We get a rather steady stream of criticism for publishing bad news. Well, brace for more.

On the heels of last week's announcement that the state budget shortfall is not quite as bad as feared, Gov. Ted Kulongoski paid the Mail Tribune a visit Wednesday as part of a push to create a program that he hopes would produce 12,000 jobs this summer. (Click here for story on the program.)

That was the good news -- at least it seems to us that it's better to pay 12,000 people to work instead of just giving them unemployment checks. But the bad news came in his other comments -- specifically that the current budget situation, as dire as it is, may very well be the high water mark for this year. In other words, he predicted it will get worse before it gets better and that the cuts being imposed on state programs and schools will increase in severity as future revenue forecasts come in.

Trust me, we would rather publish good news. But here's a warning that more storm clouds are gathering on the horizon.