OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Gov. Chris Gregoire is proposing $1.7 billion in cuts to state government, but suggests a temporary sales tax increase to prevent some of the more severe reductions that include shortening the school year for public school students. Gregoire's proposal to address a projected $1.4 billion deficit was released Monday. It also includes reductions in university support and the elimination of medical programs for 55,000 low-income residents. But Gregoire, entering her final year in office, is seeking more than $830 million in revenue to buy back some of these cuts, and wants a voter-approved temporary half-cent tax increase that would bring in $494 million through 2013. The Governor claims its the least onerous option. If approved by voters, the sales tax increase would expire in 2015.
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