Washington lawmakers are back at work, confronting a $1.5 billion budget gap, the possibility of a tax referendum, and a number of touchy social issues, including gay marriage, marijuana, and abortion — all within the context of 2012 being the first election since redistricting.

The session got off to a very quiet start at noon Monday, with few speeches and few protesters outside.  That was in marked contrast to the noisy reception lawmakers got when Occupy Olympia and thousands of protesters swarmed the Capitol during the early days of their most recent gathering, a 17-day emergency session called by Gov. Chris Gregoire to begin the tough job of re-balancing the $30 billion, two-year state budget.  Lawmakers trimmed about $470 million from the problem, but adjourned once they had exhausted their list of consensus cuts.

(The Office of Secretary of State took a 10 percent budget cut, which compounds cuts made in previous budgets. Elections, the State Library, State Archives, heritage activities, and the administration will all take cuts, as will TVW, the popular public-access television service that receives pass-through funding via the Secretary of State.)

Legislators are considering a combination of further spending cuts and a tax referendum that would go to the voters. The governor has proposed a three-year half-cent increase in the state’s 6.5 percent sales tax. That would raise about $500 million per year. Other taxes, fees and closure of some tax preferences also are under consideration.

As if the budget mess weren’t enough, lawmakers also will face an unusually large assortment of politically sensitive issues, including gay marriage, mandated abortion coverage by private insurers, and measures dealing with medical marijuana and legalizing pot.

The session is limited to 60 days, although many are predicting that overtime will be needed. The Legislature and governor will be awaiting the Feb. 16 revenue forecast update, hoping for some good news.