Governor And Legislature Locked In Budget Battle

Nobody seems to be budging in the fight between Governor Bob Holden and legislative leaders over the budget. Holden says lawmakers have two days to send him bills raising enough revenue to pay for the budget they passed last week. Holden says he’ll call lawmakers back into special session if they don’t do it the way he wants it done by Friday night. House Speaker Catherine Hanaway says a special session would be a waste of time and money. But the Governor says “no” is not the answer he will accept. Governor Holden wants the Legislature to increase gambling taxes and plug some loopholes he says exist in the business tax structure. Majority Republican leaders in the Legislature say there’s no chance that will happen – now – or in a special session.