSqpyMqALvKGzj7aCRFI_itSIPQ4qq8mEFiOxZ6vwPpHWUW7ARx4ILASkjrUnFOEpCsZhWb3pqRUDVuCa6N3v8WKjFMyhUkmLpU5NF31UAuErMIrraO4tnW/s1600/112409_CBPPshortfalls_bars.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 330px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNk_VvQQIk36oDUepT6cyZfjSqpyMqALvKGzj7aCRFI_itSIPQ4qq8mEFiOxZ6vwPpHWUW7ARx4ILASkjrUnFOEpCsZhWb3pqRUDVuCa6N3v8WKjFMyhUkmLpU5NF31UAuErMIrraO4tnW/s400/112409_CBPPshortfalls_bars.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407760892224003714" /></a><br /><br />It is important to note that the measures taken to fill state budget gaps earlier this year – that is, cuts in services and tax increases – would have been much more severe were it not for state fiscal relief provided as part of the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), also known as the federal stimulus act. <br /><br />However, the state fiscal relief provisions of ARRA are scheduled to expire on December 31, 2010. Another recent CBPP <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/cms/index.cfm?fa=view&id=3007">analysis</a> calls for extending these provisions into 2011. “By taking action now to extend ARRA assistance to states into 2011, lawmakers can reduce the drag that very large state budget cuts and tax increases would otherwise impose on economic activity and jobs and thereby give the recovery a better chance of gathering strength.”<br /><br />* The size of Washington State’s deficit has grown significantly since this report went to press. It will be updated in the next edition.Andy Nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03153249613873439199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-14213167014825254062009-11-20T13:57:00.000-08:002009-11-24T16:13:41.719-08:00New Slideshow on State Economic and Fiscal OutlookWatch the 12-minute slideshow (audio included) below to get a better understanding of the state economic and fiscal outlook, including ideas for a balanced solution to the budget shortfall.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click on the green “play” button on the bottom to begin the narrated slide show.</span> The large black arrow on the right-hand side just skips forward to the second slide.<br /><br />Note: if you cannot see the presentation try using the Firefox browser instead of Internet Explorer.<br /><br /><br /><div style="width: 425px; text-align: left;" id="__ss_2548674"><a style="margin: 12px 0pt 3px; font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 14px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; display: block; text-decoration: underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/budgetandpolicy/a-balanced-approach-2548674" title="A Balanced Approach"></a><object style="margin: 0px;" height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=cdocumentsandsettingsandyndesktopbudgetgraphs111709-091120144307-phpapp02&stripped_title=a-balanced-approach-2548674"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=cdocumentsandsettingsandyndesktopbudgetgraphs111709-091120144307-phpapp02&stripped_title=a-balanced-approach-2548674" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="355" width="425"></embed></object></div>Andy Nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03153249613873439199noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-56692574146428435682009-11-19T10:39:00.000-08:002009-11-19T10:45:24.292-08:00The economy wreaks more havoc on the state budgetToday’s updated revenue forecast only made it more essential for the governor and lawmakers to take a balanced approach between spending cuts and revenue increases this upcoming legislative session.<br /><br />The new forecast lowered the state’s expected revenue by another $760 million, bringing the total shortfall to $2.6 billion. <br /><br />The continually worsening outlook comes at a time when Washingtonians need public structures more than ever. With the unemployment rate at its highest level since 1984, the need for the health care system, education and job training, and income supports become more important than ever.<br /><br />We need a balanced approach to dealing with impacts of the recession on the budget, one that combines careful cuts with smart revenue increases, such as a <a href="http://www.budgetandpolicy.org/documents/wftr040309.pdf" target="_blank">combination of a retail sales tax increase with the Working Families Rebate</a>.<br /><br />We’ll have a lengthier analysis of the economic and budget situation tomorrow.Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-61882990479622180102009-11-18T17:22:00.000-08:002009-11-18T17:25:57.677-08:00Wait list for the Basic Health Plan now exceeds enrollmentThere are now more Washingtonians waiting to receive health coverage through the state’s Basic Health Plan (BHP) than are actually enrolled in the program. As of today, the number of people on the wait list for the program reached 79,013, while the number of enrollees stands at 78,830.<br /><br />The Basic Health Plan provides affordable health insurance coverage for low-income adults in Washington State. