State Sen. Chris Gildon, a Puyallup Republican and Senate Republican budget leader, applauded the governor for coming up with spending cut ideas in a timely manner. He said it allows budget writers room for consideration while there’s still time left in the session.

Gov. Bob Ferguson unveiled a plan Thursday to save Washington $4 billion over the next four years to address a budget deficit the governor projects to be $15 billion over the next four years. He announced the plan amidst what Ferguson described as a "budget crisis" as he called on the state government to "do a better job of budgeting within our means.