Inslee: No reason Legislature shouldn’t get out on time
OLYMPIA -- There is "no reason" for the Legislature to need extra time to pass a budget, Gov. Jay Inslee said Monday.
Lawmakers have 10 days left in the regular session and the House and Senate budget proposals are nearly $500 million apart with significantly different plans on how to generate and spend money. But after starting budget negotiations with legislative leaders earlier in the day, Inslee said he expects them to be able to reach a deal.
"There's no reason to go into overtime," Inslee said after signing a bill that requires next year's Legislature to develop a plan to finish meeting a state Supreme Court order pay the full cost of basic education at public schools.
He declined to answer questions about details of what should be in that budget, saying he wanted to be "relatively quiet" until an agreement is reached to keep discussions on track.
