With Labor Day and summer behind us, I want to share a few updates with you and look ahead to what will be a busy fall in the 35th District. Since the 2015 legislative session ended in July, I have spent the past several weeks traveling the District meeting with community groups and constituents. Though we have a part-time Legislature, I am your full-time representative and I am grateful for the opportunity to serve you year round!

Before I get into the updates, I want to briefly reflect on the fourteenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. In the days following the attacks, our nation came together, mourned the victims and celebrated the heroes. In the years since, we have faced many challenges as a nation, including the ongoing war on terrorism. Our national leaders continue to debate issues which carry serious consequences for our national security and the safety of our closest allies. For those making these difficult decisions, I hope they recognize the threats which still exist in our post-9/11 world and support policies that make the United States safer. We must never forget the sacrifice made by so many on that September morning, and in the years since.

I remain confident our best days are ahead of us, and if we stand together we can remain the driving force for a freer, safer and more prosperous world.

Education remains top priority

As teachers and students file back into the classroom, there is much to celebrate – though reading the headlines might suggest another story. With teachers on strike in Pasco and Seattle, I am grateful our local teachers have made the decision to stay in the classroom and work with the Legislature on continuing to improve our K-12 education system. They should be applauded for their dedication to their students.

This summer, we passed a budget that makes historic investments in K-12 education which now makes up nearly 48 percent of the 2015-17 operating budget. This multi-billion dollar increase includes funding teacher COLAs for the first time in years. We also invested in class-size reduction in grades K-3, expanded all-day kindergarten, and increased funding by nearly $750 million for maintenance, supplies and operating costs. This was the best budget for Washington’s students and teachers in more than a generation.

Which is why I am concerned by two recent rulings by the state Supreme Court – both of which could have long-term effects on how we meet the needs of both students and teachers. The first ruling, which was handed down last month, stated the Legislature has not met the requirements of the 2012 McCleary decision. The Court imposed a $100,000 per day fine on the Legislature until the justices are satisfied their ruling is met and urged Gov. Inslee to call a fourth special session this year.

To be clear, regardless of this ruling, the Legislature is on track to meet the McCleary guidelines by the original court-ordered 2018 deadline.

Even though a fourth special session is unlikely, we are in the process of addressing the underlying funding issues with our K-12 system. One solution is to Fund Education First by creating a stand-alone education budget, which I proposed last session.  Another is a bold, sweeping reform to the local and state levy system known as “levy swap.” In the coming months, we will be working across the aisle to ensure we have an effective plan to address this final, and underlying, component of the McCleary ruling.

A second ruling was released late last week declaring the voter-approved charter-school system unconstitutional. The ruling came nearly a year after the Court heard arguments in the case and as schools prepared to open their doors after the Labor Day weekend. This ruling jeopardizes the educational opportunity for 1,200 students across the state, many of whom are minorities or from low-income families. This ruling creates uncertainty for families – that is both unfair and unacceptable.

Education is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Charter schools provide high-quality learning opportunities for students who may otherwise be underserved in the classroom. Charter schools are operating and thriving in 41 other states, yet in Washington the Supreme Court has bucked innovation and opportunity, instead opting to uphold the status quo. According to The Seattle Times, the Court’s decision is even more suspect due to the ruling justices’ campaign contributions from anti-charter school special interest groups like the Washington Education Association. I believe students deserve better than the rulings offered by the Court, that are funded by special interests, in recent weeks.

I will continue to do whatever it takes to ensure students in Washington have every opportunity to succeed and thrive. I believe this starts by enacting bold reforms that improve K-12 funding, increasing access to classrooms that meet the needs of all students, and by finally putting kids ahead of special interests.

North Mason School District opens new school and offers flu shots at annual clinic

A special word of congratulations to the North Mason School District on the opening of their new, state-of-the-art high school in Belfair. This much-needed addition to the community will provide students with a world-class facility and prepare them for a bright future. You can read more about the new school in the Kitsap Sun. Way to go, Bulldogs!

I also received a public service announcement from the North Mason School District regarding their upcoming annual flu-shot clinic. The annual clinic will be held Monday, Sept. 28th from 2-6 p.m. in the North Mason School District Office. Staff, students, family, and the community are welcome to participate! For more information, or to RSVP, please contact district nurse Catherine Shutty BSN, RN at 360-277-2328 or cshutty@northmasonschools.org.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. I hope you take a few minutes to let me know your thoughts on these, or any other issues important to you.

And, of course, GO HAWKS!

