We'll publish our own Afternoon Jolt later this afternoon, but conservative blogger Jason Mercier has a good one himself over at the Washington Policy Center site.

Citing some relevant RCWs, Mercier posits that state legislators will be guilty of a misdemeanor if they don't write a budget by the end of this month.

Mercier writes:

As we come closer to the end of the 1st Special Session (May 25) and the prospects of a 2nd Special Session growing, what is the drop dead deadline for the 2011-13 budget to be adopted?

According to the state's Budget and Accounting Act (RCW 43.88) that would be around June 1.

So what are the penalties for violating the state's Budget and Accounting Act? A misdemeanor.

According to RCW 43.88.270:

"Any officer or employee violating, or wilfully refusing or failing to comply with, any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."