Tax-amnesty windfall could speed budget deal
Glum Washington lawmakers, last seen slogging through House-Senate budget talks, have just gotten a jolt of good news — a $182 million windfall. Governor Gregoire and the budget negotiators say that could go a long ways toward finding a budget solution and wrapping up the special session on time. The surprise was in the form of a gusher of unexpected tax receipts generated through a three-month “tax amnesty” that Gregoire and the Legislature authorized. Companies have been allowed to pay…