Special session likely

BRAD SHANNON, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- The 105-day legislative session is headed into overtime beyond its scheduled April 22 end, key lawmakers said Wednesday.

"We're getting close to the end. We will, I assume, go into a special session in the near future," said House Co-Speaker Clyde Ballard, R-East Wenatchee.

"I think the Democratic side feels the same," said Ellis Conklin, press secretary for Democratic Co-Speaker Frank Chopp and the House Democratic Caucus. "At this point, with 11 days left and so much to do, there's an inevitability."

Operating budget

A key sticking point is the operating budget for 2001-03. The Senate produced a $22.8 billion plan two weeks ago, but the divided House, where Republicans and Democrats each hold 49 seats, is still working on a plan. The House and Senate remain far apart on a separate transportation revenue package as well.

Ballard said he hopes the House operating budget will come out next week.

But that won't give the Senate much time to evaluate it before the regular session ends, said Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, who wrote the Senate budget.

As for a special session, Brown said, "If they don't put a budget out, it's a foregone conclusion. If they put out a budget tomorrow we can sit down and start negotiating."

Gov. Gary Locke has said he'll keep lawmakers in session until a revenue proposal to address congested highways is produced for the November ballot.

Ballard said the transportation issues are still far from being settled, despite meetings between legislative leaders and committee chairmen every other day.

"What we have to find when we get through is, are there going to be enough votes -- 50 in the House and 25 in the Senate ... to pass the budget," Ballard said, adding that's it's been an elusive goal so far. "If you take one item off the table that one party wants, then you lose a whole bunch of votes. ... And right now, any way you go you lose more votes than would be necessary to pass a budget" for higher transportation taxes.

Brad Shannon, political editor for The Olympian, can be reached at 753-1688 or at ,shannonbrad@ hotmail.com.

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