Perhaps Washington legislators should add “lexicographer” to their job description; they’re redefining the word “special.” This could be the fourth straight year that a special session is required in Olympia. As we suggested last year, a better term would be “agonizingly familiar session.”
This year several factors add to the possibility. First, despite frequent serenades about harmony among the politicians, the chambers are more polarized than last year. Democrats still control the House, but in the Senate the defection of two Democrats has created a Republican-controlled “Coalition Majority.” Plus, there’s the court mandate this year to fully fund K-12 education, not to mention a new Democratic governor’s campaign promise not to raise taxes, accompanied by a fierce argument about how to define a tax increase. Another factor is the $1 billion-plus budget shortfall. Finally, don’t forget the requirement that separates our state’s government from Congress. Here, the budget must be balanced.
Special-session predictions vary among local legislators who were interviewed for a Tuesday Columbian story. State Rep. Jim Moeller said that, if he had to bet, there will be no special session, “sensing there will be closure in the last few days.” Good luck on that. We’re not buying, and we’ll explain our stance why later in the editorial.
State Sen. Annette Cleveland sounds hopeful, if not optimistic, that there won’t be a special session. State Sen. Ann Rivers says there’s a 50-50 chance. State Rep. Paul Harris says he was optimistic until budget differences started emerging. State Rep. Sharon Wylie says it’s too soon to tell.
