OLYMPIA -- Legislative leaders trooped into Gov. Jay Inslee's conference room this morning, folders of papers in hand, for the regular 10 a.m. budget powwow. About 10 minutes later they trooped out with not much to say other than "still talking."

Which is a good thing, because if they weren't talking, we'd have to worry that the state might not have a operating budget that pays for many of its programs, services and salaries by the end of this second special session in 12 days. But that might be OK, because Inslee could always call a third special session. . . although there would only be three days left in the month, which also means there would only be three days left in the state's fiscal year.

The new fiscal year starts on July 1, and without a budget that has been printed, approved by both chambers of the Legislature and signed by the governor by that date, many of the state's employees would be placed on temporary furlough because there's no authority to pay them.

Not that there wouldn't be any money. The state would still be collecting taxes and fees. There just wouldn't be any legal means to pay them. To paraphrase Alfred E. Neuman, "What, us worry?"

But relax. The state went through this in 2013 and budget negotiators came up with a deal on June 28. Two whole days before a shutdown. (Note: Earlier post had the date of the 2013 deal wrong.)

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