House Democratic leaders released a new budget proposal today, saying they are moving closer to the Republicans’ position by offering a number of reforms.

Rep. Ross Hunter, chairman of the House budget writing committee, acknowledged that he doesn’t know if the new plan has enough votes to break the impasse, but said it was time to get the process moving.

“If there’s any opportunity to be done by next Tuesday, we have to move some bills forward,” said House Majority Leader Pat Sullivan at a press conference. Special session ends two days after Easter.

The budget proposal does not delay payments to public schools — a major sticking point in previous budget debates. Originally, Democrats had proposed pushing back millions in school payments by one day so that the expenditure fell into the next two-year budget cycle, and Republicans criticized it as punting responsibility to the next Legislature.

Instead, the budget proposal would keep $238 million in sales tax revenue collected from local governments in the state’s general fund longer, giving the state a boost in its cash flow every month. Hunter said a number of other states do the same, and it would “modernize” the way the state handles its cash without delaying any payments.

The budget does not include any cuts to K-12 or higher education. It would, however, repeal Initiative 728, a measure passed by voters in 2000 as a way to reduce class sizes, but without a way to fund it. The Legislature has regularly suspended the measure during economic downturns, and Rep. Hunter said the money could be more effectively used elsewhere.

The plan includes a number of reforms, including one that would eliminate some pension benefits for new state employees hired after July 1. Rep. Hunter said the proposal does not go as far as the pension reform proposed by Senate Republicans, but “it’s as far as we can go to get the votes.”

It also includes a balanced budget bill with a 4-year “outlook,” and a bill that would consolidate health insurance benefits for K-12 public school employees. It removes a proposed 5 percent increase to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, and would eliminate about 1,400 state employees.

The proposal leaves $335 million in reserves.

Senate Republicans and moderate Democrats held a press conference to respond, saying that they didn’t believe the reforms go far enough. Read more about their response here.

Tags: Budget

Here’s Christina, talking with Sen. Karen Keiser, who said she’s pleased with the work that has been done on the healthcare exchange bill that passed.

We’ll be posting all our interviews online as soon as we can, and they’ll be on TVW as soon as there is a break in floor action.

Gov. Chris Gregoire said after meeting with all four corners of the legislature, she’s made her priority clear: a budget deal by midnight of Sine Die.

In a press conference Wednesday, Gregoire identified what she views as the two roadblocks to getting a deal cut: Democrats want a deferral of school payments, and Republicans want to skip a pension plan payment.

Though Gregoire said she has “trouble with skipping a pension payment,” she said she isn’t going to rule out any options to get a budget passed at this point.

Gregoire said the disagreement lies in approximately $200 to $250 million. She said if lawmakers can reach an agreement on where this money will come from, “they can solve all the problems in the budget.”

Gregoire said while it isn’t realistic to get the nuts and bolts of a budget completed in time for Sine Die, which is midnight tomorrow, she said she expects lawmakers to come to a budget deal before then. She added that she does not want to call a special session.

“The minute I say special session, they’ll go to sleep,” Gregoire said. “The public expects more.”

Gregoire said lawmakers promised her that they would get to work on a deal, and that she expects them to deliver on that promise.

“They’re going to have to get it done,” she said. “The alternative is not acceptable.”

The alternative being what the Governor can do if the legislature doesn’t come to a consensus on the budget: 10 percent cuts across the board.

Gregoire added that legislators can’t “just turn it over to the budget-writers.”

U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks, the ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, announced Friday that he will not be running for reelection this year.  The former football star and University of Washington grad was first elected to Congress in 1976.

Dicks said he’s changing gears in a statement released Friday: “After 18 terms representing the people of the 6th Congressional District of Washington, preceded by eight years on the Staff of Senator Warren G. Magnuson, Suzie and I have made the decision to change gears and enjoy life at a different pace.”

Gov. Chris Gregoire lauded Dicks for his service, saying in a press release that there has been “no greater advocate for our state” than Dicks. “For nearly four decades, Norm has fought hard for Washingtonians – pushing Congress to take action to protect our military bases, our companies including Boeing, and of course the health of the Puget Sound,” Gregoire said.

Tags: Norm Dicks

Senators Derek Kilmer and Jim Kastama held a press conference today to give an update on their legislative priorities, citing a number of bills that survived today’s policy cutoff deadline.

Washington state doesn’t have a jobs shortage, “we have a skills shortage,” said Sen. Kastama. He said 60,000 jobs are going unfilled because of a lack of skilled workers. One bill that Democrats say would help address that shortage is 6289, which provides training for unemployed people to become entrepreneurs. Another bill would help the spouses of military members obtain professional licenses. A handful of other bills are aimed at expanding the state’s aerospace industry.

