Oregon Public Broadcasting

Washington's current budget shortfall has grown slightly to $2.8 billion.

The new number reflects increasing demand for state services and a Supreme Court tax case the state lost.

Next week in Olympia Senate Democrats plan to roll-out a proposal to close the shortfall.

They'll offer up a combination of cuts and tax hikes. But Senator Rodney Tom, the Senate's number two budget writer, Friday dismissed a proposal in the Washington State House to temporarily raise the state sales tax.

Rodney Tom: "If you look at in much better times when there was an initiative for one percent for education, that went down two-thirds to one-third in a much better economic environment so I think that's wishful thinking."

Senator Tom says he's more interested in sin taxes like raising the tax on cigarettes to bring in new revenue.

Republicans remains staunchly opposed to new taxes. They say it will harm the state's economic recovery.

Washington lawmakers Friday did get some good news from the state's revenue forecaster. It appears the two-year drop in state tax collections is leveling off.