Welcome to The Newsfeed.

I'm Paris Jackson.

We're here in Olympia.

As lawmakers return for the 2026 legislative session that is underway.

Governor Ferguson says the state has about a $2.3 billion budget gap it will need to address.

This year's legislative session is short just 60 days because it falls on an even year.

Lawmakers typically only make modest adjustments to the state's budget in the short sessions, according to the University of Washington's Office of State Relations.

I caught up with Washington State Standard reporter Jerry Cornfield to understand the challenges lawmakers are up against during this quick session and how it could affect Washingtonians.

Governor Ferguson says there's about a $2.3 billion budget gap.

What ways do you think lawmakers are going to tackle that gap that the state is experiencing.

After last session where they raised a lot of taxes to deal with a shortfall.

They don't have many options left.

So some programs are going to be cut.

Some plans to expand programs won't be expanded.

And then they're going to do what I would say is play with house money.

They're going to move money from one account to another account to another account.

So they're going to use some of the climate money.

Big companies have paid and bought the allowances to pollute.

That money is supposed to go into projects to reduce pollution, but it's going to go in Governor Ferguson's budget.

It will go into trying to pay for programs and avoid deeper cuts.

So they're going to use the rainy day reserve, which is supposed to be for emergencies.

Some of that will go into recovery efforts in response to the floods from December, but also some of it will be used to balance the budget and fill that shortfall.

One solution the governor supports is that so-called millionaires tax, but not as a long term solution.

And he has been opposed to new and higher taxes on corporations.

And the income tax.

And that's what we'll call it during the session once it gets introduced.

And the Democrats have been pushing for it.

They assume even it'll go to the ballot.

It may be challenged in court so they won't even see any dollars before 2029.

So they definitely it does not help them with their immediate problem.

The governor is also proposing about $3 billion in infrastructure investments, maintaining roads and also overhauling the state ferries over the next decade.

What are lawmakers telling you?

I don't see a very much a very strong embrace of the idea.

Yes, they need new ferries.

Yes, folks want the roads paved and yes, they want the bridges fixed and maintained.

They don't like the proposal he's put forward, many of them, because it requires bonding.

Those new gas tax revenues they just passed.

And the legislature was very clear when they passed them that they were not going to tie those dollars up.

They needed them to pay for projects that are underway now.

Conservative organization Let's Go.

Washington has initiatives on parental rights and banning trans athletes from girls sports.

How do you think those will measure up this session?

The initiatives are going to go on the ballot if they have enough signatures, and there is not a majority in the legislature to pass either one of those initiatives.

The real question will be whether or not the Democrats will use, you know, with their majority, allow them to be discussed in public hearings, which could be very volatile and time consuming and in a short session.

I'm not sure the Democrats will do that.

The governor has had a precarious relationship with the press.

How do you see things moving forward now that we're in year two of his leadership?

I really hope we get more access to him.

Just meet with us on a weekly or biweekly basis and take our questions as previous governors have.

To read more of Cornfield's extensive reporting, go to washingtonstatestandard.com.

I'm Paris Jackson.

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