State workers' health care assistance could face veto

BRAD SHANNON THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA -- Extra money for the health care benefits of state workers could be vetoed by Gov. Gary Locke.

Because lawmakers were unable to win support Thursday for a 5 percent tax on spirits and cocktails in restaurants and bars, the $22.5 billion operating budget approved earlier in the day is $39 million short.

Rep. Jeff Gombosky, D-Spokane, said he was having trouble getting support for backup financing plans.

That means the state's total reserves would shrink to about $270 million, Gombosky said. But Locke's budget director, Marty Brown, said another possibility is that Locke could veto several budget add-ons if no new revenues were found.

The vetoes could include about $8 million in state and federal money authorized late Wednesday in the House to hold down the costs of health insurance premiums for state employees, which Olympia Democratic Reps. Sam Hunt and Sandra Romero had fought to include.

Also at risk is $8 million in aid to cities and $5 million to counties that used to rely on motor vehicle excise taxes for criminal-justice programs until voter approval of Initiative 695.

The city aid had been critical to Sen. Shirley Winsley, R-Fircrest, who crossed party lines to help Democrats pass their budget.

On the Web:

- Washington State Legislature

- Gov. Gary Locke

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