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As the state struggles to climb out of the Great Recession, Washington lawmakers are focusing on cutting back, consolidating and creating jobs.

Any proposal with a price tag attached is sure to receive extra scrutiny, and the catchphrase "get Washington working again" is everywhere.

Halfway through the 105-day session, legislators have approved stacks of bills aimed at trimming government spending, from requiring all counties to vote by mail instead of polling centers to ending the "retire-rehire" practice that has allowed several thousand state employees to earn both a paycheck and a pension.