Third special session likely as budget negotiations continue

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Budget negotiators say that they are making progress on reaching agreement on a state operating budget, but acknowledge that they may need to extend beyond the end of the current special session in order to get any final deal passed out of both chambers ahead of a potential government shutdown next week.

Rep. Ross Hunter, the House's Democratic budget writer, said Friday that logistically, it would be almost impossible to get a budget passed by midnight Saturday, when the second special session ends. Closed door meetings continued Friday, and Hunter and Republican budget writer, Sen. Andy Hill, both say progress is being made. Gov. Jay Inslee was scheduled to hold a press conference later in the afternoon, though there was no indication that a deal was likely to be announced soon.

The state faces a partial government shutdown July 1 if a new two-year state operating but isn't adopted by the Legislature and signed by the governor.