State lawmakers prepare for special session
OLYMPIA, Wash. - State lawmakers are preparing for a special legislative session to push through final negotiations over a state budget and tax increases.
The Legislature's 60-day regular session runs out Thursday. But House and Senate Democrats don't yet have an agreement on balancing their $2.8 billion budget deficit.
"I think the budget, given the complexities and the fact that we're in a fiscal crisis that we've just never been in before in this country, it's going to keep us here for some days, maybe a week longer," said State Sen. Ed Murray.
This is the second year of a two-year legislative session -- normally a time to make minor adjustments to the main budget passed the previous year in the longer 120-day session. But the economy blew a $2.8 billion hole in the budget, and even though both houses are controlled by Democrats, they can't agree on which taxes to raise.
"There's going to be movement on both sides," Murray said. "We'll have to give some things up and they're going to have to give some things up. I think we can get there."
Lawmakers will need Gov. Chris Gregoire to officially call for the special session. The decision hasn't been made yet when it will start.
"They've got a lot of work to do and we've been working as hard as we can and so too have they, but I don't know that they can get a budget," Gregoire said.
Republicans says it's inexcusable for the Democrats to not get out on time, and now a special session is going to cost an extra $20,000 every day.
The Legislature's 60-day regular session runs out Thursday. But House and Senate Democrats don't yet have an agreement on balancing their $2.8 billion budget deficit.
"I think the budget, given the complexities and the fact that we're in a fiscal crisis that we've just never been in before in this country, it's going to keep us here for some days, maybe a week longer," said State Sen. Ed Murray.
This is the second year of a two-year legislative session -- normally a time to make minor adjustments to the main budget passed the previous year in the longer 120-day session. But the economy blew a $2.8 billion hole in the budget, and even though both houses are controlled by Democrats, they can't agree on which taxes to raise.
"There's going to be movement on both sides," Murray said. "We'll have to give some things up and they're going to have to give some things up. I think we can get there."
Lawmakers will need Gov. Chris Gregoire to officially call for the special session. The decision hasn't been made yet when it will start.
"They've got a lot of work to do and we've been working as hard as we can and so too have they, but I don't know that they can get a budget," Gregoire said.
Republicans says it's inexcusable for the Democrats to not get out on time, and now a special session is going to cost an extra $20,000 every day.