OLYMPIA -- The revenue forecast is grim. The chance for solving the problem with across-the-board cuts is almost non-existent. The chance of a special session of the Washington Legislature is growing, by the day if not the hour.

You can read about it in today's report on the quarterly revene forecast by clicking here.

But the chance that a special session will be a one- or two-day affair, in which legislative leaders agree on the solution ahead of time and come to Olympia to merely ratify it...well, that's considerably less than the chance for a special session.

Gov. Chris Gregoire wants proposals from the leaders of both parties in both chambers by Nov. 29, which is the Monday after Thanksgiving. Legislators are due in Olympia the first full week of December for a committee week.

But even if their leaders think they've got a solution, there's nothing that binds the Legislature to keeping to a one-day, two-day or even one-week time line. They've got 30 -- count 'em, 30 -- days once a session starts.

The only thing that may break things up could be a desire get out for the Christmas holiday.

Most years, legislators are asked to name a song that they think will exemplify the theme for the session. "I'll be home for Christmas" may become the theme song of a December special session.

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