Updated Nov 19, 2009 - 1:18 pm
State budget gap zooms to $2.6B
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That's the word from Olympia, where the state economists are predicting weaker tax revenue for the next year and a half.
Gov. Chris Gregoire will release her new budget proposal next month. Gregoire says she's open to higher taxes to help bridge the gap.
Top Democratic lawmakers say that's got to be part of the plan. Sin taxes and closing tax loopholes are squarely in their sights. But they say general tax hikes on sales and business revenue are probably the last resort.
Republicans warn that going to the tax well now is a bad idea, with the economic recovery still fragile.
© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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