OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Senate has approved a measure that directs agencies to trim about $50 million in payroll costs through cuts furloughs and other steps.
The measure passed on a 30-11 vote and now heads to the House for further consideration.
Under the measure, if the agencies don’t present a plan on how they’ll make the cuts, they will have to shut down for one day a month for 10 months starting in July.
Under the bill the Senate originally passed in January, lawmakers were looking at making government shut down for a total of 13 days if other cost-cutting measures weren’t taken.
A long list of workers would be exempt from furloughs under the bill, including police, corrections officers, college instructors, and state park workers.
