OLYMPIA -- The Senate's top Democrat accused the coalition that controls the chamber of driving the state toward a government shutdown by stalling on budget negotiations.

Sen. Ed Murray of Seattle said the Legislature is moving backwards in trying to reach an agreement on the 2013-15 operating budget: "Senate Republicans want to close down government on July 1 and send us over a fiscal cliff."

Senate Republican Leader Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, acknowledged it will be difficult to write and pass a budget by June 11, when the special session must end. But he said he remains optimistic that can happen with "hard work and good faith."

"The last thing we want is to drive anything off a cliff," Schoesler said.

Murray's comments came after a rare floor session with most senators present to  honor Republican Mike Carrell, who died last week. After an hour of tributes to the longtime legislator from Lakewood, both sides met in caucus, and the Senate eventually adjourned until Tuesday without further action.

Monday was the 22nd day of the special session, making next Tuesday the final day of the overtime session. Murray said the Legislature is quickly running out of time in which a budget can be passed, even if an agreement is reached. The text of the budget, which could be between $34 billion and $35 billion, often runs 400 pages or more and lists appropriations for most state programs outside of transportation and major building projects. It takes time to print and fact check and move between the two chambers to pass in the same form.

If the Legislature doesn't pass a budget by next Tuesday, Gov. Jay Inslee immediately could call another special session. But that would put the start of the state's fiscal year, July 1, squarely in the middle of that second overtime.

If delays continue, the state would be without a budget on July 1, and without legal authority to spend money on many non-emergency programs. "I don't see how we avoid a shutdown" of at least some programs like Parks, Licensing, Early Learning and Basic Health, he said, if a budget hasn't been passed by then. 

The state's ability to pay principal and interest on its bonds could also be challenged in court, and its bond rating dropped, he said.

Schoesler said his members aren't anxious for a second special session. "I want to see this completed in the (current) special session as much as anyone in the state," he added.

He refused to discuss budget discussions, insisting "I have not negotiated in the press and I will not start negotiating in the press". But negotiations were occuring, he added.

"We're still talking. We're still working," he said.

Last Friday, Gov. Jay Inslee issued a statement that he was concerned about the pace of budget negotiations. On Monday, an Inslee spokeswoman said the governor "remains hopeful" that a budget agreement can be reached and passed before the end of this special session, but acknowledged that gets less likely with each passing day.

"There's a lot that needs to get done," Jaime Smith said. Inslee is talking with legislative leaders and budget writers on an almost daily basis, and bringing the budget committee leaders together every few days, she said.

Last Friday, however, Inslee was concerned that Senate Republicans had introduced and passed a different plan to address a change in the estate tax designed to close what some consider a loophole opened by a state Supreme Court ruling.

Murray said the bill that came out of the Ways and Means Committee was different than previous agreements on how to address the estate tax problem, generates less revenue and was a sign of "backwards movement" on the budget.

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