Tag Archives: Audio Reports

House passes MacEwen bill to delink standardized tests from graduation

The state House of Representatives took action Monday to delink standardized tests from high school graduation requirements. John Sattgast reports from the state Capitol.

 Radio Report Transcript

SATTGAST: Republican Representative Drew MacEwen wants to make sure students all the way back to the 2015 graduating class and going forward should not have to pass standardized tests as a condition of graduation.

MacEWEN: “These tests were never designed to measure students’ success. They are federal tests that were designed to measure on a broad spectrum across the nation how our teachers and our administrators are doing. And it doesn’t necessarily reflect the curriculum that is being taught to our students. It adds confusion. It’s not necessary. And these tests really do not demonstrate what the true ability of the students are.”

SATTGAST: House Bill 1089 would also discontinue the Certificate of Academic Achievement and the Certificate of Individual Achievement.

In 2017, MacEwen introduced legislation that passed the House three times, but was never brought to the floor for a vote in the Senate. This year, the representative from Union is hopeful the measure makes it to the governor’s desk. But first, it’s heading to the Senate.

John Sattgast, Olympia

Radio interview: Rep. MacEwen discusses his bills

Rep. Drew MacEwen joins iFiberOne NewsRadio to discuss his bills to provide property tax relief to seniors, lower the manufacturing B&O tax rate for all manufacturers, and implement a sales tax holiday for back-to-school supplies. Additional topics include the governor’s proposed capital gains tax, and gun legislation currently under consideration.

Departing leader will be missed, but caucus remains strong, Rep. Drew MacEwen says

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, talks with KMAS about yesterday’s news that House Republican Leader Dan Kristiansen has decided not to seek re-election and responds to a state official’s statement in support of the controversial Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. MacEwen expresses his concern about a proposed initiative that would make it easier to prosecute police officers and speculates on how the supplemental operating budget could play out.

Rep. Drew MacEwen describes clash over commercialization of surrogate pregnancies

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, discusses Republican opposition to a bill allowing surrogate mothers to charge commercial fees for carrying babies and weighs in on the uproar over legislative public records after the Legislature passed Senate Bill 6617 on “Daybreak with Jeff Slakey” on iFiberone Newsradio KMAS.