Governor Gregoire and the Washington Legislature are cringing at the thought of a projected $2 billion budget gap this winter, and that number is expected to rise a bunch more in Thursday’s revenue forecast update.  This after closing a $9 billion gap in April.

Does misery love company? Then take note that our sister states of Oregon and California are facing dire straits. Today’s LA Times says the fresh deficit of $21 billion is looming for the not-so-Golden State, even after the budget nightmare of ’09 was temporarily dealt with.  California is at the top of an “endangered” states list compiled by the Pew Center on the States. And according to former Oregon journo and J School professor Floyd McKay, Oregon is in a heap of trouble, too, particularly with a statewide vote skedded for January on a $733 million tax rollback. Oregon already cut $2 billion in spending and boosted taxes by $1 billion.

Oregon, too, is on the most endangered list.  Washington’s mess isn’t bad enough to make the cut, and the report gives the state top marks in managing its finances.