OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — State lawmakers are preparing for a special legislative session to push through final negotiations over a state budget and tax increases.
The Legislature’s 60-day regular session runs out Thursday. But House and Senate Democrats don’t yet have an agreement on balancing their $2.8 billion budget deficit.
Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, is chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus. He says the special session will probably last a week to 10 days, because budget negotiators are getting close to an agreement.
Lawmakers will need Gov. Chris Gregoire to officially call for the special session. The decision hasn’t been made yet when it will start.
Democratic leaders want to use a mix of spending cuts, tax increases and one-time money to fix the budget hole.
