Gov. Christine Gregoire
The Washington Legislature adjourned its 60-day regular session on Thursday, but its hardest work might lie ahead in an overtime period.
Gov. Christine Gregoire has called for a special session to begin at noon on Monday, and is hopeful lawmakers can wrap up in seven days.
The extra session, which can run up to 30 days, became necessary after the Democrat-controlled House and Senate failed to reach agreements on a tax plan to cover a 2-point-8 Billion dollar budget hole, while their budgets for operations and capital construction remain far apart.
The House has passed a $680 million tax package, which relies heavily on closing tax loopholes and adding the sales tax to sales of bottled water, candy and such services as elective cosmetic surgery. The Senate’s $860 million plan includes temporarily increasing the state’s sales tax, a move frowned upon by the House and the governor.
Gregoire also still wants a jobs package that could include a voter referendum on school renovations this fall or a hazardous-substances tax for stormwater projects. (The Olympian)
