Legislative leaders warn budget shortfalls could cut long-term care, higher education and Medicaid services

Lawmakers at the press availability warned that Governor Inslee's Book 1 (the no-revenue budget scenario) would force deep cuts across services if the state does not add revenue.

Unidentified Speaker 2 summarized elements of Book 1, saying it would mean "half $1,000,000,000 cut to long term care and DD services," a "quarter of $1,000,000,000 cut to higher ed," and eliminations including "Medicaid adult dental, eliminating Medicaid kidney dialysis, eliminating Medicaid abortion services and family planning services." The speaker framed those items as examples of what an unbalanced, cuts-only approach would entail.

Jamie Peterson said lawmakers must weigh trade-offs and that polls show voters are more nuanced when asked about funding trade-offs for education, child care and environmental protections. He said the caucus regards funding public schools, and especially special education, as the highest budget priority.

When asked about Alzheimer's Advocacy Day and Senate Bill 5337 (training/certification), leaders said specific program priorities may be affected by the larger budget choices; Peterson said proposed eliminations in the governor's Book 1 would amount to "the tip of the iceberg" if the state adopted a cuts-only approach.

No votes or formal budget decisions were taken at the press availability; leaders said budget priorities will be hashed out in Senate Ways and Means and House Appropriations hearings in the coming weeks.

What happens next: hearings in appropriations and ways-and-means committees and continued budget work by the caucuses; leaders said they expect more public comment in hearings as budget trade-offs become clearer.