Legislators say budget will be hot issue

"The session will be dominated by the budget," Chandler said. "In fact, we created two new committees to look at the budget. That will dominate most everything."

"Sometimes it's hard to look into the future when this budget situation is staring at you," Newhouse said.

Chandler pointed out that the budget deficit is projected to be at least $6 billion.

"We could be in session for a long time," Chandler commented. "If we don't change what we're doing, if we keep funding on the same track, we will end up with a $6-$7 billion deficit."

"It will probably end up being closer to $7 billion," Honeyford commented.

Chandler said the state needed to get back to basics.

"Our priority is to take care of folks and do what we need to do to keep serving people. And we have the tax revenue to do that," he explained.

Chandler pointed out that the Northwest has not been hit as hard as other regions of the nation in the current downturn.

"There is not the dramatic turmoil in the housing market that we see in other areas," he said. "There is struggling in a lot of communities, but we're in much better shape than other states."

Honeyford singled out priorities such as taking care of the elderly and the disabled, as well as funding programs that benefited public health and safety, as among his main priorities.

Newhouse said he wanted to ensure that crime prevention funding was maintained.

"We didn't get much money for our gang abatement program last year, but with the realities of the budget, we may have to adjust our sights," Newhouse said. "But it's still a priority."

Some issues that were priorities in the last legislative session may find themselves out of luck with the ongoing budget crunch, Chandler warned.

"We have a number of things promised but not funded," Chandler said, citing paid family leave and a sales tax rebate for those filing for the earned income credit on their tax returns.

Honeyford said he did not want to see funding for the state's community colleges slashed.

"One other concern I have is cuts to the community colleges," Honeyford explained. "The Yakima Valley Community College, for example, has 11,000 students, but if proposed funding cuts go through, they will have to reduce that to 6,000. And this at a time when, with the bad economy, people turn to education for job training. We have to protect that."

The legislators were hesitant to embrace proposed economic stimulus plans without more details on how they would be focused.

"Gov. Gregoire has talked about an economic stimulus package, and so has President-elect Obama," Honeyford said. "If we do so, it has to create jobs for the future, not make-work jobs that are gone once a construction project is done."

Chandler added that any stimulus plans needed to focus on creation of permanent jobs, not just temporary work.

"This is actually a time of great opportunity to lay the foundation for growing our economy for the next decades," Chandler said. "We don't want to make hasty choices now if it prevents long-term economic growth. We want the sort of thing that creates jobs for the next generation and not just for next year."

Chandler said one area of the budget he has serious concerns about is proposed spending to deal with the climate change issue.

"I don't know how much money we will be able to spend on climate change," Chandler said.

Honeyford explained that Gov. Gregoire joined with four other Western states and British Columbia in Canada for the "Western Climate Initiative."

According to Honeyford, dealing with the climate change issue might have a serious financial impact on the state's residents.

"When Europe adopted a similar plan, utility rates went up 29 percent," Honeyford explained. "That's not the thing to do in this economy."

Newhouse said it was time to take a fresh approach to solving the state's financing problems. He noted that the Legislature recently passed a "tax increment financing" bill that provides sales tax revenue for communities that make local infrastructure improvements.

"That provides benefits for making investments in a city or community," Newhouse said. "There are five cities currently taking advantage of this program, but others are interested in doing so as well."

In another budget-stretching initiative, Newhouse said he would help introduce a bill to allow rural school districts to go to a four-day week to help schools save funds.

"It would provide a local option for local school districts -- especially rural school districts like the Lyle School District -- and other schools to go to a four-day week," Newhouse said. "The bill will probably be introduced on the first day we're in session."

Newhouse noted that school districts often have severe transportation costs, and they need "some options to deal with the financial stress they're under," he explained.

The legislators expressed appreciation for the input they get from citizens.

"We want to thank people for being willing to comment," Chandler said. "People in the Gorge are more responsive than any other part of our district. Especially this year with the budget issues, it's important for people to be heard."

"All the wisdom doesn't come out of the Legislature, it comes from people," Honeyford added. "Good ideas come from people, and we're happy to work on them."

"We're really grateful for the feedback," Newhouse added. "It is a huge help for us. Especially in this session, with the budget and how cuts will affect people."

Newhouse and Chandler were both re-elected to new two-year terms in 2008, and will again face voters in 2010.

Honeyford has served in the Washington Legislature since 1995. He was elected to the Washington House of Representatives in 1994 and again in 1996. In 1998, he was elected to the State Senate, and was re-elected by large margins in 2002 and 2006. Honeyford will also be on the ballot in 2010 -- if he chooses to run for another four-year term.

The popular "elder statesman" of the Legislature indicated he was still weighing his options.

"I haven't made a final decision yet," Honeyford said.

"If we have anything to say about it, he'll run," Newhouse said.