Lawmakers fail to reach compromise on budget as deadline nears

OLYMPIA - State lawmakers have until the end of today to come to a deal on the budget. A second special session could begin Wednesday if the deadline passes.

The Senate adopted a revised budget proposal Saturday on a 25-23 vote, with the mostly Republican Majority Coalition Caucus in support.

Senate leaders said the budget remains focused on education spending.

"The budget we passed (Saturday) is an education budget - it invests more in education than the House, and doesn't make education funding subject to tax increases," said Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville.

The budget includes $1.5 billion more for K-12, with $1 billion going directly to basic education.

The House also passed a revised budget last week, along with a bill that would raise an additional $225 million for education by closing tax breaks on bottled water, travel agents, fuel refineries and high-tech businesses.

The Democratic-controlled House is looking for new ways to raise revenue while the Senate is pushing policy reform, including changing the workers' compensation system and capping non-educational spending.

"As families and family-run businesses know, you pay your most important bills first. For the Legislature, that means funding education with the dollars the state already has; if you choose to make support for schools contingent on tax increases, what does that say about your priorities?" Schoesler said.

Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake, is hoping the updated budget will allow lawmakers to finish before the Tuesday deadline for the current special session.

"The Senate is doing its job," said Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake. "This is the second time we approved a sustainable budget that has no new taxes, provides a substantial increase in general education funding, preserves the rainy day fund and grows by less than inflation."

Lawmakers have until July 1 to reach a budget deal or the state could face a government shutdown. State agencies could be asked this week to prepare for a shutdown, the governor's office said Sunday.