The Washington state Senate took a step this week that can stop the ongoing  budget crisis engulfing our state. It has proposed a constitutional amendment that would mandate the Legislature pass a balanced budget.

The measure now moves to the House where it also should be approved. The final step would be to put the issue on a ballot where a simple majority vote would make it law.

Many people might think that this already is required. Sadly, it’s not.

True, the governor must propose a balanced budget. However, there’s no requirement for the Legislature to do this. A constitutional requirement would close this loophole.

If approved, the balanced budget requirement would kick in starting in 2014. A key element would be that the Legislature no longer would be able to write a budget that creates a shortfall in the following biennial budget. The state’s rainy-day fund still could be used to balance a budget if a recession occurred.

House members should sign on to this legislation.

– Craig Groshart, Issaquah/Sammamish Reporter