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 130,000 jobs have been lost in Washington since the start of the current recession, which began in December of 2007. The BHP provides a crucial backstop for Washingtonians that have lost employer-sponsored health coverage. <br /><br />Though demand for BHP coverage continues to rise, monthly premiums and annual deductibles charged to enrollees are scheduled to increase sharply in January as a result of budget cuts enacted earlier this year.Andy Nicholashttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03153249613873439199noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-22182813787911055572009-11-18T14:24:00.000-08:002009-11-18T14:59:17.986-08:00Revenue Forecast Tomorrow Will Show Growing DeficitThe Economic and Revenue Forecast Council will release tomorrow their latest projection of how much revenue the state will raise in the 2009-11 biennium. It will likely be the ninth straight revenue forecast that has brought bad news to Washington State, revealing a deficit that could be as high as $2.5 billion.<br /><br />Over the last six months, the ongoing economic recession has pummeled away at our state’s budget outlook. Last May when the Governor signed the current budget, lawmakers expected an ending fund balance of nearly half a billion dollars plus $250 million in the rainy day fund for the 2009-11 biennium. Since then, the recession and other factors have instead combined to create a $2 billion shortfall.<br /><br />This forecast is particularly important because it will set the parameters for the Governor’s budget proposal, which is expected to be released in about three weeks. Because of the worsening outlook, the Governor’s budget will likely propose deep cuts in core public structures, on top of those already passed last session. These cuts come at a time when Washingtonians can least afford them.<br /><br />It's time to talk about a more balanced solution that includes revenue in order to protect our essential investments in public priorities.<br /><br />Stay tuned for new analysis of the state budget and possible solutions in the coming days.Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-57777140873389003822009-11-10T15:12:00.000-08:002009-11-10T15:21:42.396-08:00BPC hires new Communications ManagerHi. After 19 years in journalism - most recently at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer -- I'm joining the Washington State Policy & Budget Center, as the Communications Manager. I'm looking foward to sharing with you all the excellent policy analysis the analysts here at the center do.<br /><br />I wrote extensively about politics during my journalism career, covering such issues as welfare and health care reform as state government for The Seattle Times. I also covered City Hall and the monorail measure for the P-I. I also founded a news site, seattlepostglobe.org, with other former P-I journalists.Kery Murakamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10037578680987012747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-6795381675246702002009-11-10T14:47:00.000-08:002009-11-10T15:01:42.594-08:00New BPC report: Federal Estate Tax Supports Public Priorities<a href="http://budgetandpolicy.org/documents/estatetax111009.pdf"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402613755597278050" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 184px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiwTGYa2Q85L2xYsLPps85YsBagMM3FbkQuBUnxLUlKmQa-aYXLxvlKnmb_xwvTgeA0_x96Ml7prh-3vcUGEpndX7WVblUldaiQ5JYjYZ7xACJwLJbnLOCmnp31vRj5b1ae7XT7wEzj5Vg/s320/et+(2).jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>The federal estate tax provides billions a year for essential priorities like education, the environment and national security. It’s also the most progressive of federal taxes, applying to only the wealthiest two of every 1,000 estates.<br /><br />But misconceptions surround the tax. And efforts are afoot in Congress that would weaken it.<br /><br />The tax has already been steadily weakened since the Bush tax cuts in 2000, as rising exemptions have meant that less of an estate’s value is subject to the tax. In 2000, the exemption was $675,000. Only two of every 100 estates nationally were subject to the tax. The exemption is now $3.5 million for an individual, and only one in every 500 estates across the country owes any tax.<br /><br />While, the rhetoric is that the estate tax hits the little guy, the reality, according to an analysis by the Tax Policy Center (TPC), is this: only about 110 small farms and busi¬nesses across the country would owe any estate tax in 2011, if the 2009 parameters were made permanent. In Washington State, only two small family farms or businesses would owe any estate tax in 2011, under those parameters.<br /><br />Now some proposals in Congress would weaken the tax even more. According to an analysis by the Washington State Budget & Policy Center, only the wealthiest estate owners would stand to benefit from a proposal by Senators Blanche Lincoln and John Kyl (along with a similar proposal from Representative Shelley Berkley in the House).