OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — State lawmakers have adjourned their deficit-reducing special session after one day of work.
Lawmakers approved a bipartisan $590 million deficit-cutting plan, taking a significant bite out of the $1.1 billion budget deficit that runs through June.
The Legislature’s package cuts state spending, raids off-budget accounts and counts on stepped-up collection of existing taxes.
Further spending cuts and other steps identified by Gov. Chris Gregoire could add about $110 million to the deficit-reduction plan.
The rest of the near-term deficit will have to be addressed when Gregoire proposes a supplemental budget.
