The majority of the bills which comprise the Senate Democrats' reform agenda have been approved by the Washington State Senate ahead of the Feb. 14 floor cutoff deadline. A number of additional reform bills are still being considered by the Senate Ways & Means Committee as bills necessary to implement the budget.

The bills are projected to save at least $43 million in the 2011-13 biennial budget, while saving at least a quarter of a billion dollars over the next five years.

“We began in December with a pledge to scour our state government for savings, to preserve efficient practices and to eliminate waste and abuse,” said Sen. Nick Harper, D-Everett. “Today, a majority of the bills which were dedicated to that effort have passed the Senate with bipartisan support.

For more information on the reform package and what bills have passed, click here.