State lawmakers have 231 million good reasons to agree on a new two-year state budget.

Revenue forecasts predict an additional $231 million in revenue during this fiscal year and over the next two years. That money, plus $90 million in savings from fewer services being needed, could be enough to do a deal and go home.

There could be an end to the Legislature’s special sessions after all.

Or, as Sen. Rodney Tom so aptly put it: “We should just be able to say OK … let’s wrap up the people’s business and move on.”

The Legislature is now into its second special session. If lawmakers can’t come up with a budget by the end of the month, the state could begin to shut down non-essential services. There’s no need for that.

Both the Republic/Democrat coalition in the Senate and the Democrat-controlled House have been sparring over a number of other issues. House Democrats want to end some tax breaks. The Senate coalition wants to make changes in the such things as the state’s workers’ compensation system. Both houses are using these and other measures as trading chips to get an agreement on the budget.

While discussion on such issues is justified, i isn’t as critical as making sure the state has money to pay its bills come July 1.

Our lawmakers have spend enough time in Olympia. It’s time to craft and pass a budget and go home.

– Craig Groshart, Bellevue Reporter