policy proposals

Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi has used the pre-primary week to roll out a series of policy proposals that he aims to implement if elected to keep the state's projected budget deficit at bay. Over the last week, the campaign issued a set of three campaign promises to highlight a few of the steps Rossi would take to tackle potential budget problems if elected.

The first one proposed constitutional amendment to reinstate spending limits. Citing the Senate Ways and Means Committee staff report that projected a $2.7 billion budget deficit for the next biennium, Rossi said he would seek to amend the state constitution so that spending limits in accordance with 1993's Initiative 601, which placed annual spending limits on state general fund expenditures tied to inflation and population growth, would be held firm.

Sheriff Rick Bart (R-Arlington): Politicker PhotoRepublican Rick Bart, the former Snohomish County Sheriff running for Congress in Northwest Washington's 2nd District against incumbent Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Arlington) has announced a new policy initiative. In a press release sent out Monday morning, Bart pledged to put forward legislation that would help college graduates ease the increasing burden of student loans.

"If elected," Bart said, "I would propose legislation that allows citizens who have seen their student loan balances balloon with penalties, fees, and accrued interest for 7 years or more a window of opportunity to repay what they originally borrowed and move on with their lives.