A new governor and a salmon-shaped budget hole

Governor Bob Ferguson was sworn in as Washington’s new governor on Wednesday. 

Off the bat, his term has been me with shade from outgoing Governor Jay Inslee, who was critical in his farewell address of Ferguson's recent budget proposal -- one containing billions of dollars in new cuts. 

Sound Politics talked last week about the $12 billion shortfall in the state’s operating budget, which is looming over absolutely everything lawmakers plan to do this session. 

But there's also a gap in the transportation budget -- “...at least $6.5 billion through 2031, if significant action isn’t taken,” according to reporting by Ryan Packer at The Urbanist. 

Like all budget issues, there are a lot of factors that are causing the gap, like gas tax and carbon auction are not bringing in as much as expected. But one factor caught Sound Politics host Scott Greenstone's attention. And it has to do with salmon.

Mike Reicher, Seattle Times investigative reporter, joins the show to explain the latest in the state's ongoing mandate to replace salmon culverts. 

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Sound Politics is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor this week is Jed Kim. Our producer this week is Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Scott Greenstone and Libby Denkmann.