Washington lawmakers race clock to finalize budget deal

An outline of the agreement provided Saturday says that the budget is about $38 billion, that it spends an estimated $1.3 billion on K-12 basic education, and that it will reduce the cost of tuition at the state's colleges and universities and community colleges.

The outline also says the budget will fully pay for collective bargaining agreements for state employees and raises for teachers, as well as put more money into the state's mental health system and other social service programs.

Lawmakers had struggled for months on the two-year state budget, expected to be in the range of $38 billion, because of differing ideas on how to address a state Supreme Court mandate to put more money into the state's basic education system.

While budget negotiators and leaders from each caucus stood behind Inslee at the news conference, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler sat off camera on the side of the room.

[...] Saturday, House and Senate transportation leaders expressed renewed optimism on a 16-year, $15 billion transportation revenue package that includes an incremental increase in the gas tax.