Photos by Steve Bloom/The Olympian
Representing several labor groups, marchers move from the Capitol steps to the General Administration building after a morning rally Monday to encourage lawmakers to protect state services and jobs.

Pat Underhill, from the Centralia area, is a member of Local 21-27 Carpenters Union. He was one of hundreds of people who rallied Monday at the Capitol.

Rally: Make business pay

Coalition for saving state services makes noise at Capitol

BRAD SHANNON THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- While an estimated 2,500 activists rallied outdoors for higher taxes and fewer cuts to social services Monday, state lawmakers inside the Capitol were bracing for more bad budget news that will be announced this morning.

The rally, sponsored by major state labor and church groups that called themselves the "Save Our State Coalition," drew a loud and enthusiastic crowd that chanted "Power to the People" and "Close Tax Loopholes!"

They urged that Gov. Gary Locke's proposal to cut a half-billion dollars worth of programs be set aside in favor of raising taxes on business groups, who staged a smaller rally later.

"Gov. Locke and legislators, reject these cuts!" hollered Patty Cameron, a counselor at the state-run Maple Lane School for youth offenders in southwest Thurston County, who took a turn at the microphone in an hour-long rally. "Cuts in my field will reduce public safety."

Broad coalition

Other speakers included farm workers frightened by legislation proposed earlier this year to alter the state's minimum wage laws. Also on hand were advocates for the disabled, the elderly, children and others who fear that budget cuts will harm vulnerable citizens, as well as state employees who want higher pay and fewer job cuts than Locke proposed.

Lawmakers were aware of the rally, but few ventured out to meet the crowd. The legislators were keenly aware that the revenue forecast due this morning is likely to show a significant drop in revenue -- possibly $250 million less than previously expected. Together with increasing caseloads for welfare, prisons and schools, this could significantly widen a budget gap previously estimated at $1.25 billion and require either tax increases or deeper cuts than Locke proposed.

"One thing the rally does is blow out of the water the idea that you just tighten your belts and take a few efficiencies here and there," said Sen. Lisa Brown, the Spokane Democrat writing the Legislature's first budget counterproposal to Locke's December plan.

Ranking Republicans on the budget committees, Sen. Dino Rossi of Sammamish and Rep. Barry Sehlin of Oak Harbor, warned that higher taxes won't help the economy. They said Democrats instead need to face down labor interests, hold down pay raises for state employees and freeze employment levels, before cutting human services.

Washington State Labor Council activists circulated information sheets estimating that the state's budget gap will be $1.4 billion to $1.7 billion.

Activists weren't buying the idea the state can't afford to pay for programs.

"There isn't a politician in the whole wide world that'll stop the people's power," shouted Robby Stern, a State Labor Council lobbyist who led the crowd in song and chanting. "Close the loopholes!"

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