Gov. Jay Inslee yesterday declined to say much about the status of state budget negotiations. Jim Camden, in the Spokesman-Review, quited the governor:
“The less said about the status of these budget discussions the better,” he told reporters after signing several bills passed during the first special session. “I am trying to say as little as I can about it.”
TVW video here beginning at about 8;15.
Camden notes that last Friday the governor’s budget director said the two sides had reached agreement on a budget number. Monday, Senate Republicans said there was no such agreement. Back to the drawing board.
Seattle Times reporter Joseph O’Sullivan likened the governor’s comments to “the book “Fight Club.” We would go back further, to the always-handy “cone of silence.” Regardless, however much we would like to know what’s going on in negotiations, the governor makes a good point.
“We obviously know there’s a looming deadline for legislators to act; we want them to talk in good faith. I am trying to say as little as I can about it.
“There’s a lot of work to be done, there are still talks going on and there’s a lot of mileage to cover,” Inslee said.
A long way to go and a short time to get there. We remain optimistic. Everyone knows what’s at stake.
