Yesterday the House Appropriations Committee held a hearing on several key budget-related bills. (TVW coverage here). A committee vote on the measures is scheduled for today at 1:30.
As the Washington Research Council reports, the House budget spends $316 million more than the Senate and the associated revenue package raises an additional $356.3 million.
The Seattle Times reports on the no-new-revenue plan also introduced by House Democrats.
Along with the revenue plan, Democrats released an alternative budget proposal that closes no tax breaks and “merely keeps the lights on for another two years,” according to a statement by House Majority Leader Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington.
Among other things, the plan would fund state-worker pay raises, increase mental-health programs and boost K-12 education spending as required under the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision. The plan would also freeze tuition at state colleges and universities for one year.
Sullivan described the proposal as “a backup plan designed to meet the very basic needs of the state and avoid a shutdown.”
Additional coverage in Crosscut, the Associated Press, and the Spokesman-Review,
With just days remaining to get the deal done, it appears that an agreement is within reach.
