U.S. Open affecting state budget vote

OLYMPIA -- Is the U.S. Open getting in the way of a budget deal in the state Capitol?

State lawmakers have until the end of the month to approve a $38 billion spending plan before a government shutdown takes effect on July 1, the beginning of the state's new fiscal year.

But because of the big golf championship, and the lack of available hotel rooms in the region, many lawmakers are having trouble getting to the state Capitol this week for negotiations and votes.

Instead, just a small group of leaders are meeting to try to break the months-long budget impasse.

It’s not just Tacoma hotel rooms that are booked through Sunday because of the Open, it’s hotel rooms all up and down the I-5 corridor, including Olympia.  That makes it difficult for many of the 147 lawmakers, including those from Eastern Washington who use hotels during special sessions.

According to Sen. Linda Evans Parlette, R-Wenatchee, legislative leaders have looked at some creative measures, such as renting rooms in a nearby college and even in a convent, as a way to get around the hotel problem.

It now appears it will be next week at the earliest before a deal is voted on, which means lawmakers will be inching ever so close to the June 30 deadline to approve a new state spending plan.

The fight for months has been over whether new taxes are needed to shore up the budget, including funding public schools.

The state will send out thousands of temporary layoff notices next week to prepare state employees in case a deal isn’t reached by the end of the month.