In the House Ways and Means hearing on the budget the first week of the 2009 session, the head of Governor Gregoire's budget office gave this testimony:
"We knew prior to the November forecast that we would have a shortfall of more than $3 billion." -- Victor Moore, Director, Office of Financial Management (OFM) in Monday's (1/12/09) House Ways and Means hearing.
With apologies to Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers:
"REALLY?" You knew about a $3 billion deficit before the November 12th revenue forecast?
REALLY? And up until the election on November 4th your boss, Christine Gregoire, was saying that we were one of the few states in the union that had a surplus.
REALLY? And Gregoire was also saying we were 'the envy of the country!'
REALLY? A surplus? One day we had a surplus and a week later we had a $3 billion deficit?
REALLY? What did we lose some change in the seat cushions?
REALLY? Did we go a little crazy buying cranberry sauce for the Governor's mansion Thanksgiving dinner? THREE BILLION dollars in one week?
REALLY?