As week three of a session that has nothing special about it ends, lawmakers and insiders are starting to predict that a second 30-day session will be needed to finish up the main business of 2011 – namely, passing a two-year operating budget.
Negotiations and proposals continue to move back and forth between the chambers and the second floor (where the governor’s office is), with a peek at plan elements based on NTIB bills that are starting to see some action.
Measures such as HB 1131 and 2SHB 1132, which suspend citizen-initiatives that support smaller class sizes and teacher COLAs, are a given, and cut about $1.2 billion from the state’s public schools tab. Both bills have passed the House and were heard in Senate Ways & Means this week.
After a bill signing Thursday, Gov. Chris Gregoire said she wouldn’t call a second special session unless legislators were ready to pass a budget. And she said it three times, just for good measure.
The 30 days is up May 25. Starting next week, House Democrats will be short a few members, since travel plans have kicked in for some; recalling them may be an option, but isn’t one some want to contemplate.
Read the full update.
Updates on the Legislature and state government from the Washington State School Directors' Association.
