WA lawmakers & new gov gird for grueling session
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Washington lawmakers and incoming Gov. Jay Inslee are arriving in Olympia for a grueling budget-year legislative session that begins at high noon on Monday.
The 63rd Legislature and the newly elected governor face a big budget shortfall -- perhaps $2 billion, counting pay raises, rising cost of services for a growing and graying population and a state Supreme Court order to invest more in the state's public schools. Democrat Inslee and a number of legislators say they will try to avoid raising state taxes, but talk of finding additional revenue from taxation of Internet sales, marijuana permits and fees, tax loophole closures and other sources.
Inslee and legislators from both parties also talk of a transportation funding package to go to the statewide ballot either this year or next.
But the biggest fireworks may turn out to be political and not fiscal. Two fiscally conservative Democrats have joined a solid bloc of 23 Republicans to seize control of the state Senate. The "majority coalition" plans to install the two Democrats in leadership roles, including Rodney Tom as majority leader. The coalition offered power-sharing, but the Ds mostly rejected the invitation to have fusion government essentially run by the minority.
Some analysts fear gridlock, given that the House and governor's office are controlled by the Democrats, but leaders told an AP pre-legislative forum on Thursday they're hoping for productive session. Tom and Senate Democratic Leader Ed Murray spoke of a "grand bargain" on key issues, such as K-12 enhancement and transportation.
Inslee also was in an upbeat mood heading into the session convening Monday and his inauguration Wednesday morning. He said he'll focus on job creation and the economy "like a laser beam" and looks forward to partnering with the Legislature.
Lawmakers' key tasks will be budget and revenue issues and dealing with a variety of touchy issues, including gun-control. They also are asked to deal with two initiatives and confirming Inslee's cabinet appointees.
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Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
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