Washington: Sonics

I'm writing a story for Sunday's print edition of The News Tribune, but it won't be nearly as long as this. (Unlimited space on line.) I'll be updated many of these items and adding more as the House and Senate continue to pass or kill bills through Thursday.

BY Joseph Turner
joe.turner@thenewstribune.com

Budget and taxes: The state now faces an estimated $7.7 billion deficit over the next 28 months. Gov. Chris Gregoire has proposed a no-new-taxes budget. Senate Democrats say they will unveil they budget proposal sometime after the March 19 revenue forecast. The state is getting about $3 billion of help from Uncle Sam, but the Legislature will have to make deeper cuts than the governor did in her proposal.