State budget deal shaky as vote nears

Compromise hinges on spending limit

BRAD SHANNON AND PATRICK CONDON, THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Top Democrats in the House huddled behind their co-speaker's closed door Thursday, hoping to fine-tune a state operating budget that their entire caucus can support.

With the chamber split 49-49, House Republicans have promised to deliver only the bare number of votes needed to put it over the top and end one of the session's most contentious debates. With a vote tentatively set for today, Democratic leaders were struggling to pacify rank-and-file members seeking a few extra dollars here and there for pet causes.

For instance, before South Sound Reps. Sandra Romero and Sam Hunt would pledge to vote for the budget, both sought a reduction in prescription drug charges and other health-insurance costs for state workers.

"I'm strongly considering a vote for the budget," Hunt said. "If those needs are met -- and there are no big surprises, and we're told there are not -- I'm inclined to vote yes."

The trick for Democratic leaders, though, is to not boost spending levels higher than the $22.78 billion in the Senate plan for 2001-03. That could risk the support needed from Republicans, who say the budget already spends too much.

"What are we hearing? Spend more. Spend more. Spend more. At some point, you've just got to say it's enough," said House Co-Majority Leader Dave Mastin, R-Walla Walla.

Mastin said Republicans still could back off from supplying the needed 50th vote if Democrats push spending too high. Since two Democrats are overseas, Republicans need to offer three votes -- and Mastin said no members have yet been identified to carry out that chore.

The Senate approved a $22.78 billion plan last Friday, rejecting amendments that would have allayed the prescription-drug concerns raised by Romero and Hunt. House Democrats' changes could alienate their Senate colleagues and risk the budget's passage in that chamber.

"I've been encouraging them to have that be a very short list, and it should be budget-neutral," Sen. Lisa Brown, the Spokane Democrat who authored the budget said of any changes. "I don't think we should change the bottom line."

Lawmakers face a June 30 deadline for passing a new operating budget. If no budget is passed, parts of state government could shut down July 1.

The operating budget is especially important to South Sound. If passed, it would give 3.7 percent pay increases next month to the area's more than 20,000 state workers -- cost-of-living increases that would equal the raises guaranteed to teachers by Initiative 732.

Both nursing-home and home-care workers also would see increases of 50 cents per hour on July 1.

Political editor Brad Shannon and state government reporter Patrick Condon can be reached at 360-753-1688 or shannonbrad@hotmail.com and condonpatrick@hotmail.com.

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