Kastama said one of his top priorities is 5808. If an industry earns more revenue than projected, then industry groups could apply for a rebate that could be used for research and training workers. The rebates would be capped at $5 million a year.

You can watch the full half-hour press conference here.

Tags: economic development, Jobs

Today, two lawmakers from different ends of the political spectrum made statements announcing that they will vote in favor of same-sex marriage in Washington.

Sen. Jim Kastama held a press conference today in which he said he will vote in support of same-sex marriage, and that he believes this legislation should pass without a ballot amendment. He said with the struggles of the economy and government, marriage can provide a “true safety net.”

“In 2012, I believe we have reached the point where society is ready to recognize and support same-sex couples who seek the bonds, benefits and security of marriage. They too, deserve this ‘safety net.’”

Kastama said this was a hard decision to make, saying that “Unlike some of my colleagues in liberal districts, I will not return home to cheers and handshakes.”

He said if the legislature is able to address this difficult issue, there will be no excuse for tackling other challenges.

Rep. Glenn Anderson also issued a statement announcing his support for gay marriage. In a lengthy statement, Anderson says that he thinks same-sex marriage meets the federal constitution test for equal protection and that he will vote in favor of the same-sex marriage bill in the House.

He uses three criteria to evaluate same-sex marriage:

1. The historical purpose of civil marriage
2. The historical religious doctrines on traditional marriage
3. The federal judicial record for determining equal protection under the law in the 14th Amendment the U.S. Constitution

Anderson said the distinction between civil and religious marriage has been long settled, and that “civil same-sex marriage does not undermine the right of individuals to freely choose association with religious organizations that seek to encourage traditional marriage values with which they agree. Neither does it obstruct the ability to practice the values of religious marriage, either individually or with like-minded persons.”

He also said that there is sufficient physiological research and historical records to show that homosexuality is a normal expression of biology.

Anderson cited the Code of Hammurabi, Council of Trent, and the Emperors Theodosius and Justinian to back up his claims about civil and religious marriage.

Tags: Anderson, Kastama

This week: Senate Democrat Leader Lisa Brown and House Republican Leader Richard DeBolt share their views on the state budget, possible tax hikes, and other key issues facing the 2012 State Legislature. Enjoy.

Tags: Budget, House, Inside Olympia, Reform, Senate, taxes

Remember back on Sine Die (part 2) when Sen. Phil Rockefeller announced he was leaving the Senate — and said he’d like to see Rep. Christine Rolfes replace him? His wish came true.

Brad Shannon based that post on The Kitsap Sun’s story, which you can read here.

Meanwhile, that leaves her House seat open — and the Sun reports that several people are jumping to fill that seat, which will also be filled by the county party.

Tags: House, Rockefeller, Rolfes, Senate

In preparation for tomorrow’s show The Impact, host Jessica Gao just interviewed Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt and Senate Majority Caucus Leader Karen Fraser.

With the session set to kick off next Monday the thing on everyone’s mind is the budget.  Both caucuses are busy trying to figure out how to balance the books with a $4.6 billion shortfall and with what legislators are referring to as  a resounding message from voters last November: no new taxes.

“The voters have spoken,” said Hewitt, R-Walla Walla. “It is a bit schizophrenic to be here these days. They want services but don’t want to pay for them.”

One of those services is Washington’s transportation infrastructure. When asked about the possibility of sending a tax package to the voters in order to fund it both Senators were reluctant to commit to any one idea. Both agreed though, on the importance of the state’s transportation system and its direct link to the economy.

Fraser, D-Olympia, added that there has been talk of exploring traditional sources of revenue for projects like gas tax and tolls as well as new measures.

To watch the entire interview tune into The Impact tomorrow evening at 7 or 10 p.m. on TVW.

Tags: Budget, The Impact, transportation

Thursday at 7 p.m. TVW’s Inside Olympia will look back at the last time the budget was this bad.

Host Austin Jenkins will talk with then-Gov. John Spellman as well as Republican House Speaker Bill Polk and House Minority (Democratic) Leader Wayne Ehlers. It ought to be a very interesting conversation.

Background: In Nov. 1979, Washington voters approved a Constitutional amendment to require the Legislature to meet annually. (Before then, it was a once-per-two-years affair.) According to the official legislative history, the following session, in Jan. 1980, was virtually a non-event.

In Nov. 1980, Republicans took control of the House, Democrats had a 25-24 lead in the Senate and Gov. Dixy Lee Ray was defeated.

And then: The state suddenly faced a budget shortfall of $1 billion.

If session this year has been stressful for you, reading this could give you heartburn (speaking from experience): In the middle of budget negotiations, a scale-tipping Senate Democrat switched parties, (more…)

Tags: Budget, Democrats, Inside Olympia, Republicans, taxes