Jim Camden

OLYMPIA – Using a compromise plan suggested by the governor, House Democrats stripped an increased sales tax out of plans to balance the state budget and countered with higher business taxes. Saturday afternoon the House voted 53-42 to stake out different territory in the efforts to combine tax increases with program cuts and federal money to fill a $2.8 billion budget hole.

OLYMPIA – Using a compromise plan suggested by the governor, House Democrats stripped an increased sales tax out of plans to balance the state budget and countered with higher business taxes. Saturday afternoon the House voted 53-42 to stake out different territory in the efforts to combine tax increases with program cuts and federal money to fill a $2.8 billion budget hole.

WA Lege SpecSess: House debates, passes tax plan

OLYMPIA – The Senate passed increases in state sales and business taxes Friday afternoon, sending a slightly pared-down version of its original tax package to the House, which had rejected it earlier this month. Democrats in the House, as well as Gov. Chris Gregoire, remain opposed to a sales tax increase, but passing the budget in one chamber is a needed step in negotiations to fix a $2.8 billion budget shortfall and end the special session.

The Senate approved temporary jumps in state sales and business taxes, narrowly passing a tax plan that may not survive the weekend in the House.

Today's fun video: How funny can you make the census?

OLYMPIA – As the Legislature crawled through its fourth day of a special session without a solution to its budget problems, Gov. Chris Gregoire was among those expressing frustration with the progress, or apparent lack of it. The session could be done by Sunday, which would be the absolute last day Gregoire said she wanted them to spend in this legislative overtime.

Green jobs in the Evergreen state

WA Lege SpecSess: GOP leaders wait, fume

Reed scheduled for cancer surgery

OLYMPIA – Legislators retraced some steps Tuesday, re-approving bills one chamber supported but the other didn’t before regular session time ran out last week. The House passed an $861 million bond sale to make public schools more energy efficient. Democrats said the bill would provide 38,000 jobs and save the schools money on their utility bills; Republicans said it was an example of the state spending what it doesn’t have.

WA Lege SpecSess: More "no's" to per diem

WA Lege Spec Sess: Say what?

WA Lege SpecSess: Day 2 report

WA Lege SpecSess: Passing the "Jobs" Bill. Again

WA Lege SpecSess: Running with the bills

OLYMPIA – The Washington Legislature picked up Monday where it left off Thursday, trying to close an estimated $2.8 billion hole in the state’s operating budget. Legislative leaders said they were closer to agreeing on how much to cut and spend, and how much to raise in taxes, but didn’t release figures.

WA Lege SpecSess: Rebooting budget bill

WA Lege SpecSess: Just saying No to the per diem

OLYMPIA – When the Legislature clattered to a close on Thursday, so much attention was being paid to the budget left undone over the previous 60 days that there wasn’t much left to consider what was done. Talking on your cell phone while driving might get you a ticket all on its own. The Legislature made it a primary offense, but Gov. Chris Gregoire said she has to read the bill to decide whether to sign it.

OLYMPIA – Convicted cop killer Lonnie Link does not warrant a lighter sentence for shooting Spokane police Officer Brian Orchard in 1983, even though he helped federal prosecutors bring down more than two dozen members of an outlaw motorcycle gang after he went to prison, a state board said Thursday. The state Clemency and Pardons Board heard what members agreed was an extraordinary plea to commute Link’s sentence of life without parole and make him eligible for release.

OLYMPIA – They’re going into overtime. The Legislature finished its 60-day session without reaching an agreement on how to plug a $2.8 billion hole in the state’s operating budget, and adjourned temporarily, to return Monday.

OLYMPIA – The town of Fairfield takes the American flag seriously – arguably more seriously than any place else in the country. Thursday, the state saluted Fairfield for its 100 years of saluting the flag. With about two dozen current and former residents of the tiny southeast Spokane County town in the gallery, the Senate passed a resolution honoring the upcoming Flag Day centennial celebration in Fairfield in June.