WA Gov Defends Role In Special Session Negotiations

By Austin Jenkins | March 22, 2010 4:24 p.m. | Updated: June 16, 2010 11:56 p.m. | Olympia, WA

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire opposes raising the sales tax to help rebalance the state budget. But she stops short of saying she'll veto a sales tax hike if that's what majority Democrats in the legislature send her. Washington lawmakers Monday entered week two of a special session. The House and Senate are at an impasse over the sales tax issue. Gregoire defended her efforts to broker a deal, saying, “Right now I'm doing my best to be as prudent as I can with the power of the pen of the governor while facilitating and bringing new ideas to the table. So I'm trying to help them as best I can get the job done, get it done right and go home.”House and Senate Democrats say they appreciate the fact Gregoire hasn't played her trump card – the veto pen. Meanwhile minority Republicans in the House are now demanding Democrats call a time out and go home until a deal can be reached.

© 2010 Northwest News Network

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