Lines Drawn Over Supplemental Budget Republicans Vow They’ll Adjourn Whether They Can Agree Or Not

House conservatives and Senate Democrats on Wednesday set up an election-year showdown over the state budget, tax relief, and how much the state should sock away to meet expected federal spending cuts.

Republicans said if gridlock develops, the session could adjourn without a budget rewrite. But Senate budget chief Nita Rinehart, D-Seattle, played down that possibility.

“There will be a budget,” she said.

“We are not bluffing,” House Majority Leader Dale Foreman, R-Wenatchee, said in an interview. “We are prepared to go home without a supplemental budget.”

This year’s budget is essentially a fine-tuning of the two-year spending plan adopted last May. It remains in balance and the state has a big surplus, giving some legislators the luxury of talking about not even having a supplemental budget this year.

Still, the exercise offers clear contrasts between the two parties. Rinehart and Foreman are running for governor and using their budget plans to showcase their differences.

“This is a classic tug of war between those who want more spending and those who want less,” Foreman said. “We have to starve the government monster.”

Conservatives said they won’t spend a penny more than the $17.599 billion authorized in the budget adopted last spring. In fact, they propose a $45 million reduction.

Rinehart proposes spending $150 million above current levels. She noted the Senate plan still would be $150 million below the level authorized by voters in spending-limit Initiative 601. Citizens expect their leaders to invest in education, boost the economy and create jobs, she said.

“We’re not focusing on the numbers; we are focusing on the future,” she said at a news conference.

In an unusual move, the two houses presented the spending plans within hours of each other. There are some similarities: Both propose more college enrollment, student financial aid and at least a start to a high-tech system to link universities and students. Both spend more on public schools, welfare changes and Child Protective Services.

But the bottom line is a difference of nearly $200 million. Leaders of both parties predict tough negotiations, particularly with only three weeks left before the legislative session is to end.

“I think it will be very difficult,” said Senate Majority Leader Sid Snyder, D-Long Beach. “They’re a different breed of cat over there (in the House).”

Because of lower school enrollment, fewer social service cases, lower bond debt costs and other factors, House Republicans say there is $163 million available in the current budget. They say there can be about $116 million in new spending, while still coming in $45 million below current budget levels.

Senate Democrats assume less unspent money is available. Their plan calls for $267 million in new spending, including $150 million in one-time-only appropriations.

The Senate plans to take a final vote on its budget Friday. The House plans to follow suit Monday.

A bipartisan panel of six House and Senate budget leaders will begin negotiating as early as Tuesday.