Extended interview: Gov. Ferguson ahead of state budget deadline, global tariff impacts, deportations and more

OLYMPIA, Wash. — The Washington State Legislature is nearing the April 27 deadline to pass a balanced state budget.

Currently, the state’s budget deficit is estimated to be about $16 billion over the next four years.

KING 5 Weekend Morning anchor Farah Jadran spoke with Gov. Bob Ferguson in an exclusive one-on-one, covering a possible need for a special session to obtain a budget, new taxes, public safety and more.

“Core programs like our K through 12 education, we have about seven or 8 percent of funding comes from the federal government,” Ferguson said. “Medicaid funding that supports folks on Medicaid – billions of dollars come from that. So, we are deeply concerned about really the chaotic and seemingly arbitrary decisions coming from the Trump Administration on cuts to Washington state.”

Jadran also spoke with Ferguson about issues facing the nation, including federal cuts, global tariffs, deportations and more.