Session Adjourns; No Money For Freeway

Washington lawmakers headed for home Thursday night, closing out their election-year session after approving a fat transportation budget, drunken-driving legislation, migrant housing and other loose ends.

Gavels fell at 10:17 p.m. to close the 60-day session dominated by budget and tax fights, transportation, and a host of social and health concerns.

The Senate sent Gov. Gary Locke a $2.4 billion highway spending plan full of projects for every corner of the state. It depends on voter approval of the Republicans’ no-tax transportation financing plan in November.

The plan does not mention funding for a north-south freeway in Spokane. The project was included in one version of the transportation budget but was rejected.

The package, the last major chore of the lawmakers before their adjournment, also includes $194 million in interim funding to get started on a variety of other highway projects.

Lawmakers also sent the governor $35 million worth of assorted tax breaks, higher than the $26 million originally intended.

And they completed work on an ambitious package of bills aimed at curbing drunken driving, plus a landmark bill to make it easier and cheaper for farmers to provide housing for their migrant workers.

Republican leaders and minority Democrats, as well as the Democratic governor, already were beginning their election-year “spins” on the session.

Republicans called it a “taxpayer’s session” of fiscal restraint, solid accomplishments and a dash of creativity. Democrats called it a listless gathering run by cautious conservatives “unwilling to invest in the future.”

Republicans notched their third ontime adjournment in as many years. Typically, lawmakers need overtime sessions, but this year, the agenda was fairly modest, with no fiscal crisis or burning issue confronting them.

Another reason for getting out of town: Lawmakers cannot raise campaign funds during the session or for 30 days afterwards.

Major accomplishments of the session: A revised state budget, tax cuts, a transportation funding plan for the November ballot, a crackdown on drunken driving, a new reading improvement program, farm-worker housing, salmon restoration, watershed management, and more.

The Legislature banned gay marriages but backed away from efforts to restrict abortion.

Lawmakers punted on a potentially explosive affirmative-action measure, sending Initiative 200 to the ballot without a vote and without a legislative alternative.

Also headed for the statewide ballot is the GOP majority’s centerpiece legislation, a $2.4 billion financing plan for highways and ferries. It incorporates their main tax cut of the session - a $30-per-vehicle reduction in the excise tax on license tabs. The tax cut is worth $257 million in the next two-year budget cycle.