The stack of press releases  (re: the state budget) is growing. Here's another one. 

This angry dispatch comes from the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance. 

It's short and sweet, so here it is in full: 

SENATE MAKES POOR CHOICES IN RECESSION BUDGET

 

SEATTLE—Affordable housing advocates say the Senate’s budget, which cuts healthcare, assistance for people too sick or disabled to work, and programs that help former foster youth avoid homelessness, is the wrong approach to balancing the budget in the middle of the most severe recession in modern times.

“We have the power to choose what kind of state we want Washington to be,” said Rachael Myers, Executive Director of the Washington Low Income Housing Alliance.  “Everyone should have the opportunity to live in a safe, decent, affordable home.  We can make smart investments in housing and other systems that will help people weather this storm or we can make short-sighted cuts. The Senate’s cuts undermine our State’s economic recovery and the wellbeing of families who are struggling.  We hope to see our legislators make better choices when the House releases its budget tomorrow.”

Advocates for affordable housing and supportive services say that new revenue will be necessary to prevent an exponential increase in homelessness and poverty during the economic downturn.

And then there's  this one, just in, from the Washington Budget & Policy Center (a liberal think tank). However, WB&PC's statement doesn't advocate for a particular constituency like labor or women or low-income people—like the other releases (flying in after this morning's press conference) do.

Their issue is more macro. They argue that instead of an all-cuts budget—which they think will create a recessionary-spiral—the legislature should find new sources of revenue to fund basic services. 

From the release: 

The Budget & Policy Center says the state needs leadership from our policymakers that includes bold action on raising the revenue necessary to invest in education, community, health, and security. Washington’s households and businesses need these public investments in order to weather the economic storm and prosper as the economy recovers.

The whole statement is linked below.

Senate Budget Impairs State's Road to Recovery

Olympia - The Senate released their proposed budget today, three months after the Governor’s proposal. The Senate did not offer a new vision for solving our state’s historic budget deficit in a way that is consistent with our shared values. Rather, it was more of the same all-cuts strategy that will undermine our ability to foster economic recovery and growth.
"The path to recovery is not paved by dramatic budget cuts that leave hard working Washingtonians with no health insurance, ambitious students with less access to college, and people who are unable to work with few options for financial security," said Remy Trupin, Executive Director of the Washington State Budget & Policy Center.

The Senate proposes cuts to public systems that we rely on every day, such as education, health care, and financial assistance. The budget impairs Washington's economic security. In particular, cuts to the Department of Social and Health Services are problematic because it means our state will not be able to take full advantage of federal funds available to us.

The Budget & Policy Center says the state needs leadership from our policymakers that includes bold action on raising the revenue necessary to invest in education, community, health, and security. Washington’s households and businesses need these public investments in order to weather the economic storm and prosper as the economy recovers.