Budget writers fight against time, money

BRAD SHANNON, THE OLYMPIAN

Originally published April 15

House budget writers are working diligently to craft a spending plan and release it before the session ends next Sunday, they said.

But it might be a close call.

"What's happened is just because of the way we have to work here on the floor; we're a couple of weeks behind. It's not anybody's fault, just delays," said Rep. Barry Sehlin, Republican co-chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.

It's unlikely they'll finish by Wednesday, the previous target. "I'm still hopeful for next week. ... More likely like Friday," Sehlin said.

Rep. Helen Sommers, the Democratic co-chairwoman of Appropriations, said Friday that she and Sehlin expect to work into the evening and that progress is being made.

"We're still working on some difficult parts of the budget," Sommers said. "I think it's a good working relationship. There are still open questions obviously, but I hope it doesn't take too much longer."

Sehlin predicted that he and Sommers will have some general discussions with the Senate late in the week, but serious discussions to negotiate a final 2001-03 budget with the Senate could run into a special session.

The Senate released its $22.8 billion spending plan a couple of weeks ago, taking an anticipated $250 million out of a surplus that developed in the Law Enforcement Officers' and Firefighters' Plan 1 pension fund. But Sommers and Sehlin both oppose using it for ongoing expenses such as pay raises for state employees, which the Senate's plan does.

They favor using it for one-time expenses -- K-12 construction is one area Sommers indicated she might consider. The House budget writers aren't saying much about where they agree except that both want to slow the spiraling increase in medical costs for the poor.

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