A budget emerges as lawmakers reach session's final day
OLYMPIA — Fueled by rising tax collections and a bounty of federal aid, majority Democrats in the state Legislature unveiled a two-year budget Saturday that funds the state’s pandemic response, strengthens its safety net of social services, expands child care, and confronts long-term challenges posed by wildfires.
Release of the 1,100-page spending blueprint came as lawmakers pushed to pass budgets and complete work on legislation dealing with carbon emissions, drug laws, and homelessness before concluding their 2021 regular session Sunday.
One major climate change bill cleared its last hurdle Saturday and is headed to Gov. Jay Inslee. Another is close to joining it.
On a 27-22 vote, the Senate agreed with changes made by the House to the Climate Commitment Act creating a cap-and-trade program to reduce carbon emissions from some of the state’s largest polluters. When Inslee signs the bill it will make Washington join California as the only states with such a program.
https://www.heraldnet.com/news/a-budget-emerges-as-lawmakers-reach-sessions-final-day/
