This Washington
Senate Cuts Disability Lifeline Stipend
We've been waiting for the state senate ways and means committee to release its version of the supplemental budget—the final six month ledger for the 2009-2011 biennium that requires $1.1 billion in savings.
They released the numbers today.
The senate's budget, like the house budget, still has a ways to go—about $200 million for the senate and $260 million for the house. The senate's budget is kinder on K-12, cutting about $20 million less and harsher to higher ed, cutting over $20 million more.
Overall—in addition to the $588 million in savings the senate, house, and governor signed off on in December's special session—the senate added another $254 million in cuts today vs. the house's $222 million.
Both budgets take whacks the Basic Health Plan (subsidized health care for the poor); the senate saves about $10 million by tightening eligibility requirements, the house simply ends it in April.
And while the house spares the Disability Lifeline (stipends and health care money for disabled people who cannot get jobs), the senate cuts $18 million from the stipend.
Here's a side-by-side summary of the today's senate proposal, the house proposal, and the governor's, which cuts both the Basic Health Plan and the Disability Lifeline.
After the legislature agrees on these cuts, including finding another $200 million plus, they've got to deal with the 2011-13 biennium and a $4.6 billion short fall.
UPDATED: Senate ways and means chair Sen. Ed Murray (D-43, Capitol Hill, U. District) realeased a statement:
He also released his own highlights of how his budget differs from the house version:
They released the numbers today.
The senate's budget, like the house budget, still has a ways to go—about $200 million for the senate and $260 million for the house. The senate's budget is kinder on K-12, cutting about $20 million less and harsher to higher ed, cutting over $20 million more.
Overall—in addition to the $588 million in savings the senate, house, and governor signed off on in December's special session—the senate added another $254 million in cuts today vs. the house's $222 million.
Both budgets take whacks the Basic Health Plan (subsidized health care for the poor); the senate saves about $10 million by tightening eligibility requirements, the house simply ends it in April.
And while the house spares the Disability Lifeline (stipends and health care money for disabled people who cannot get jobs), the senate cuts $18 million from the stipend.
Here's a side-by-side summary of the today's senate proposal, the house proposal, and the governor's, which cuts both the Basic Health Plan and the Disability Lifeline.
After the legislature agrees on these cuts, including finding another $200 million plus, they've got to deal with the 2011-13 biennium and a $4.6 billion short fall.
UPDATED: Senate ways and means chair Sen. Ed Murray (D-43, Capitol Hill, U. District) realeased a statement:
“Washington cannot afford to keep spending at our current rate. Our conversation with the public is no longer about all the good ways we can spend their money. It’s about what we’re going to cut. It’s about doing less with less. We need to be honest about this.”
He also released his own highlights of how his budget differs from the house version:
Reducing but not eliminating class-size reduction efforts in K-4 classrooms
Eliminating the Higher Education Coordinating Board and Council of Presidents
Transferring tuition funds for financial aid purposes
Preserving state funded research
Preserving the Basic Health Plan by tightening eligibility
Tightening eligibility for the Children’s Health Program
Eliminating cash grants for the Disability Lifeline
Not cutting adult day health care
Taking a three percent pay reduction for non-represented state workers three months early
Reducing management at the Department of Social & Health Services
Preserving the Becca truancy program
