Hello Readers,

Some good news on the federal stimulus front.  Washington is receiving substantial funds under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for both energy and education purposes.  These were announced recently by Gov. Gregoire.  You can read the press release for energy here:  http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1246&newsType=1 and the one about education here:  http://www.governor.wa.gov/news/news-view.asp?pressRelease=1244&newsType=1

Whether you agree if this level of federal spending is appropriate or not, it certainly makes sense for our state to apply for what is available.  A major downside is the potential for creating a new budget hole when the federal money dries up, which it eventually will.  The legislature and governor hedged the state's operating budget against this federal spending, essentially shoving a good part of the state's structural spending problem forward into the future with the assumption that the economy will be better two years from now.

The Governor's office has set up a website to track how stimulus money is being used in our state.  Check out Recovery.wa.gov:  http://www.recovery.wa.gov/ for additional information and ways to apply for the federal money dedicated to Washington.