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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control

WA Lege: Coming Monday

OLYMPIA -- It won't be just the state's 147 legislators -- 148 if you count the two state senators from Spokane Valley's 4th District -- who will be coming to the capital Monday for the start of the special session.

The Occupy movement, along with organized labor and the Washington Education Association, plan to be there for the beginning, and some may be staying through the bitter end.

Occupy Olympia has been encamped in Heritage Park down the hill from the Capitol Campus for about two months, and the Occupy Seattle protesters may send a contingent via caravan on Sunday or Monday morning. Washington Community Action Network, an umbrella for progressive groups, also is urging members to show up Monday. The WEA has a rally for public school and college faculty at noon on the West Campus.

Noon is also when the Senate and House are set to convene, after most parties in the two chambers hold caucuses at 10 a.m.

House Ways and Means, where the budget cutting discussions will start in a session designed to find some $2 billion in savings or new revenue in the state's $31 billion budget, starts at 1:30 p.m.

Ways and Means hearings always draw a large contingent of lobbyists. This time around, they're likely to draw an even bigger crowd



The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.