OLYMPIA -- The special session of the Legislature starts at noon today, but don't expect big announcements quickly on the budget.

The agenda for the Senate says "pro forma" session which is Latin for something like "not much will happen."

For those keeping track at home, this is the fifth special session of the Legislature since January 2010: The 2010 "short" session was extended to finish the budget; another one-day session was held that December. The 2011 "regular" session was extended to finish the budget, and legislators were called in at the end of last November to get a jump on the budget problems; they made some cuts in the budget then went home in mid-December with talk of having made progress toward resolving the rest of the budget problems.

Didn't quite work out that way. So they're back.

By law, a special session can last up to 30 days.  In calling them back last Thursday night, Gov. Chris Gregoire said she hoped they'd be done this week, or next week at the latest.

When it comes to special sessions, one should note that Gregoire is ever the optimist.

---

---