Canceling the Anacortes to Sidney, British Columbia, ferry run is before the state Legislature this session on two counts — one is the need to save money in a state budget where billions must be cut, and the other is the drive to reorganize and refloat the state ferry system as a whole.

In Gov. Christine Gregoire’s proposed 2009-2011 biennium budget and in one of two options in Washington State Ferries’ draft long-range plan, the run is eliminated by the end of September.

But during the next three months the Sidney run and the ferry system budget will be scrutinized and debated by lawmakers in Olympia responsible for balancing the state budget and funding the state’s marine highway.

“That governor’s budget will not be the finished product,” said Rep. Barbara Bailey, 10th District. “It will be a legislative budget that is voted on.”

Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, 10th District, said in a press release earlier this month that first and foremost, the legislative decision-making process is deliberately long and drawn out.

“This has the virtue of providing plenty of time for discussion of a wide variety of ideas — both good and bad, during which the worst ideas are generally tossed aside rather quickly,” Haugen said. “Secondly, there is clear language which prevents the elimination of any ferry route without legislative approval.”

The Sidney run is the only one that has been mandated in WSF biennium budgets since 1997 when a similar fight to save the run occurred, said Rep. Jeff Morris, 40th District. In order for WSF to access appropriations, it must include the international run in its schedule.

That means no matter the governor’s proposal, the Legislature makes the final decision.

An overview of the governor’s budget was presented to the Legislature on Jan. 13. From there it was divided into three parts — operating, capital and transportation, with the latter taken up nearly 11 percent of the whole. The transportation budget is separate because of the requirement that gas tax receipts go only to transportation issues.

Work has already begun on that budget in the Senate Transportation Committee, where the decision process begins and where Sen. Kevin Ranker, 40th District, serves with Haugen, who chairs the committee.

Ranker said he’s adamant about saving the run. But he added that the Sidney ferry, though a critical piece, is a small part of a big picture that includes the rest of the ferry system and the state’s transportation system as a whole.

Bailey said she is disappointed the governor’s budget wants to cut out the Sidney run and is concerned about losing the international connection, something that would be detrimental to the Northwest region.

She stressed the importance of constituents letting the Transportation Committee know how they feel through letters, e-mails, calls and personal visits early and often. People will also have the opportunity to give public testimony through committee hearings posted five days in advance on the legislative Web site.

The more times you say something and the more people you see the more visibility the issue gets, Bailey said. “It’s not a one-time job.”

Once the budget is drafted, only minor changes are usually made, she said.

The Senate’s version of the transportation budget is due by March 2, at which time the House will have its turn, Morris said.

But by that time the House will already have an idea of the direction it’s going because of earlier negotiations with the Senate done to speed up the process and meet its April 6 deadline, Morris said. Those negotiations will continue and will expand in scope to include the governor to assure a final budget will not be vetoed.

That final budget isn’t expected until midnight on April 26, the last day of the session.

The closer the issue gets to the deadlines, the less impact any public input will have, Morris said. But he added that any and all input has to be consistent throughout the legislative session.

Additional advice from Morris:  Don’t preach to the choir.

He and other legislators within the region already support the run. Residents can have more impact by contacting friends and family in Eastern Washington and asking them to contact their legislators to convince them of the importance of the run.

“We all agree,” he said. “Lobby the others .. to broaden support for the run.”

Morris also suggested keeping the Sidney run as one of the top issues in the governor’s office until the budget is finalized. During a similar fight to keep the Sidney run in 1997, it was one of the top 10 topics of calls coming into Gov. Gary Locke’s office on a daily basis, he said.

WSF presents its draft long-range plan to the Legislature Jan. 31 where it will also be first reviewed by the transportation committees.

The information will be combined with that expected by mid-February from the Legislative Joint Transportation Committee and the Transportation Commission, which is identifying potential funding opportunities, said WSF Planning Director Ray Deardolf.

The plan could come to the Legislature as a whole as a bill or a number of different forms, Bailey said. It could also be part of the budget to be brought forward.

Whether the Legislature accepts one option as is or some version of one or both is up to the Legislature, said WSF Ferries Division Assistant Secretary David Moseley. But he said he has a hunch the discussion will go on until the last day of the session.

Bailey agreed everything right now is in flux. Some legislators may favor one option over another while others are looking at totally different courses of action.

At an Anacortes public hearing on the draft plan, Moseley said he was asked recently which option is recommended to the Legislature. Option B affects many routes throughout the system, he said. And he added that he is well aware the route most affected is the Sidney one.

“I would love nothing more than to continue service and improve service, and do it in a sustainable way,” Moseley said.

But because of the current economic climate, that may not be a viable solution.

No matter what, the Legislature will have to make a decision on what happens for the next two years for the biennium budget, Moseley said. And if possible, also a decision on the next of the 20 years.

“Hopefully we’ll have some clear direction,” he said.

Key Legislative dates:

March 2 Last day to read in reports from Senate Transportation Committee.

March 12 Last day to consider bills in house of origin.

April 6 Last day to read in reports from House Transportation Committee.

April 26 Last day allowed for regular session under state constitution.

July 1 The 2009-2011 biennium budget goes into effect.

For daily Legislative agendas, schedules and calendars, go to http://www.leg.wa.gov/Legislature/calendar/.