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After more than a month of negotiations, Gov. Chris Gregoire signed into law Friday a package of deficit cutting measures that attempt to patch a shortfall of more than half a billion dollars in the current fiscal year.

But the action on Friday still leaves the state hundreds of millions of dollars in the red.

The agreement trims several state programs, including the state's health care program for the poor and aid for the disabled, as well as transfer funds from other programs. In total, the plan slashes the estimated deficit by about $370 million, with about $242 million in cuts and $125 million in transfers.