Democrats in Washington Legislature pitch competing budget plans
Democrats in Washington’s House and Senate agree on one thing when it comes to the state’s budget shortfall: it’ll take hefty taxes on wealthy individuals and companies to solve.
Beyond that, they charted diverging paths with spending plans released on Monday.
Senate Democrats make ends meet in the next two-year budget by delaying expansion of early learning and child care programs, furloughing state workers, and draining state reserves in order to boost funding for special education and other needs of public schools.
House Democrats plot a course that avoids controversial moves like furloughing state workers and drawing down savings. Like the Senate, they hold off expanding popular early learning and child care programs. But the House also pledges about $1 billion less in new funding for special education and public school operating costs.
https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/03/24/democrats-in-washington-legislature-pitch-competing-budget-plans/