Some local legislators say that they remain optimistic about an end to the second special legislative session in Olympia. Many, however, say that they won’t know much until leaders finish negotiating.
Leaders of House-majority Democrats and Senate-majority Republicans have been unable to agree on a new state budget through the regular legislative session, a 30-day special session and the first week and a half of a second special session. Now, legislators face the June 30 end of the fiscal year and the possibility of a government shutdown.
Democratic State Rep. Cindy Ryu sees hope.
“I am optimistic we will have a balanced budget by the end of the month,” she said Tuesday. “We did it with a day and a half to spare in 2013 and hopefully we will be done a bit earlier.”
Rep. Lillian Ortiz-Self, another Democrat, said Wednesday that she was waiting to hear what budget negotiators from the two chambers come up with.
“We have floor action tomorrow so we will find out more then,” she said.
Democratic State Sen. Maralyn Chase said Wednesday, “The gnomes are working hard preparing new legislation to implement whatever the agreement is.”
Democrat Kagi, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, had agreed last week with Committee Chairman Ross Hunter that the legislature could finish quickly.
Chase, Kagi, and Ryu represent the 32nd Legislative District, including Lynnwood, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas, parts of Edmonds and Mountlake Terrace, the city of Shoreline and part of northwest Seattle.
Ortiz-Self represents the 21st Legislative District. The district includes most of Edmonds, unincorporated areas north of Edmonds and Lynnwood and northeast of Lynnwood, the city of Mukilteo and part of south Everett. She is vice chairwoman of the House Education Committee and a member of both the Transportation Committee and the committee on early learning and human services.
Chase is ranking minority Democrat on the Senate committee on trade and economic development, a member of the Senate Rules Committee and member of the committee on natural resources and parks. Kagi, in addition to being a member of the Appropriations Committee, is chairwoman of the House committee on early learning and human services. Ryu is deputy House Democratic majority whip, vice chairwoman of the Finance Committee, a member of the House Rules committee and a member of the committee on technology and economic development.
Evan Smith can be reached at schsmith@frontier.com.
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