Budget leaders hope to reach a deal early in the new session, possibly in time for one or both houses to vote by Friday. Lawmakers' other main priority, an ambitious multibillion-dollar program to address the state's traffic woes, is considered iffy. Negotiators are continuing to work on the package, but it may well have to wait for a special session later in the year - or until next year, leaders say. The votes are there in the Senate, but I doubt they are in the House. Republicans have been demanding a variety of reforms and efficiency measures before they'll talk taxes.
Negotiators say they're getting closer every day.
The two houses still haven't agreed on salaries for public employees and still are working on the education and higher-education portions of the budget, Sommers said. We want to get it buttoned down as soon as we can. Some lawmakers say they want to approve the budget and go home before a discouraging new revenue forecast comes out June 15. House Republicans have refused to consider a tax increase, even a package to place on the ballot, until Democrats agree to rewrite the prevailing-wage law for rural counties and to contract out more highway jobs to the private sector. Locke also is trying to broker a deal on financing for a second Tacoma Narrows Bridge.