(Washington Gov.) Gregoire orders state budget cuts

[Newsjock]

Source: Associated Press

Gov. Chris Gregoire signed an executive order Monday directing across-the-board cuts to state programs, but the exact amount of the reductions won't be known until later this week.

Gregoire had already told state agencies to prepare for cuts of up to 7 percent, but she warned Monday that she feared they would have to be even higher. In her order, Gregoire directs her budget office to calculate the amount based on the numbers from the updated state revenue forecast that will be issued Thursday.

... Gregoire issued the executive order hours before she was set to leave on an 11-day trade mission to Asia.

The Democratic governor plans to visit the World Expo in Shanghai, stop in other Chinese cities and visit Vietnam. Joining her will be more than 100 representatives from business, agriculture and education.

Read more: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012889491_budgetcuts14.html

[jtuck004]

1. Shouldn't they be inviting the Chinese here to invest

in Washington State?

According to various sources, they have over $2 trillion in reserves, and are investing in places like Brazil, others. I sure hope we aren't paying for this little vacation.