Published: Friday, May 20, 2011
State lawmakers upbeat about prospects for a budget deal
OLYMPIA -- You can stop talking about a second special session and a government shutdown.
That was the most optimistic rumor circulating in the Capitol on Thursday.
Days after Gov. Chris Gregoire said an unprecedented shutdown was possible given the sluggish pace of the special session, lawmakers predicted they can get everything done before time expires in six days.
"It seems like in the last 24 hours the dynamic has changed and there's a lot more optimism that we can finish by Wednesday," said Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett.
Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, and Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, the Democrats' lead budget writers said an agreement on a spending plan could be in hand as soon as Saturday. That would leave enough time to pass it and a couple of dozen other bills needed to implement the budget.
"We're making progress. I think we can get there," Murray said, following a meeting of party leaders of both chambers and the governor.
Even Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, who warned of a second overtime on the first day of this extra session, sounded upbeat Thursday afternoon.
"I am more hopeful now than I was before," he said.
The special session started April 26 and must end no later than Wednesday. Until now, it's been proceeding pretty slowly with the Senate and House rarely in town at the same time.
All lawmakers are due in Olympia this weekend, heightening anticipation of an agreement on a new two-year budget that would wipe out a projected $5.1 billion shortfall.
Fueling Thursday's positive mood were rumors of a possible way to end a stalemate on workers compensation that poses a greater threat to forcing another extra session than does the budget.
"If there's no workers comp agreement there's no budget agreement," Hunter said.
Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, said he'd heard all the rumors and was "cautiously optimistic we'll end on time."
Other issues such as the state's debt limit and reorganizing government remain sticklers too, he said.
"I am totally prepared to go into a second special session if we do not have a sustainable budget and these other reforms," he said.
House Minority Leader Richard Debolt, R-Chehalis, who's been critical of the lack of action, said he sees a light at the end of the tunnel.
"Everything is just inches away. Everyone is putting in the effort," he said. "No one wants to be here any longer than they have to."
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
That was the most optimistic rumor circulating in the Capitol on Thursday.
Days after Gov. Chris Gregoire said an unprecedented shutdown was possible given the sluggish pace of the special session, lawmakers predicted they can get everything done before time expires in six days.
"It seems like in the last 24 hours the dynamic has changed and there's a lot more optimism that we can finish by Wednesday," said Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett.
Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, and Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, the Democrats' lead budget writers said an agreement on a spending plan could be in hand as soon as Saturday. That would leave enough time to pass it and a couple of dozen other bills needed to implement the budget.
"We're making progress. I think we can get there," Murray said, following a meeting of party leaders of both chambers and the governor.
Even Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, who warned of a second overtime on the first day of this extra session, sounded upbeat Thursday afternoon.
"I am more hopeful now than I was before," he said.
The special session started April 26 and must end no later than Wednesday. Until now, it's been proceeding pretty slowly with the Senate and House rarely in town at the same time.
All lawmakers are due in Olympia this weekend, heightening anticipation of an agreement on a new two-year budget that would wipe out a projected $5.1 billion shortfall.
Fueling Thursday's positive mood were rumors of a possible way to end a stalemate on workers compensation that poses a greater threat to forcing another extra session than does the budget.
"If there's no workers comp agreement there's no budget agreement," Hunter said.
Sen. Steve Hobbs, D-Lake Stevens, said he'd heard all the rumors and was "cautiously optimistic we'll end on time."
Other issues such as the state's debt limit and reorganizing government remain sticklers too, he said.
"I am totally prepared to go into a second special session if we do not have a sustainable budget and these other reforms," he said.
House Minority Leader Richard Debolt, R-Chehalis, who's been critical of the lack of action, said he sees a light at the end of the tunnel.
"Everything is just inches away. Everyone is putting in the effort," he said. "No one wants to be here any longer than they have to."
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
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