Republican lawmakers frustrated at slow pace of special session
OLYMPIA -- House and Senate Republicans say they are frustrated with the lack of action at the state Legislature.
It's day three of the special session, and majority Democrats still have not reached a compromise on the budget or taxes.
They say they're getting closer, but no deal has been struck yet. In the meantime, Republicans argue they're forced to sit around and wait while the expense of a special session continues to grow.
The state House of Representatives went into session just after 1 p.m. Wednesday to vote on a few bills and then send their members home. The Senate went into session just before noon and immediately adjourned until Thursday.
Republicans in both houses are seething.
"Well, that's $20,000 a day and so far we've worked 1-1/2 hours on the floor of the Senate," said State Sen. Mike Carrell, (R-Lakewood). "Today the number is zero."
Democrats say much of the work is going on behind the scenes as they try to reach a compromise on the budget and how to fill the $2.8 billion budget hole.
"The negotiations have gone on fairly well," said State Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle). "We're coming together on a level of revenue and on various programs within the budget. But we're not done."
Murray says both houses have agreed to raise about $800 million in taxes, but they still haven't agreed on what taxes to raise.
The Senate prefers an across the board sales tax increase, while the House is in favor of targeting such items as candy and bottled water.
Gov. Gregoire brought both sides together earlier Wednesday.
"Right now I'm just trying to work both sides so they can work together and come to a resolution," she said. "So what they have before them is a way to raise sufficient revenue without a sales tax."
In the meantime, special interest groups are frantically trying to keep their programs alive and trying to ask they not get taxed any higher.
Refinery workers dressed in blue made their presence known saying higher taxes on their industry could cost them their jobs.
"We're a cornerstone in that community and we're concerned about the viability of our jobs with this tax," said Don Sorensen, a refinery manager.
Gregoire hopes the special session will be done by Sunday, but a key negotiator told KOMO News it's looking more like the middle of next week at the ealiest.
It's day three of the special session, and majority Democrats still have not reached a compromise on the budget or taxes.
They say they're getting closer, but no deal has been struck yet. In the meantime, Republicans argue they're forced to sit around and wait while the expense of a special session continues to grow.
The state House of Representatives went into session just after 1 p.m. Wednesday to vote on a few bills and then send their members home. The Senate went into session just before noon and immediately adjourned until Thursday.
Republicans in both houses are seething.
"Well, that's $20,000 a day and so far we've worked 1-1/2 hours on the floor of the Senate," said State Sen. Mike Carrell, (R-Lakewood). "Today the number is zero."
Democrats say much of the work is going on behind the scenes as they try to reach a compromise on the budget and how to fill the $2.8 billion budget hole.
"The negotiations have gone on fairly well," said State Sen. Ed Murray (D-Seattle). "We're coming together on a level of revenue and on various programs within the budget. But we're not done."
Murray says both houses have agreed to raise about $800 million in taxes, but they still haven't agreed on what taxes to raise.
The Senate prefers an across the board sales tax increase, while the House is in favor of targeting such items as candy and bottled water.
Gov. Gregoire brought both sides together earlier Wednesday.
"Right now I'm just trying to work both sides so they can work together and come to a resolution," she said. "So what they have before them is a way to raise sufficient revenue without a sales tax."
In the meantime, special interest groups are frantically trying to keep their programs alive and trying to ask they not get taxed any higher.
Refinery workers dressed in blue made their presence known saying higher taxes on their industry could cost them their jobs.
"We're a cornerstone in that community and we're concerned about the viability of our jobs with this tax," said Don Sorensen, a refinery manager.
Gregoire hopes the special session will be done by Sunday, but a key negotiator told KOMO News it's looking more like the middle of next week at the ealiest.