Government shutdown looms

The battle lines are becoming so entrenched in Olympia that the prospect of a government shutdown are starting to be discussed. Here is how the AP describes the situation: "Top officials in Washington state started preparing Monday for a potential government shutdown in July as lawmakers stalled in their bid to reach a budget compromise. Gov. Chris Gregoire said she has started holding talks with Cabinet and financial-management leaders about what would happen if there were no spending plan by the time a new budget cycle begins in July. She's seen little progress in budget negotiations in the Legislature and can't recall a time that things have been so bogged down. 'I'm a little discouraged,' Gregoire said. She's asked lawmakers for an agreement-in-principle by the end of this week . . . READ MORE