OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The odds of lawmakers having to go into overtime are increasing as the regular legislative session clock ticks down.
Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are still hopeful that something can come together Wednesday in time for Thursday adjournment. Sen. Ed Murray, the Senate Democrats’ lead budget writer, says that there have been many discussions between Gov. Chris Gregoire and leaders on both sides of the aisle in hopes of negotiating a deal.
However, Murray says that the only chance of a budget passing Thursday is based on Republicans’ “willingness to compromise.”
Majority Democrats have been forced to negotiate with Senate Republicans, who were able to pass their own budget plan off the Senate floor last weekend with the help of three conservative Democrats.
