Gregoire budget starts with $2 billion in cuts, but will tax increase follow?
Facing another crippling budget deficit, Gov. Chris Gregoire on Thursday outlined $2 billion in reductions in state spending she says will cut painfully "through the muscle and into the bone" of public services.
Now, in the days leading up to next month's special legislative session, she'll consider ways of raising revenue to ease the pain without damaging the fragile economy. But she insisted she may not commit to any ideas, including putting a tax package on the ballot next year as desired by some Democratic lawmakers.