OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Lawmakers are passing their deficit-reduction plan during Saturday’s special session.
The state Senate gave final approval to the central budget-savings bill with a 30-9 vote Saturday afternoon. House lawmakers had granted overwhelming approval to the same bill earlier in the day.
The Legislature’s overall plan would cut about $590 million from the $1.1 billion deficit in Washington’s budget that runs through June. Spending cuts and other steps identified by Gov. Chris Gregoire could add about $110 million to the deficit-reduction plan.
The rest will have to be addressed in Gregoire’s proposed supplemental budget.
The current savings plan includes cuts to state programs, extended furloughs for some state employees and raiding of off-budget accounts.
