Special session in Olympia appears certain

OLYMPIA — Legislative leaders say a special session now appears certain. Budget negotiators don't expect to close the deal on a state budget and tax plan by midnight Thursday, the scheduled end of the 60-day session.

"Let's face it, we don't have an agreement yet. It would be more than a miracle," House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler said Wednesday morning. "I think we will probably do that (a special session)."

Cory Curtis, Gov. Chris Gregoire's spokesman, also said, "The general consensus is they're going in that direction."

Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, chairman of the Senate Democratic caucus, said he didn't think lawmakers needed much additional time to wrap up their business.

"The issue is, there's been so much to do, we need more time," he said. "We're feeling like we can see a way through this. We just need maybe a week, maybe less."

Lawmakers have been struggling to close a $2.8 billion budget shortfall in the current two-year budget that runs through June 2011. Democrats are looking at a combination of budget cuts, tax increases and using other sources of money such as reserves and federal aid to close the gap.

Andrew Garber: 306-236-8268 or agarber@seattletimes.com