Union opposes governor's suggestion to cut benefits

Citing a looming budget shortfall, Gov. Chris Gregoire's office on Wednesday asked union-represented government workers to consider cutting their health-care benefits to save the state money.

The initial reaction from the largest state-employee union? Fat chance.

"We think she needs to look elsewhere," said Tim Welch, a spokesman for the Washington Federation of State Employees, which represents about 40,000 government workers who get state health-care benefits.