Special Session in Olympia: $800 Million Dollars, April 6th or 7th

Today, Everett Herald writer Jerry Cornfield reports where the legislature is at on the budget.

Democrats, who hold majorities in both chambers, agree on an amount, $800 million, but not on how to generate all of those dollars.

They're deadlocked on about a quarter of that sum, with the Senate saying it should come from a higher sales tax and the House disagreeing. That chamber is pushing an end to tax breaks for large banks, out-of-state residents and buyers of custom-made software programs.

Yesterday, Kitsap Sun writer Steven Gardner reported on a possible end date to the special session

[State Senator Tim] Sheldon predicted the session will end on April 6 or 7, assuming Gov. Chris Gregoire gets assurances from the federal governmentthat it will commit to health care money that the state can “book” into its budget.

The conspiracy theory would be: they did not know how much help they were going to get from the federal government so they have been running in place for a month while they wait.

So, maybe we will see things start back up in Olympia, and hopefully some bills I have been following will get some action.

Win-Win Space Needle's Whirligig

The Fun Forest Use Public Meeting discussion was a testimony to interlocking businesses, often speaking in the past tense of the future decision.

It has been decided, like it or not.

And still, the space in question will be competively bid out in the open.

A whole list of new laws: HB 2753, Creation of Workforce Housing

The Capital Record, from TVW.org, posts the list of bills that the governor has signed into law on a given day.

Among today's bills was HB 2753.

Engrossed Substitute House Bill No. 2753, relating to the creation of a workforce housing program.
http://www.tvw.org/capitalrecord

The bill that provides the funding source for HB 2753 is bill HB 2912.
Modifying local excise taxes in counties that have pledged lodging tax revenues for the payment of bonds prior to June 26, 1975.
It is unfortunate that Washington State Senator Rodney Tom chose this bill to mess with by piling on a dozen amendments.

The options here are limited:
try to pass HB 2912 on the floor with all those amendments (possible);
amend and pass SB 6051 that was regular session (possible);
or amend SB 6116 (yes, it still lives).
Have a great day,
Mike Baker

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