Gov. Gregoire, some lawmakers aim to change constitution to solidify rainy-day fund
Thursday, January 4, 2007 8:47 AM PST
By Don Jenkins
Printable version
E-mail this articleOLYMPIA --- An influential lawmaker Wednesday indicated she will resist a push by Gov. Chris Gregoire and others to impose a mandatory savings plan on legislators.
The primary duty of the Legislature is to make spending decisions, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Helen Sommers, D-Seattle, told reporters and editors at a forum hosted by The Associated Press.
"I don't know why the Legislature would constitutionally tie its hands," she said.
The Legislature will convene Monday for a 105-day session. With the state enjoying a projected $1.9 billion surplus, advocates of a constitutionally protected "rainy-day fund" argue now is the time to adopt a savings plan.
Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, proposed a constitutional amendment last year and has again this year. Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, has a similar bill, and Gregoire has her own plan.
The three proposals differ in some details, but all call for saving 1 percent of the state's general revenue, or an estimated $262 million over the next two years. The savings account would presumably grow and couldn't be spent unless three-fifths of the House and Senate approve.
Writing the fund into the state constitution would prevent lawmakers from suspending the strict savings plan with a simple-majority vote.
Speaking later at the same forum, Gregoire said a hard-to-touch reserve would help the state sustain programs during hard times. "I hope we get to the rainy-day fund. I think it's high time," she said.
Two leading Senate Democrats --- Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane and Senate budget committee chairwoman Margarita Prentice of Renton --- also have endorsed the idea.
A rainy-day fund was part of the Republican agenda last year. The bill, however, didn't come up for a vote in either the House or Senate, both controlled by Democrats.
Rep. Dean Takko, D-Longview, said he likes the idea and that support is growing among House Democrats.
"I think it's picking up enough steam from what I've heard that I'm not sure one person can stop the train," Takko said in a phone interview. "But if anyone can get in the way of the train, (Sommers) is in position."
Sommers, a House member since 1973 and the longest-serving legislator, observed that Gregoire's proposed rainy-day fund would be hard to tap in emergencies.
If that money is put off-limits, the governor's $29.9 billion, two-year budget proposal leaves only $344 million in reserves for unexpected expenses, she said.
Gregoire has proposed suspending the three-fifths requirement to spend the rainy-day fund if the governor declares an emergency in the event of a natural disaster
Zarelli's proposal would allow the standard to be waived when job growth virtually stops, indicating an economic downturn that will strain state resources.
Prentice promised to look at all of the proposals. "I certainly support the whole notion of a rainy-day fund," she said. "Working out the details is our job."
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