Legislature fails to reach deal; special session starts Monday
A disappointed Gov. Chris Gregoire is calling the Washington Legislature back into session at noon Monday to take another whack at closing the remaining $1 billion hole in the state checkbook.
鈥淚 certainly hope they will be able to finish it next week,鈥 the Democrat said shortly before midnight in a short meeting with Capitol reporters. Lawmakers adjourned their 60-day session at 12:07 a.m., marking the second time since Thanksgiving that they tried to close the state鈥檚 budget deficit and fell short.