<br /><br />For estates valued at $20 million, it would mean an average tax cut of $3.5 mil¬lion. This would cost the nation $153 billion more in lost revenue and increased interest on the higher national debt than a more fiscally responsible proposal by President Obama.<br /><br />Read the entire report <a href="http://http://budgetandpolicy.org/documents/estatetax111009.pdf">here</a>:</div>Kery Murakamihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10037578680987012747noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-21236773291192919492009-11-04T14:25:00.000-08:002009-11-04T15:06:13.905-08:00DSHS Budget Proposal would Harm Health Care, Cost Federal FundingEven with the specter of I-1033 behind us, the state budget situation is bleak because of the lingering impact of the economic recession. The deficit facing the Governor as she prepares her budget could be as high as $1.8 billion.<br /><br />A recent memo from the Department of Social and Health Services' Health and Recovery Services Administration—written in response to the Governor’s request for budget reduction proposals—helps illustrate the size of the problem. Acknowledging that “these are serious cuts, and cuts on top of cuts,” the Department proposed deep reductions in key health care programs:<br /><ul><li>The largest reduction ($69.2 million) would come by eliminating important benefits for lower income adults receiving Medical Assistance, including maternity support services, hospice, hearing, non-emergent dental, vision, podiatry, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, interpreters for medical services, and Medicare Part D (prescription drugs) copays. Funding for school-based Medicaid services would also be eliminated ($5.6 million).</li></ul><ul><li>The proposal would eliminate access to state programs that provide health care to lower income children between 205 percent and 300 percent of the federal poverty line, taking a step backward on the state’s commitment to “Cover All Kids” in order to save $11.6 million. </li></ul><ul><li>Reductions in mental health care ($12.9 million) would include eliminating funding for the Program for Adaptive Living Skills and eliminating funding for community support services for individuals discharged from state hospitals.</li></ul><ul><li>The proposal would also eliminate drug and alcohol treatment for all low-income adults not enrolled in a separate DSHS program ($5.5 million).</li></ul><ul><li>There are also $8.3 million in administrative cuts and staff reductions included in the proposal.</li></ul>The reductions in state spending are only part of the story. These proposed cuts would cost the state an estimated $101.4 million in federal matching funds.Jeff Chapmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04859347099789400563noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5238408436273172539.post-2253519179697229322009-10-22T14:50:00.000-07:002009-10-23T10:26:00.524-07:0024 of 31 Local Health Jurisdictions Cut Public Health Programs<em>Yesterday the Budget & Policy Center issued <a href="http://www.budgetandpolicy.org/index.html">a report</a> detailing the impact of budget cuts on public health in the state. The report was co-released by the Washington State Public Health Association and the Washington State Nurses Association.</em><br /><br />The Budget & Policy Center and the Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials independently surveyed local public health agencies to get a sense of the impact of recent budget cuts on public health programs and services, staff, and funding. The Budget & Policy Center received responses from 15 of 35 local health jurisdictions; WASLPHO received answers from 31.<br /><br />As the map below indicates, 24 of 31 local health jurisdictions, which are the primary providers of public health services, have cut vital programs as a result of budget cuts. These include services to support the health of lower income pregnant women, vulnerable children, and seniors through prevention and education programs.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mY48vnhGZapEVfz9b7vxreFoptWx2zTpn6UKYUGq59CSS7oYWF5UOUoAA4PmoE9SEILVpvAFk_hWUSHpwHdVbrZswR5uJW3X4_29lGTjFnggiJKR0mhMT5hWlHDimhQs_BVo6rKttirX/s1600-h/102209_Healthcuts_map1.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 305px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2mY48vnhGZapEVfz9b7vxreFoptWx2zTpn6UKYUGq59CSS7oYWF5UOUoAA4PmoE9SEILVpvAFk_hWUSHpwHdVbrZswR5uJW3X4_29lGTjFnggiJKR0mhMT5hWlHDimhQs_BVo6rKttirX/s400/102209_Healthcuts_map1.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395847304664122210" /></a><br />Other key findings from the report include:<br /><br />-- Lay-offs of public health professionals in 23 of 31 LHJs<br /><br />-- Drops in funding for 24 of 31 LHJs, for example, over $780,000 in Spokane, $1.4 million in Snohomish, and $1.75 million in Thurston CountiesStacey Schultzhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00969288644852487774noreply@blogger.com0