There are just 10 days left in Washington’s second legislative overtime session. And still there’s no sign of a budget deal.
Senate Republicans and House Democrats are trying to hammer out a deal on a state budget for the next two years, plus an education funding plan that will satisfy the state Supreme Court.
Time is running out to get a compromise deal by the end of the special session next week. But Senate budget chair John Braun said by June 30—the end of the fiscal year—is realistic.
“I don’t think either side is interested in the prospect of shutting government down or continuing this operation,” he said. “We really want to wrap up our work here. It is unfortunate that it’s taken extra time, but it is a very complicated problem to solve and people are really trying to solve it.”
Braun’s counterpart in the House, Democrat Timm Ormsby, agreed.
“We’ve got some ground to cover, but we’re both confident in getting done,” he said.
If there’s no deal by next week, Gov. Jay Inslee will have to call a third special session.
