Democratic Lt. Governor Brad Owen could provide the tie-breaking vote to end the budget impasse in the senate now that the liberal house Democrats have sent their budget over.

It's a 24-24 tie in the senate because Republican minority leader Sen. Mike Hewitt (R-16, Walla Walla) one of the  25 votes that gave the GOP (and a couple of conservative Democrats) the majority for the GOP version of things, is out recovering from surgery.

Conservative Democrat Owen, who's made momentous decisions before (ruling against the Democrats by deciding that repealing tax loopholes is tantamount to raising taxes and requires a two-thirds vote), could step in a give the Democrats the budget vote they need.

Maybe.

Brad Shannon at the Olympian has the story:

Senate Democrats are not yet settling on this as the preferred route to getting a budget deal and leaving town. But Owen stands waiting if asked, and he would vote according to his beliefs – which in this case could cause him to vote for either the Senate GOP or the House Democrat plans.

In my interview with Owen yesterday afternoon, he elaborated on his concerns about Hewitt’s health after surgery to remove a tumor from his abdomen:

“I’m not going to have them bring a person in who should not be coming in. I’ve seen that done before in the House. … At the same time if I am comfortable with the Democrats budget and it will get us out of Olympia, I am comfortable with that. I see my job is to help complete the state’s business and as expeditiously as possible. They have given on both sides… and they should wrap it up.’’

Owen, a conservative Democrat, served many years in the House and Senate, and over that career he voted for budgets with Republicans as well as Democrats.

The other unknown. Are legislators going to work over the Easter and Passover weekend to finish the special session, which is supposed to end on Tuesday?