Democrats in the Washington state Senate kicked it off Thursday with a monstrous opening statement, calling for higher property tax collections and new levies on the state’s wealthiest individuals and largest corporations. They also pitched a half-cent cut in the sales tax to assuage concerns about costs for consumers.

Washington Senate Democrats are proposing new taxes on the wealthy to combat a projected $13 billion budget deficit.

As Washington struggles to fill a $15 billion budget shortfall, there is a proposal for pay cuts for state employees.