The House has just passed the supplemental operating by a vote of 53-45 on a nearly party line vote.
Democrats voting with Republicans against ESB 5967 include: Reps. Mark Miloscia of Federal Way and Deb Eddy of Kirkland.
It has been sent to the Senate for their consideration.
Updates on the Legislature and state government from the Washington State School Directors' Association.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
The big budget debate? The apportionment shift.
Speakers for the House Democrats' budget proposal support using the apportionment shift to help close the budget gap. They also argue that the cuts would be too deep and would damage the state's ability to protect our most vulnerable.
The House Republicans argue that the Legislature should live within its means and that the shift violates basic accounting principles.
Just as way of background, WSSDA members responded to a survey over the weekend that asked about the apportionment shift and National Board bonuses. More than 200 members responded, with about 65 percent agreeing with the apportionment shift, about 25 percent supporting a small level of cuts to K-12 but no apportionment shift, and about 10 percent saying they could go with either the apportionment shift or about $50 million in cuts.
On the national board bonuses, members were split nearly evenly on the three different proposals. The House proposal under consideration makes no cuts to the bonuses.
The Republican amendment failed garner enough votes. Moving on to final passage ...
The House Republicans argue that the Legislature should live within its means and that the shift violates basic accounting principles.
Just as way of background, WSSDA members responded to a survey over the weekend that asked about the apportionment shift and National Board bonuses. More than 200 members responded, with about 65 percent agreeing with the apportionment shift, about 25 percent supporting a small level of cuts to K-12 but no apportionment shift, and about 10 percent saying they could go with either the apportionment shift or about $50 million in cuts.
On the national board bonuses, members were split nearly evenly on the three different proposals. The House proposal under consideration makes no cuts to the bonuses.
The Republican amendment failed garner enough votes. Moving on to final passage ...
House takes up operating budget bill
The House has just started work on ESB 5967, the supplemental operating budget.
Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, has put his striking amendment on the floor for consideration, and Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, has moved his amendment which would cut $330 million more from programs and not do an apportionment shift.
Rep. Ross Hunter, D-Medina, has put his striking amendment on the floor for consideration, and Rep. Gary Alexander, R-Olympia, has moved his amendment which would cut $330 million more from programs and not do an apportionment shift.
Other budget bits
The "Hunter" budget proposal also includes a 21-member task force on education funding.
Members include 12 legislators, 6 each from the House and from the Senate; five members representing the Governor's budget office, OSPI, the Department of Early Learning, the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Board or its successor, and the executive director of the State Board of Education; and four members selected by the Governor, although two of the four must represent the business and the labor communities.
Schools districts - either in the form of directors or school superintendents - are not named, although legislators indicated they would be included in any task forces or ad hoc committees. If the budget bill goes into negotiations with the Senate, it is possible this could get changed. WSSDA has been working on this issue and will continue to press for school director voices to be members of the task force.
Another bill we have been working on today is SHB 2817, the bill that would repeal I-728. WSSDA and others have been talking with legislators about the potential impact a repeal of the class size initiative would have on school district levy bases. Rep. Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton, is offering an amendment that would signal that the funding would still be considered part of the levy base even if the Initiative is repealed. Chair Ross Hunter, D-Medina, seems amenable to the amendment.
Finally, both the House and Senate are still committed to a capital budget. Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, has two possible strikers on the floor calendar. His Republican counterpart, Rep. Judy Warnick, D-Moses Lake, also has her own version of the budget bills. The issues will continue to get worked, but key to having a capital budget will be passage of a bill that would reduce - via constitutional amendment - the debt limit from 9 percent to 8 percent. The measure would go to the voters in November for approval.
Members include 12 legislators, 6 each from the House and from the Senate; five members representing the Governor's budget office, OSPI, the Department of Early Learning, the executive director of the Higher Education Coordinating Board or its successor, and the executive director of the State Board of Education; and four members selected by the Governor, although two of the four must represent the business and the labor communities.
Schools districts - either in the form of directors or school superintendents - are not named, although legislators indicated they would be included in any task forces or ad hoc committees. If the budget bill goes into negotiations with the Senate, it is possible this could get changed. WSSDA has been working on this issue and will continue to press for school director voices to be members of the task force.
Another bill we have been working on today is SHB 2817, the bill that would repeal I-728. WSSDA and others have been talking with legislators about the potential impact a repeal of the class size initiative would have on school district levy bases. Rep. Marcie Maxwell, D-Renton, is offering an amendment that would signal that the funding would still be considered part of the levy base even if the Initiative is repealed. Chair Ross Hunter, D-Medina, seems amenable to the amendment.
Finally, both the House and Senate are still committed to a capital budget. Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, has two possible strikers on the floor calendar. His Republican counterpart, Rep. Judy Warnick, D-Moses Lake, also has her own version of the budget bills. The issues will continue to get worked, but key to having a capital budget will be passage of a bill that would reduce - via constitutional amendment - the debt limit from 9 percent to 8 percent. The measure would go to the voters in November for approval.
Day 60 with less than 10 hours to go
House Democrats unveiled a striking amendment to ESB 5967, the Senate's supplemental operating budget, early this morning. As previously mentioned, documents are available on the LEAP web site.
Similar to the Senate Democrats' proposal, the striking amendment would make no cuts to K-12 or higher education. It relies on an apportionment shift of $330 million, from June 30 to July 1, 2013, but does not change the LEA payment schedule. It also does not propose a change to the levy lid or decrease the LEA percentage, as was proposed in the original House Democratic proposal.
