State legislators return to Olympia on Monday, January 8th for the 2007 session, which is scheduled for 105 days.  Legislators will consider many policy issues, but their only mandatory obligation is to write the 2007-2009 biennial budget.

Washington State’s biennial budget is developed during odd numbered years.  Even with increased revenues of $1.9 billion – up nearly 36% from 2006 – legislators are challenged to meet the added costs of increasing prison populations, growing Medicaid caseloads, rising health care costs, environmental concerns, pay raises for public school teachers and state employees, and many other pressing needs.   

The current biennial budget, passed during the 2005 legislative session, made investments in education and provided some housing assistance and health care for low-income families.  Unfortunately, the budget did not address desperately-needed grant increases for the General Assistance Unemployable (GA-U) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs.

Governor Gregoire has proposed a 2007-2009 budget that address the challenges facing many poor and vulnerable people by providing $36 million for health insurance and $26.2 million for vaccinations for thousands of low-income children, $6 million to help seniors on Medicare pay prescription drug co-pays, and $25.3 million to provide assistance to former felons to reintegrate them into society.  The Governor’s budget also places nearly $606 million in “rainy day funds.”

In addition to the Governor’s budget, the state House and Senate will craft their own biennial budgets.  Then negotiations begin and continue until only one budget is presented to Governor Gregoire for her signature.

Building on scripture and Catholic social teaching, the Catholic Bishops of the State of Washington, through the Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC), advocate for the legislative priorities adopted by the WSCC Board of Directors for the 2007 legislative session.