Washington lawmakers are awaiting a new economic forecast that will guide this year's budget decisions.

The state Economic and Revenue Forecast Council is scheduled to release its quarterly report Wednesday. Lawmakers are already planning to deal with a large budget shortfall.

Budget writers entered the year with a roughly $1 billion shortfall, and they are under court order to add more money to K-12 education.

Some Democrats have talked about new tax revenues to help balance the budget while Republicans say the Legislature can finish a budget without new money.

Lawmakers are expected to release their budget proposals in the coming weeks.