Washington House passes budget plan

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The House has passed a $39 billion two-year budget that seeks to spend $1.4 billion to address a court mandate on how the state pays for basic education.

The budget passed on a 51-47 vote Thursday. The chamber hasn't yet voted on other bills that will pay for the plan, including one that creates a capital gains tax.

A Senate vote on its own plan was delayed by a battle over more than 50 amendments that were introduced by Democrats. That chamber was still expected to vote later in the evening, but first was debating a rule change for a high vote threshold for amendments.

The Legislature is in the midst of a 105-day legislative session that is scheduled to end April 26. Lawmakers need to write a new two-year operating budget for the state under the shadow of a court-ordered requirement to put additional money toward the state's education system.