Wash. lawmakers prepare for special session

State lawmakers prepared Wednesday for an inevitable special session, hoping to quickly finish their final budget and tax negotiations with a busy election year looming.

The Legislature's 60-day regular session expires after Thursday. But House and Senate Democrats don't yet have an agreement on how to balance the $2.8 billion deficit in this year's budget.

The scheduling details hadn't been worked out as of Wednesday evening, but there was no way to avoid an overtime session, at an estimated cost of at least $18,000 per day.

Democratic Gov. Chris Gregoire, who would have to issue the official call for a special session, said she expected to make a decision on a start date and other details Thursday.

Senate Democratic Caucus Chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said he expects the special session to last for roughly a week to 10 days.

Democratic leaders were close enough to an agreement to avoid the drawn-out special sessions that have occasionally plagued previous Legislatures, he said.

"We're going back once, we're going to get it right, and we're not coming back again this year," he said.

House leaders weren't ready to publicly concede a special session is necessary, even though it appeared inevitable.

"We're really getting some good movement on our budget and revenue," said House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam. "It's not like we have tons to do."

The task at hand, however, is weighty. The Democrats are searching for a way to bridge the budget gap through June 2011.

House and Senate lawmakers have developed competing blueprints but didn't have a compromise as of Wednesday evening.

The final fix will employ a mix of spending cuts, tax increases, federal bailouts and one-time accounting maneuvers. But how much revenue to raise and the specific tax sources to use also weren't settled.

On top of that, Gregoire is adamant that lawmakers approve an education reform package that could allow the state to compete for the Obama administration's "Race to the Top" money.

"Their job is not done until I get my education reform bill that will qualify Washington state to apply for `Race to the Top,' " Gregoire said.

The constitution allows two ways to call a special session, each with a limit of 30 days: The governor can issue a proclamation, or the Legislature can send itself back to work with support from two-thirds of its members.

The gubernatorial option is easier but could leave the agenda wide open because a governor's request to limit debate to certain topics is not binding. If the Legislature starts a special session, lawmakers can more tightly control what is discussed - in this case, the budget and perhaps education reform.

Minority Republicans said a special session shouldn't be necessary, since Democrats control both chambers and the governor's office.

"They're in charge," said Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. "Hopefully, they can get it resolved."

Sen. Joe Zarelli, R-Ridgefield, drafted a bill that would restrict the Legislature's $90-per-day expense payments in an effort to keep costs down.

In past special sessions, leaders have sometimes sent the bulk of the Legislature home, keeping only budget negotiators in Olympia to hammer out a compromise. Murray said Senate Democrats don't like that approach, and want lawmakers in town to keep the pressure on.

"People need to get back to their real jobs and their families," he said. "We'll all be here and unhappy until we get done."

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AP Writer Rachel La Corte contributed to this report.

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On the Net:

Legislature: http://www.leg.wa.gov