Light at end of tunnel for lawmakers
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Time runs out Tuesday on Washington's 30-day special session of the Legislature – and the Democratic leaders believe they've pretty well nailed down agreement on an $800 million tax package and a budget rewrite.
Rank-and-file lawmakers have been back in their home districts for nearly all of the special session that Governor Gregoire called on March 15. House Speaker Frank Chopp of Seattle, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown of Spokane and budget and finance negotiators, along with the governor and her lieutenants, have slogged through House-Senate differences over the revenue package. Lawmakers are scheduled to re-convene in Olympia Saturday afternoon, and Brown says if all goes according to plan (fam0us last words!), session can wrap up on time, or even a day early.
You'll recall that Olympia is dealing with a $2.8 billion budget gap (after last year's $9 billion hole, no less). They've agreed that $800 million of the solution will be in higher taxes, and the other $2 billion will be covered by federal aid, the state's "rainy day" fund, and spending cuts and freezes, including a $45 million furlough program. The tax plan -- still subject to refinement -- includes some temporary surcharges on business taxes, beer and pop, and some permanent extension of a variety of taxes. After the Senate finally backed off its plan for a small sales tax increase, the final package does not include general sales, business or property tax hikes.
The budget and tax deal is being assailed from both sides of the political spectrum. Some are unhappy with spending cuts and others believe not enough structural reform has been done. There is talk of an initiative to roll back some or all of the package.
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Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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