After 89 continuous days in session, the Washington Legislature adjourned, for the the time being, on Friday, April 7, without passing a supplemental budget. Budget negotiators are continuing but the Legislature has not been in session for days. The governor has indicated that he will call Legislators back into session on Monday, April 24.
Okay, history buffs, here`s a little research of my own. Odd-year sessions are normally scheduled for 105 days. But the decision to adjourn the session Friday instead of Saturday, means that the 2000 Legislature will be only one day short of being the longest continuous running even-year session in history (Short or 60-day sessions were first established in 1980. Most of the Legislature`s business has always been reserved for odd years.) The record 90 days was set in 1982 when lawmakers adjourned on April 10. They completed their work in a mini-session that ran from June 26 to July 2. Gasp.
Prior to 1980, the Washington Legislature met in even years in 1976 for 75 days, in 1974 for 41 days (30 continuous), 1972 for 44 days, 1970 for 32 days, 1950 for five days, 1944 for six days, 1920 for two days, and 1890 for nine days.
Check out archived Olympia Updates from 1999, when they adjourned on April 26. We`ve also posted updates from 1998, 1997, 1996 and now 1995. They adjourned on May 26 in 1995. Just click the news year you want to view below.
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