By Lawrence Messina
The Associated Press

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia's Legislature must complete two separate sessions before the new budget year begins July 1, and lawmakers face a tight timetable.

The House and Senate convene Tuesday, and their main goal is to craft and pass a state budget. They must reduce what Gov. Joe Manchin proposed back in February by around $197 million. The final product will still outline about $4.2 billion in spending backed by general tax and lottery revenues.

But they also have vetoed bills to reconsider. The governor nixed 20 measures from the 60-day regular session that ended April 11. Most of his veto messages cited technical errors that he encouraged lawmakers to remedy.

Then there's possible measures relating to the federal stimulus package, and potential funding increases for what remains of this budget year. Manchin spokesman Matt Turner said the state could draw down money from its "rainy day' emergency reserves to help southern counties recover from this month's destructive flooding.

Manchin wants to follow this extended session with a special session to revive failed measures from his 2009 agenda. Less than half of his two-dozen non-budget bills passed during the earlier regular session.

Lawmakers in both chambers have given themselves until June 6 to finish the extended session. If they don't finish before then, the governor has not ruled out delaying his special session to mid-June, Turner said. Lawmakers already plan to hold their monthly, three-day series of interim meetings starting June 15.

House Finance Chairman Harry Keith White recommends that approach, if legislators run out of time by June 6. But he also said his committee and its Senate counterpart hope for a quick pace for the budget bill.

The timing of the special session hinges on completing the budget. The ongoing recession prompted Manchin to reduce the state's projected revenues for the upcoming budget year. The spending recommendations issued Friday by the governor cut an average of 4.1 percent from his cabinet departments, and of 5 percent from the other statewide executive branch offices. The Supreme Court takes the smallest hit, of 1.7 percent.

The spending blueprint also reflects $896 million from the federal stimulus, with at least $34 million of that meant to offset recommended cuts to public schools and higher education.

White, D-Mingo, said the finance committees intend to tackle the revised spending measure after convening at noon Tuesday. If they make enough progress, they could report their separate versions of the bill during evening meetings of the House and Senate, he said.

After lawmakers in each chamber pass a version, a joint conference committee will address their differences and offer a compromise bill. White said Manchin could launch his special session early next week if that conference panel can wrap up over the weekend.

Amid the budget crafting, lawmakers would respond to Manchin's vetoes and weigh any stimulus or supplemental funding measures. White cited the aid needed by his hard-hit county and others rocked by the recent flooding.

As for the special session, the governor has already announced three items for this session: Unsuccessful attempts to boost student achievement, develop mined lands and lure high-tech employers. The first two came from his agenda.

"I would imagine that he will include as many as he can get agreement on,' White said.

Turner said the governor's office continues to work with lawmakers and interest groups to add to the special session roster. He specifically cited Manchin's other regular session education bills, which addressed the public school calendar and proposed special exemptions for schools that pursue innovative ways to meet academic standards.

"The governor wants agreement from both houses on any issues that may be put on the call,' Turner said, adding that the goal is to "keep this session to issues of immediate concern.'

Messina covers the Statehouse for The Associated Press.