Video: Parties divided as state budget negotiations get underway

Robert Mak

/ April 2, 2015

Tax breaks, teacher comp and funding priorities are some of the issues lawmakers are working to resolve.

In Olympia this week, Republicans promised no new taxes and lower college tuition costs. Now that both parties have staked out their positions, both chambers head to the floor to pass their respective budgets.

And now the negotiation begins. There are significant differences on issues such as state employee and teacher compensation. Both sides will have to haggle over the size of the two-year budget, and whether new taxes are necessary. Big disagreements remain over tax exemptions, funding priorities and taxation.