New Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson (D) held a press conference on his 43rd day in office to address the state’s budget shortfalls.

State Sen. Chris Gildon, a Puyallup Republican and Senate Republican budget leader, applauded the governor for coming up with spending cut ideas in a timely manner. He said it allows budget writers room for consideration while there’s still time left in the session.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has a plan for about $7 billion in budget cuts, but he and Democrats in the Legislature have a ways to go before they solve a shortfall that may be more than double that size.