"Government Shutdown"

The short-term measure passed the House Thursday evening after a key bloc of conservative Republicans said they would support it. Passage in the Senate is still unclear as funding runs out Friday.

After months of partisan deadlock and weeks of brinksmanship as a government shutdown loomed, Washington legislative budget negotiators have reached an “agreement in principle” on a two-year budget designed to fully fund schools, as required by the state Supreme Court.

Senate President Pete Kelly said leaders should focus on the budget.

Rep. Les Gara said he’d rather have oil and gas companies pay more in taxes.

The two chambers are still far apart on a bill that would make changes to oil and gas taxes.

The corporation is investing more conservatively so it has cash on hand in case the Legislature uses fund earnings to close the gap.

It’s the third straight year that state employees have been faced with the prospect of temporarily losing their jobs.

Lawmakers have not yet passed a budget for the 2018 fiscal year, which starts in just over a month. If they don’t reach a compromise before then, a government shutdown would start on July 1.

The recent spending compromise may well have just kicked the can down the road until September, when both sides may be spoiling for a fight amid the specter of a government shutdown.

The $1 trillion omnibus appropriations legislation would keep the government running until September.