Looks like this ones going into extra innings.

Being a member of the Washington State Legislature is not supposed to be a full-time job.  The Legislature is scheduled to meet for 105 days in budget years, and 60 in non-budget years.  More often than not, this is enough time to get everything straightened out...occasionally(and it seems to be more often on a budget year), some extra time is needed, and a Special Session can be called. 

This is one of those years...Oh, and the 4th time Gregoire has had to call a Special Session since 2005. 

Faced with a FIVE BILLION DOLLAR deficit for the next2 years, the Legislature has spun it's wheels.  Both the Senate and the House have proposed bills, but they really don't agree yet...and neither of them agree with what Gregoire wants...so other than that, they've made great progress in the last three months.  Governor Gregoire even said so!

"Throughout this discussion and this session, our leaders in the Legislature have been focused on the budget and its challenges," Gov. Chris Gregoire said during a news conference Friday announcing the special session.
Exactly.  Focused on the Budget and it's Challenges, which is how they found 16 different times to discuss a bill about Shark Finning.  But hey, who am I to argue with the Governor.  Luckily, not everyone agrees with her. 

House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt, spoke his mind:

"This hasn't been a very successful session, in my opinion, for the taxpayers of Washington," DeBolt said during the news conference. "I would have liked to see us get our job done on time."

By not getting their job done on time, it's going to cost the state an extra $250,000-425,000.  
 
That's a lot of Shark Fins....or High School Teachers.