After a week of behind the scenes compromises, the midnight deadline loomed and waned as Washington lawmakers failed to pass a state budget.

Republican Sen. Mike Hewitt. Photo: The Olympia Report

That puts a special session on the horizon.

According to the Olympia Report, the bone of contention was a provision added by Democrats that would have delayed a $318 million payment to local school districts by one day “in order to ensure the expenditure showed up on next year’s budget rather than this year’s.”

Senate Republican Leader Mike Hewitt (R-Walla), was outraged by the maneuver.

“If you tried that in the private sector, you’d go to jail,” said Hewitt.

Gov. Christine Gregoire has asked the legislature to reconvene on Monday.

Read the narrative:

House Democrats won’t drop apportionment shift provision.

With no budget compromise in sight, special session looms.

No budget agreement reached; special session up next.

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