Governor agrees to pay 85 percent of state workers' health-care premiums
In a surprise move, Gov. Chris Gregoire has agreed the state will pay 85 percent of health-care premium costs for state workers in the next two-year budget.
The governor had previously pushed for the state to pay 74 percent of the premium and for state workers to pick up 26 percent of the costs, arguing the state could not afford to pay more money for health care. The state faces a $5.7 billion shortfall in the next two-year budget.