This Washington
State Budget Update: Deal Could Come Thursday
The AP had an alarming report this morning: the state legislature might not work out a budget deal by the end of the special session (May 25, next Wednesday)—jeopardizing the state's ability to function as the next biennium starts on July 1.
I was able to catch up with state senate budget leader Sen. Ed Murray (D-43, Seattle) to get an assessment of where things stand one week out. He actually sounded optimistic. [pullquote]Murray sounded optimistic. He guesses a budget deal could come as early as Thursday.[/pullquote]
"We're shifting up, they're shifting down," Murray says, referring to the $300 million difference between the senate and house budgets—with the more liberal original house budget proposal being a touch kinder to K-12 funding, the Basic Health Plan, and the Disability Lifeline.
"I'm in a better position than Ross [Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48, Medina), the house budget leader] because I get to buy back things and he has to cut them," Murray said, explaining that they were closing the gap and "moving up more than down." Murray did admonish the house slightly, though, noting that the $300 million Hunter had initially booked off privatizing the state's liquor distribution center was no longer in the mix.
Murray says he's less worried about reaching a deal—which he guesses could come as early as Thursday—and more worried about "the mechanics" of getting the document to the printer, giving other members time to review it, and taking a vote by the deadline.
Asked about controversial bills that have been holding up the budget, including a debate over lowering the debt limit on capital spending (senate wants to/house doesn't), Murray takes another shot: "If we had lowered the debt limit back when I was chair of the capital budget committee when I proposed lowering it, we'd have $600 to $800 million now for the general fund, and we wouldn't be talking about cuts to the Disability Lifeline, the Basic Health Plan, or K-12." [The house passed a compromise version today, actually. Andrew has a report on that.]
As it stands, however, the Disability Lifeline and the Basic Health Plan—while facing cuts—will not, as the governor had proposed, be eliminated, Murray says.
I was able to catch up with state senate budget leader Sen. Ed Murray (D-43, Seattle) to get an assessment of where things stand one week out. He actually sounded optimistic. [pullquote]Murray sounded optimistic. He guesses a budget deal could come as early as Thursday.[/pullquote]
"We're shifting up, they're shifting down," Murray says, referring to the $300 million difference between the senate and house budgets—with the more liberal original house budget proposal being a touch kinder to K-12 funding, the Basic Health Plan, and the Disability Lifeline.
"I'm in a better position than Ross [Rep. Ross Hunter (D-48, Medina), the house budget leader] because I get to buy back things and he has to cut them," Murray said, explaining that they were closing the gap and "moving up more than down." Murray did admonish the house slightly, though, noting that the $300 million Hunter had initially booked off privatizing the state's liquor distribution center was no longer in the mix.
Murray says he's less worried about reaching a deal—which he guesses could come as early as Thursday—and more worried about "the mechanics" of getting the document to the printer, giving other members time to review it, and taking a vote by the deadline.
Asked about controversial bills that have been holding up the budget, including a debate over lowering the debt limit on capital spending (senate wants to/house doesn't), Murray takes another shot: "If we had lowered the debt limit back when I was chair of the capital budget committee when I proposed lowering it, we'd have $600 to $800 million now for the general fund, and we wouldn't be talking about cuts to the Disability Lifeline, the Basic Health Plan, or K-12." [The house passed a compromise version today, actually. Andrew has a report on that.]
As it stands, however, the Disability Lifeline and the Basic Health Plan—while facing cuts—will not, as the governor had proposed, be eliminated, Murray says.
