Governor in D.C. to pitch Congress for more funds

Governor Gregoire is holding a press conference with several other governors today in Washington D.C. to ask Congress to provide states with additional Medicaid funds (FMAP). Along with about 30 other states, Washington assumed an additional $480 million in FMAP funds to help balance the budget this year. This is more than the $253 million ending fund balance meaning if the funds aren't approved the state's ending fund balance would be negative by more than $200 million. For the third time last week the U.S. Senate rejected a bill with the FMAP funds. Last month the House removed the FMAP funds from the bill sent to the Senate . . . READ MORE