Wash. Gov: Progress, But No Deal As Final Day Of Special Session Arrives

OLYMPIA, Wash. – It’s the final day of Washington’s 30-day special session. But still no deal on a plan to rebalance the state budget and pass a series of government reform measures. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports closed door talks broke up late Monday night.

A weary Governor Chris Gregoire held a news conference just before midnight.

Gregoire: “We’ve made progress over 11 hours, but we’re not done and everybody’s still working.”’

She spoke after a marathon round of bipartisan negotiations. Those talks will resume Tuesday. Gregoire says her goal is still to get a deal and vote it out by Tuesday’s midnight deadline. Among the sticking points: the details of a proposal to curtail early retirement benefits for state employees.

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