Senate Democrats say the Legislature is on track and ready to invest in infrastructure projects that will accelerate the state's economic recovery. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown told reporters on Thursday that the Legislature is ready to begin floor action on early bills this week and expects to have a supplemental budget to consider by the middle of February following negotiations with Senate Republicans.

Sen. Brown: “We feel we are making good progress in our conversations both with them and the House and we took a look at past short sessions and the budget tends to get released the second half of February so I think we are on track for that.”

Brown and Senator Derek Kilmer also explained the Senate’s preliminary infrastructure investment package. The nearly $1 billion package is designed to boost employment while at the same time targeting infrastructure improvements that will help the state now and in the future.

Sen. Kilmer: “We have been very, very conscious in the types of investments that we are looking at, to make investments that are not just short term construction jobs, but also investments that can bend the curve of our recovery.”

Kilmer pointed to work at wastewater facilities, college campuses and roads and ports as high priority areas. Kilmer says doing this work now, while construction costs are low, should allow the state to accomplish more at a lesser cost.