As the 105-day legislative session ended on April 28th, the House and Senate budgets remained over $900 million apart in spending for the 2013-2015 biennial state budget.  The difference between the two budgets, the largest difference in state history, is the result of the House voting by one vote to raise over $900 million in additional revenue by closing tax loopholes and increasing other tax enhancements, while the Senate kept to their "no new taxes" pledge.

While both chambers spend approximately the same amount for education, public colleges, and state employee contracts, the House made fewer cuts to social and health services safety net programs.  Governor Inslee called the legislature into special session on May 13th to resolve budget differences between the House and Senate.  By law, when the Governor calls a special session, it is scheduled for 30 days, but it can adjourn before that deadline.  The only action the legislature must accomplish is to pass a balanced budget.  However, legislators may take up other issues. 

Key budget issues needed to work out during the special session include funding for safety net programs such as House and Essential Needs (HEN) and the Aged Blind and Disabled (ABD) programs, as well as Working Connections Child Care, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) and the Housing Trust Fund (HTF).  The bishops of Washington State continue to stress the need that legislators maintain an “adequate safety net for programs that serve the most vulnerable among us.”