Session adjourns one day early

OLYMPIA – Washington state lawmakers hustled Wednesday night to adjourn a day early, wrapping up a breakneck legislative session that dealt with some of the state’s thorniest issues.

“It’s been a grueling session, but we got so much done,” said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. It was the first time the session has ended early in 20 years, she said.

For Democrats, what was supposed to be a modest off-year session turned into a banner year. Democrats control the Senate, House and governor’s office.

“It’s an opportunity to move your agenda,” said Brown, “and I think we seized the opportunity without going off the deep end.”

Gov. Chris Gregoire helped negotiate deals on seemingly intractable problems: a massive effort to store water east of the Cascades, a doctor-lawyer feud on medical malpractice issues, and a simmering business-labor impasse over unemployment insurance.

Buoyed by a $1.6 billion tax windfall, Democratic budget writers steered hundreds of millions of dollars into education, health care, affordable housing and higher education while still saving more than $935 million for the next budget’s expenses.

“We were lucky in that the economy was growing. That made it easier to move forward on some of our key priorities,” Brown said. “But we also tried to be cautious. We know that what goes up must come down.”

Republicans go home outnumbered, outvoted and overruled on many of their key issues. They spent much of this week railing against the Democrat-written supplemental budget.

“They did what the governor said they weren’t going to do, which is to spend like a drunken sailor,” said Sen. Brad Benson, R-Spokane.

“It seems like we did some awfully big items in a very short time,” said Rep. Lynn Schindler, R-Otis Orchards. “That disturbs me, because sometimes when you rush things you make mistakes.”

Republicans did eke out some victories and teamed up with Democrats on major bipartisan deals: tougher sex offender and methamphetamine laws, a farm fuel tax break, a massive plan to store Columbia River water.

Among the big items in Olympia this year:

“Launching a $200 million effort to conserve, find and store water in the Columbia River basin. Of the “new water” – much of it now rushing down the river in wet months – two-thirds will go to agriculture, cities, industry and other human uses. The remaining third will stay in the river to help fish.

“Making it illegal to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation in housing, insurance, employment and banking.

“Passing a budget with $522 million in new spending on health care, higher education, mental health, teacher pay and help for students struggling to pass state tests, among other things. An additional $935 million goes into savings for the next budget.

“Approving a spate of bills, loans and grants to spur alternative fuel production, particularly in Eastern Washington. By late 2008, the bill requires that 2 percent of all diesel sold in Washington be biodiesel, a fuel derived from vegetable oil. Also, all gasoline must be 2 percent ethanol by the same date. Among the projects: $2 million for a biodiesel plant in Spokane Valley.

“Steering an extra $21 million into affordable housing, including weatherization, farm worker housing and other aid.

“Inking a deal between business and labor that maintains full jobless benefits for seasonal workers but also lowers business unemployment insurance rates.

“Requiring a prison term of at least 25 years for many sex offenders and toughening penalties for released sex offenders who fail to register with authorities.

“Allowing high schoolers who fail the Washington Assessment of Student Learning graduation exam to take alternative assessments or graduate on the basis of good classroom grades or work samples.

“Putting more money into methamphetamine enforcement in rural counties.