Democrats claim state budget deal worked out

With the 2002 state legislative session set to adjourn at 5 p.m. today, majority Democrats in the House and Senate managed to strike a deal last last night on how to fill Washington’s projected $1.6 billion budge shortfall. The budget gap will be filled by cutting state programs by more than $600 million and by using $450 million in tobacco settlement bonds. The plan also relies on state reserves, federal dollars and new state revenue.