Republicans have continually gone after Gov. Chris Gregoire on the state budget this campaign season, and with yesterday's report showing another $529 million adding on to the projected $2.7 billion budget deficit, they are at it again.

They mainly hype the fact that Gregoire has said in the past that projections do not concern her as much as the present deficit because of the shifting tides of the state's forecasts. That does not concern gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, however, disagrees. He issued a statement yesterday on the projected deficit.

"The first step to solving this deficit is actually acknowledging that there is a problem and admitting that the deficit is real," said Dino Rossi.  "The incumbent has shown a complete unwillingness to do so.  

"We need a new governor who will control spending, help small businesses succeed and not raise taxes - that's what a governor can do to help create jobs and grow our economy."

Gregoire, however, acknowledged today in the Seattle Times that she is preparing for the deficit, but says the fault lies with the national economic scene.

"The blame goes squarely to Washington, D.C. This is the worst economic situation we've faced since the Depression," she said. "We're going to blame that on the Washington state Legislature and the governor?"

Rossi also established a disagreement with Gregoire on the issue of the national economy's role in the state's projected deficit. Gregoire has long maintained that Washington was a harbor in the storm, but Rossi says it is wrong to blame outside influences.

Washington State Republican Party Chair Luke Esser added to the fray with a statement of his own. He accuses Gregoire of ignoring the projected deficit, and playing politics with the budget.

"Christine Gregoire's bizarre denial of the state's ballooning budget deficit is reminiscent of the comforting words offered by Lehman Brothers executives days before they declared bankruptcy," Esser said. "Can't anyone on her staff help Gregoire to open her eyes? Over the last two years Gregoire has blown through the largest surplus in state history and now her overspending has created the largest deficit in state history, a $3.2 billion monster. And still Gregoire's eyes remain glued shut, the truth of our state's fiscal crisis being held hostage to the needs of her political campaign. When you have a governor who won't admit there's a deficit, it means important budget planning isn't getting done, and that's a disservice to the families and businesses of Washington. Today's news brings us yet more proof that state government is long past due for a change of leadership."