Senate advances its 2-year budget, cuts $4.8B
The Washington state Senate approved Monday its proposed two-year state budget that slashes $4.8 billion in state spending, including deepening cuts to K12 education.
The 34-13 vote sets up negotiations with the House of Representatives and Gov. Chris Gregoire's office that will likely take the legislative session into overtime. The differences, few but large in money, between the House and Senate budgets seem too big to close between now and the end of session, currently scheduled to be Easter Sunday.