Listen
Lawmakers in Washington state had a fight so bad last month, they got together in a basement conference room Wednesday.
First you need to know what happened back in July. The Washington Legislature adjourned its third overtime session without passing a capital construction budget and without addressing a Supreme Court decision that’s left some property owners unable to drill a drinking water well.
Lawmakers headed home tired and, in some cases, mad. Which brings us to this August meeting. “I asked people to come back together to kind of regroup,”Republican state Sen. Judy Warnick said.
She insists on a fix to the well drilling situation before there’s a capital budget. Warnick would like to see a deal come together by early September.
But Democratic state Rep. Larry Springer thinks that’s optimistic.
“This will be a slow process because we’re simply not here so it’s just hard getting people together,” he said.
In other words don’t expect lawmakers to make a habit of meeting in basement conference rooms in August.
Copyright 2017 Northwest News Network. To see more, visit Northwest News Network.
Related Stories:
Ban On ‘Gay Conversion Therapy’ Could Make Progress In Olympia This Year
A bill to ban the controversial practice of trying to change the sexual orientation of LGBTQ people is making its way through the Washington Senate. It considers so-called “conversion therapy” for people under 18 “unprofessional conduct” for health care providers. Read More » Enrique Pérez de la Rosa January 11, 2018
‘Climate Leader’ Seattle: Lots Of Promises, Lots Of Pollution
For more than 10 years, Seattle leaders have said the city will lead the nation in fighting climate change. But the lofty words have been matched by continuing clouds of carbon emissions. Seattle dumps as much carbon dioxide into the sky as it did 25 years ago. Read More » John Ryan January 11, 2018
Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden Wants Audit Of Ryan Zinke’s Use Of Wildfire Funds
Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden is calling for an investigation into Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke’s use of wildfire preparedness funds after news reports revealed Zinke used the funds for unrelated travel. Read More » Zachary Garner January 11, 2018