OLYMPIA – Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown said today a “fairly quick” special session may be needed for the Legislature to finish its work.
“It’s likely the budget is not completely wrapped up tomorrow at midnight. But we’re still working,” said Brown, D-Spokane.
Significant differences exist between the Senate and House on a spending plan and tax package to erase a $2.8 billion deficit in the state budget.
Overcoming them is the chief obstacle between the Legislature and the scheduled end of the session at midnight Thursday.
Even if the chambers reach an agreement, “the printing of a budget takes several hours” which is why an on-time finish is imperiled, she said.
When pressed on how long an extra session could run, she said she thought it would be “fairly quick. I don’t want to start predicting it’s one day or something more.
“We’re feeling good. We keep doing as much as we can do until we’re done,” she said.
Republican lawmakers, who are in the minority in both chambers, are expecting a special session. They said if one is called, they think legislators should be sent home and not asked to return until they are to vote on a final agreement.
It is estimated a special session will cost $18,000-a-day.
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