The Washington State Legislature starts a 60-day session on Monday, January 11th in which the budget will be of primary concern.

Facing a projected $2.6-billion budget deficit for the coming fiscal year, Governor Christine Gregoire released a proposed supplemental budget in December that includes significant funding cuts for human services. The majority of the state’s $31-billion operating budget is protected by state and federal requirements; funding for human services is not protected, which means that the poor and vulnerable may bear the brunt of the cuts in the final budget approved by the House and Senate.

Among the programs cut entirely in the governor’s proposed budget are General Assistance–Unemployable, which provides a stipend and basic health care coverage for those unable to work because of disability; the Basic Health Plan, which subsidizes health care expenses for working poor people; and Volunteer Chore Services, which mobilizes volunteers to help the elderly and disabled remain in their homes.

The Bishops of Washington State have released a summary of their legislative priorities, which include ten areas: budgets, Catholic schools, children and families, criminal justice, economic justice, environment, health care, housing, life issues and long-term care.