Murray's a liberal, openly gay Democratic lawmaker from Capitol Hill who supports creating a state income tax. Zarelli's a Republican from rural Clark County who opposes gay marriage and once got a perfect score from the Washington Conservative Union.
They are polar opposites. Yet during the past three months, the two men met day after day to hash out the first truly bipartisan budget that anyone in Olympia can recollect. The Senate approved the proposal, which makes $4.8 billion in cuts, by a 34-13 vote last Monday. Now they have to negotiate a compromise with the House and governor's office.
No one has referred to them as the odd couple, at least within earshot, they say. "I dare say you shouldn't use it," Zarelli said in an interview. "If you do, I'm the clean one."
Murray, 55, is chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee and works part time for the University of Washington planning department. Zarelli, 49, is the ranking Republican on the panel and works as a business consultant.
The budget they created, with the support of their members, closes a $5.1 billion shortfall largely through cuts. It hits K-12 and higher education, sharply scales back health-care and social-service programs, and reduces salaries for state employees and teacher.
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