Republicans fret they’ll be left out of critical stage of budget talks • Washington State Standard

Republicans fret they’ll be left out of critical stage of budget talks • Washington State Standard

Washington state Sen. Chris Gildon of Puyallup is the chief budget writer for Senate Republicans. ( Photo by Ryan Berry/Washington State Standard)Negotiations on a new state budget got a step more serious Thursday. And, Republicans argue, more secretive. The state Senate voted to request that the two chambers form a conference committee for the operating budget. If the House agrees, and it will in the next few days, six lawmakers – four Democrat…