Governor should force Legislature to act on budget

We’ve seen this song and dance before. It looks like the Legislature is going to do the same thing it did last year – partial cuts and then likely wait till the last moment to balance the budget (perhaps requiring another special session next year). This despite the Governor giving lawmakers months of advance notice and a list of possible budget solutions. The Governor should raise the stakes to ensure the budget is actually balanced in early January.
 
If lawmakers do leave town next week without balancing the budget or giving the Governor discretionary budget cutting authority, she should issue an executive order requiring across-the-board cuts that would take effect say January 20th, unless the Legislature first reduced spending by the dollar amount identified.
 
Drastic step but something needs to change the current dynamic.

Additional Information
State legislators are in no hurry, while meter runs at $41 million a day (Vancouver Columbian)
State Legislature could end its special session by Dec. 20 (Seattle Times)
Lawmakers Talking About a Skinny Budget and an Early Adjournment (Washington State Wire)