Kagi says legislature will pass budget in time to avoid government shutdown

By Evan Smith

Democratic 32nd District State Rep. Ruth Kagi says that the legislature will pass a budget in time to avoid a government shutdown.

Kagi, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, said Saturday that she expects the legislature to pass a budget by the Tuesday, June 30, deadline to avoid the state's first-ever government shutdown, including closing state parks and laying off thousands of corrections officers, social workers, park rangers and other government employees.

The agreement comes after months of negotiations between the Democratic-controlled House and Republican-controlled Senate and as the legislature began a third special session to pass bills needed to make the agreement work.

Kagi, chairwoman of the House committee on early learning and social services, said that she is proud that the budget includes full support for basic education and early learning and "makes much needed investments in our social safety net."

The two-year budget would cover July 2015 through June 2017.

The 32nd Legislative District includes Shoreline, part of northwest Seattle, Woodway and nearby unincorporated areas, south Edmonds, the whole city of Lynnwood and part of Mountlake Terrace.

Updated 06-28-2015 10:28pm