Governor Christine Gregoire has never been accused of sound budgetary management, but her revenue challenged administration has Washington in a financial free-fall. Anyone remotely concerned with the direction of the Evergreen State should take a very hard look at the numbers before casting their ballots in November. Here's a brief overview from the Rossi Campaign:

 

"The state's Economic and Revenue Forecast Council today released a report showing a $167 million decline in revenue. Christine Gregoire's 2009 deficit is now over $2.5 billion.

Interim director of the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council Steve Lerch predicted today that Washington is not going to be in a recession; however our state still faces a $2.5 billion budget gap.  The incumbent has increased state spending by a massive 33 percent since taking office.

"Washington state is facing a deficit today because of the incumbent's out of control spending," said Dino Rossi. "Logically one would conclude the better our economy is the smaller our deficit would be. So why do we have a deficit? Because even though revenue is still expected to increase in the next biennium, the incumbent has outspent it by $2.5 billion. This is no way to run a business and certainly no way to run a state.

"Other governors across the country are taking bold steps to reduce spending.  The longer the incumbent waits to tighten the belt of state spending the worse the problem will get. It is irresponsible to allow this deficit to continue to grow and not take proactive steps now. She has taken us from a $2.1 billion surplus to a $2.5 billion deficit. Enough is enough. It's time to face reality."