Democrats and their allies took grim pokes over the weekend at a House Republican budget plan that slashes welfare benefits and asks most state employees to take 24 days off work without pay in the next year.

But the big question is, can Democrats really do better - and can they get more money to do so? That question may be a few days off as House Democrats release their own supplemental budget plan at 9 a.m. today.

There is very little new revenue in it, according to House Democratic Caucus spokesmen. Rep. Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, says the spending plan is full of cuts deemed necessary to close the remaining $1.1 billion of a state government budget gap.

"We think we deal with the cuts a lot more fairly," Hunt told a 22nd Legislative District town hall meeting Saturday afternoon, comparing his party's approach with that of the House Republicans.

Hunt refused to give details of the plan.

Given the crowd's sentiments at the town hall, Hunt's silence might have spared him grief. Many asked Democratic Sen. Karen Fraser, Democratic Rep. Chris Reykdal and Hunt to avoid cuts in care for the elderly or for schools. Several also spoke in favor of keeping the cash bonuses given to national board-certified teachers.