Wash. lawmakers: Tax compromise could be possible

"Legislative leaders were more optimistic Thursday that compromise might be possible on an $800 million tax package to help bridge Washington state's budget deficit, the main attraction of a special session heading into its fifth day.

The makeup of a tax-increase plan has been the biggest difference between members of the state Senate and House, which are both controlled by Democrats. The Senate package included a temporary, three-tenths of a penny increase in the state sales tax, while House members wanted to shrink tax exemptions and raise several targeted taxes."