Legislative Commentary

This week the Senate approved a bill that would fully fund K-12 education in a way that upholds the state constitution and addresses the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision from 2012.

The Education Equality Act is certainly one of the most important pieces of legislation we will see in 2017, and the fact that we passed it so early in the session is proof of our Senate majority’s commitment to students.

In addition to a pair of meetings with the governor, I welcomed Pullman firefighters, tree fruit growers, Whitman County Commissioner Michael Largent and Freeman school superintendent Randy Russell (with three other Spokane County superintendents) to the office this week.

I had the pleasure of taking part in a panel for the AgForestry program; as a member of the 10th graduating class I am always happy to give of my time to this outstanding leadership program.

A funny thing has been happening at my office due to the fact that the United States Senate has the authority to confirm presidential appointments (just like our Senate has the authority to confirm appointments made by the governor).

A surprising number of people can’t figure out that I am a state senator, not a U.S. senator, so they’ve been phoning from around the nation to urge that I oppose appointments made by the Trump administration.

I don’t recall this happening as much four or eight years ago, and it says something about the value of understanding how government is structured.

Senate passes Education Equality Act

The Legislature has no choice this year but to reform the system that funds our public K-12 schools. The Supreme Court basically declared the funding system to be unconstitutional because school districts are relying too much on local-levy dollars to pay for things that qualify as basic education – things the state should be funding instead.

Last week’s update mentioned how our Senate majority had unveiled its plan to put state government back into the position of being the primary provider for K-12 education.

We listened to public testimony about the bill on Monday and brought an updated version of the bill before the full Senate for a successful vote Wednesday. This is the first bill passed by either legislative chamber that would answer the constitutional funding-source issue raised in the high court’s McCleary ruling.

There is much to like about the Education Equality Act, starting with how it would make a guaranteed investment in each K-12 student, regardless of school district.

It would institute a flat tax of sorts by capping all local school levies at $1.80 per $1,000 assessed property valuation.

In the Ninth Legislative District taxpayers in all but a few school districts would see a cut in property tax; that keeps the plan from being perfect right out of the gate, in my view, but we will keep working on it.

Our approach would also address many concerns raised by teachers concerning opportunities for pay raises, and cost-of-living differences between districts, and health-care insurance.

Majority Democrats in the House have introduced a school-spending bill but not given any indication how they would ensure the primary responsibility for K-12 funding belongs to the state.

Visit http://www.fullyfundeducation.org for details of the Senate plan.

Former state representative becomes new senator for northeast Washington

The Senate position in the 7th Legislative District became vacant Jan. 24 when Brian Dansel stepped down to take a position in the Trump administration.

Within six days, a new senator was appointed – former Rep. Shelly Short, who is from Addy in Stevens County. She was sworn in two days later, just in time to help pass the Education Equality Act.

Her move across the Capitol Rotunda from the House means our Senate majority again has 25 members present. That should prevent minority Democrats from more pointless attempts to disrupt the process of considering legislation.

As majority leader, I appreciate the quick action taken by Republican precinct committee officers and the five sets of county commissioners who unanimously restored the 7th District’s representation in the Senate.

Senator Short had just won election to a fifth House term from the seventh District, which comprises all of Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties and part of Okanogan and Spokane counties. She also was serving as House Republican caucus chair.

Our new colleague is the capable legislator our majority needed, considering the governing we have to do, and I knew she would hit the ground running. Welcome!

Senate prepares statement opposing breaching of dams

A measure that would state the Legislature’s opposition to the breaching of dams in the Columbia River system is a step away from going on the Senate’s voting calendar. Senate Joint Memorial 8004 would go to President Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, our state’s congressional delegation, and officials within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bonneville Power Administration.

SJM 8004 notes how the agencies that operate the Columbia River system of dams are preparing an environmental impact statement under the National Environmental Policy Act, and will be considering alternatives for modifying system operations. That could include breaching one or more dams.

It asks the recipients to prevent breaching any dam in the system because doing so “would significantly alter system operations and severely diminish hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, navigation, flood risk management, recreation, and fish and wildlife benefits the system currently provides to the people of Washington.”