"The plan put forward today by House Democrats addresses many of our most pressing needs — especially around mental health services — and plugs several of the holes in our current two-year state budget. The House budget also makes some smart investments in K-12 and higher education, and calls for reducing property taxes across the state.
"We still have work to do in reaching agreement on a final budget. The state Supreme Court has made it clear we must take the last step in meeting our obligation to fully fund basic education this year. Given our state’s strong economy and revenue growth, we can afford to meet those obligations now.
"I look forward to working with the House and Senate over the next two weeks to finish our work on time for the people of Washington."