Democratic 32nd District State Rep. Ruth Kagi, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, says that the legislature will pass a budget in time to avoid a government shutdown.
Kagi, who represents Lynnwood, south Edmonds and the rest of the 32nd Legislative District, said Saturday that she expects the legislature to pass a budget by the Tuesday deadline to avoid the state’s first-ever government shutdown, which would include closing state parks and laying off thousands of corrections officers, social workers, park rangers and other government employees.
“We have come to agreement and will pass a budget before the end of June,” she said, adding, “I am very pleased that the budget fully funds basic education and early learning, and makes much needed investments in our social safety net.”
Kagi is chairwoman of the House committee on early learning and social services.
The agreement came after months of negotiations between the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate and as the legislature began a third special session.
She had told Herald reporter Jerry Cornfield Saturday that the budget would be one that she would be “proud to come home with.”
The two-year budget would cover July 2015 through June 2017.
The 32nd Legislative District includes Lynnwood, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas, south Edmonds, part of Mountlake Terrace, the city of Shoreline and part of northwest Seattle.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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