After a week of uncertainty, Legislators were called back this afternoon to Olympia to finally finish the 2015 session. As we prepare to adjourn for the year, I would like to update you on what has happened in Olympia over the past several week, and why we are still in session after nearly 180 days.

The 2015 legislative session has been a mix of the good, the bad, and the ugly. First, the good. Passing the bipartisan 2015-17 operating budget ensured state government remains open for business and critical services continue across Washington. The budget was balanced without new taxes and makes historic investments in K-12 and higher education, funds teacher and state employee COLAs, and makes critical investments in mental health services for our states most vulnerable citizens. I am pleased with the results, and know we can continue to do better.

Even with this positive outcome, we must continue to work for a more efficient state government. I do not believe it is acceptable to take the state to the brink of shut down every two years, especially given historic revenue collections. I hope we can build on this bipartisan budget, create a culture of compromise and restore trust in state government.

Some of the investments made in the 2015-17 operating budget include:

• An additional $1.3 billion in K-12 basic education and meets the state’s constitutional obligations.
• $350 million to reduce K-3 class sizes, $180 million to expand full-day kindergarten, and $740 million for materials, supplies, and operating costs.
• Fully funds the I-732 teacher COLA at maintenance level ($232 million for 1.8 percent and 1.2 percent) and an additional one-time COLA ($153 million for 1.2 percent and 0.6 percent) to provide an overall K-12 COLA of 3 percent and 1.8 percent.
• Reduces tuition by 15 percent at research institutions such as WSU and UW, 20 percent at regional universities, and 5 percent at community and technical colleges (state need grant awards to private institutions are unaffected).
• No capital gains income tax, no carbon tax, and no tax on bottled water.

The 2015-17 capital budget invests in important projects in our community, including improvements to the Shelton Senior Center, and continued work on the Shelton sewer basin project. There is no limit to what we can accomplish by working together. I look forward to seeing these, and all the projects funded in the budget completed.

Now, the bad. Unfortunately, even after passing these important budgets, the Legislature has still not adjourned for the year. In the early hours of July 1, Senate Democrats unexpectedly, and indefensibly, went back on their word to pass an important bill necessary to implement the budget. House Bill 2266, sponsored by House Democrat Majority Leader Pat Sullivan, would temporarily suspend Initiative 1351, the class-size reduction initiative, to give the Legislature time to determine its feasibility. Without this agreed-upon bill, we face a $2 billion hole in the operating budget which could negatively affect our historic investments in education, mental health, and teacher COLAs.

I applaud Speaker Chopp, Majority Leader Sullivan, and House Democrats for having the political courage to uphold their end of the budget deal and take a difficult vote to keep state government open. I cannot say the same about Senate Democrats. Though it appears a compromise has been reached in the Senate, this kind of partisanship is unacceptable and the people of Washington deserve better. You can read more about the situation in the Senate in this recent editorial from The Seattle Times.

Finally, ugly is this best way to describe the middle-of-the-night vote to increase the state gas tax by nearly 12 cents-per-gallon. The largest tax increase in our state’s history was debated and passed while those it affects most were asleep, and included a provision preventing voters from having the final say. I supported an amendment to put this tax increase on the ballot, to give voters a chance to directly weigh in but it did not pass. Though the Belfair Bypass is funded in this package, beginning in the 2017-19 biennium, I believe there were better options for getting this important project done without this extreme cost.

In fact, I sponsored an amendment to the 2015-17 transportation maintenance budget earlier this yearto fund the bypass project. It was defeated by those preferring a gas-tax package. This critical project for Mason County could have been funded using existing revenue, as was promised in previous gas-tax packages. However, if it is completed using new funds, residents will pay roughly $400 million over the life of the tax for a $100 million project that could, and should, have been completed decades ago. Simply put, I will not accept massive markups on decades-old local projects to pay for WSDOT’s mismanagement of Seattle-based mega projects. This was simply the wrong deal for our district.

Remembering a great leader

I was saddened to learn Dr. Elson Floyd, president of Washington State University, passed away in late June after battling cancer. I had the privilege of working with him while I was the assistant ranking member on the House Capital Budget Committee. Dr. Floyd was a tireless advocate for WSU and poured his heart into improving the university. This year, he helped lead the campaign to establish a medical school at WSU in Spokane. His legacy is one of dedication, hard work and creating a bright future for higher education in Washington state. He and his family remain in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Keeping in touch

I am confident the 2015 legislative session is nearing its completion, and I am looking forward to being back in district. Working in our community to help solve problems is one of my favorite parts of being your state representative. Please contact me with your questions, concerns and comments on issues important to you. If you would like me to visit your community group, school, or business, I am available to do so. Please contact my office to make arrangements.