OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington Governor Chris Gregoire acknowledged Wednesday afternoon that a special session of the legislature will be necessary to re-balance the state budget. But Gregoire says she’s still trying to keep the pressure on lawmakers to come to an agreement.
“The minute I say special session, they’ll go to sleep. They’ll stop working. And the public expects more.”
Gregoire says, instead, she’s demanding a budget deal by midnight Thursday night. That’s the end of the 60-day regular session. Then lawmakers could return in special session and, theoretically, pass the budget quickly and go home.
Budget negotiations got much more complicated after Senate Republicans passed their own spending plan Friday night. They were able to seize control of the chamber with the help of three break-away Democrats.
Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network
Copyright 2012 Northwest News Network
