Olympia May Approve a Budget Shortly — New House Plan Drops Some Tax Extensions

House leaders have sent a budget to the Senate for approval that scales back some of the hundreds of millions in spending, and drops extending the controversial 0.3 percent Business and Occupation Tax extension.

There could be a budget deal very soon, according to Washington legislative leaders.  All the specific details are still coming out, but it is known the proposal would NOT extend the temporary Business and Occupation Tax that was originally passed under former governor Chris Gregoire. The tax was due to expire at the end of this month, but Gov. Jay Inslee and House Democrats tried to paint its extension as not being a "new" tax.

The new budget reportedly closes some tax loopholes or "preferences," and grabs some $400 million from the capital project to pay for public works projects. These could result in some of the supposed jobs Inslee pledged to add to Washington's workforce.

Previously this week Inslee had hinted if no new budget were approved there could be a government shutdown. He told the Seattle news website Crosscut that letting taxes drop would be "going in the wrong direction."

So much for the campaign promise not to raise taxes.