OLYMPIA -- With time running out on this fiscal year, the Senate will hold hearings today on some of its latest budget plans, including one that would forestall a partial government shutdown for a month.

On the Senate Ways and Means Committee's agenda for this afternoon is the Senate Republicans' latest bargaining position on the two-year operating budget, a $38.2 billion spending plan, with some increases in pay for public school employees, increases in spending on early learning, mental health and welfare programs, and about $125 million in new revenue from closing some tax preferences 

Also on the agenda is a bill that would do something similar to what Congress does when it reaches a budget impasse -- keep the current budget in place for a while negotiations continue. That bill would give agencies money in July to continue current programs but not start any new ones, with a few exceptions. It would set aside an extra $1.1 billion for principle and interest on debts incurred in this budget cycle, and $14 million for emergency drought efforts.

Details of the latest plans can be found here.

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