House Republicans have countered with their own amendment, available on leg.wa.gov under ESB 5967, which would remove the apportionment shift and make about $330 million in cuts. In addition to making some reductions in K-12, the House Republican proposal would make changes to the social service safety net, eliminating the Disability Lifeline, for example.
According to sources, ideas included in the House Republican striker have been floated with the 27 Senators who passed a budget off the Senate floor last week, and if the amendment was adopted to the House Democrat's floor striker, then everyone would go home tonight.
For their own part, House Democrats are trying to stay positive and plan to send the budget bill back to the Senate today. This would leave the Senate with three options:
- concur and be done, with a few housekeeping bills;
- do not concur, and ask the House to recede from their amendment, virtually assuring a special session; or
- do not concur and ask for a conference committee, again sending the budget issue into conference committee and a special session.
The Governor is leaning on lawmakers to get their work done before 11:59 p.m., but has said that she will call them back in if they don't reach agreement. "Across the board cuts are not acceptable," the Governor told reporters yesterday. But she also said she wanted to keep the pressure on so they continued to talk with each other.
More to come.
Similar to the Senate Democrats' proposal, the striking amendment would make no cuts to K-12 or higher education. It relies on an apportionment shift of $330 million, from June 30 to July 1, 2013, but does not change the LEA payment schedule. It also does not propose a change to the levy lid or decrease the LEA percentage, as was proposed in the original House Democratic proposal.
House Republicans have countered with their own amendment, available on leg.wa.gov under ESB 5967, which would remove the apportionment shift and make about $330 million in cuts. In addition to making some reductions in K-12, the House Republican proposal would make changes to the social service safety net, eliminating the Disability Lifeline, for example.
According to sources, ideas included in the House Republican striker have been floated with the 27 Senators who passed a budget off the Senate floor last week, and if the amendment was adopted to the House Democrat's floor striker, then everyone would go home tonight.
For their own part, House Democrats are trying to stay positive and plan to send the budget bill back to the Senate today. This would leave the Senate with three options:
- concur and be done, with a few housekeeping bills;
- do not concur, and ask the House to recede from their amendment, virtually assuring a special session; or
- do not concur and ask for a conference committee, again sending the budget issue into conference committee and a special session.
The Governor is leaning on lawmakers to get their work done before 11:59 p.m., but has said that she will call them back in if they don't reach agreement. "Across the board cuts are not acceptable," the Governor told reporters yesterday. But she also said she wanted to keep the pressure on so they continued to talk with each other.
More to come.
House Democrats offer alternative to Senate budget
House Democrats have an alternative to ESB 5967, the Senate budget. Documents are available on the LEAP site, but in short it mirrors the Senate D budget in many ways. Here is the agency detail - and a quick summary.
- Makes no cuts (at all) to K-12 or Higher Education.
- Shifts the apportionment payment but not the LEA payments.
- Includes money for the urban schools initiative ($2 million), Gov. Chris Gregoire's school/university partnerships bill ($1.5M) and $5.7 million for the teacher/principal evaluation system (the amount the fiscal note calls for).
- Leaves a fund balance of about $350 million.
The alternative does not shift pension payments or merge the LEOFF 1 and 2 plans, as proposed in the Senate budget.
Expectations are for the House to take up the bill today, and send it into conference committee for negotiations.
The question is still where the 25th vote in the Senate will come from with an apportionment shift - which Senate Republicans have objected to - but there is some hope that with enough pressure to avoid a special session, the vote will come.
For education advocates, regardless of personal feelings about the apportionment shift, this is again a "fund education first" type of statement by legislators. That kind of stance shouldn't go unrecognized.
It is urgent public schools advocates make contact with their legislators if they haven't heard from you recently. And, as silly as it sounds, legislators do count the number of notes they receive in their inbox or from phone calls. So please, take a moment to review the latest budget proposal and make your voice heard today.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Senate postpones K-12 health benefits, Governor's school partnerships bill
The Senate has scheduled SSB 6442, a bill that would consolidate health benefits under a state-appointed governing board, for potential floor action.
The Senate Democrats and Republicans returned from caucus, where they were discussing the bill. However, instead of taking up the health benefits bill, they moved to another bill on the list relating to judicial issues and passed it.
Also on the schedule this afternoon was a bill that would put in place a pilot program that would allow school districts with some of the lowest persistently achieving schools to partner with colleges of education to increase student achievement. The pilots are for five years. Partnerships selected that don't receive money would be eligible for some waivers from the State Board of Education.
ESHB 2799 would allow OSPI to select up to six partner school projects, of which three would be eligible for funding. The House budget bill includes $1.5 million for the pilot projects.
Instead of taking action, Senate Democrats adjourned to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, with a leadership meeting. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, the House is at ease, subject to the call of the Speaker. Lawmakers have been focused on agreeing with changes made in the opposite chamber, and trying to get housekeeping issues out of the way.
The Senate Democrats and Republicans returned from caucus, where they were discussing the bill. However, instead of taking up the health benefits bill, they moved to another bill on the list relating to judicial issues and passed it.
Also on the schedule this afternoon was a bill that would put in place a pilot program that would allow school districts with some of the lowest persistently achieving schools to partner with colleges of education to increase student achievement. The pilots are for five years. Partnerships selected that don't receive money would be eligible for some waivers from the State Board of Education.
ESHB 2799 would allow OSPI to select up to six partner school projects, of which three would be eligible for funding. The House budget bill includes $1.5 million for the pilot projects.
Instead of taking action, Senate Democrats adjourned to 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, with a leadership meeting. Stay tuned!
Meanwhile, the House is at ease, subject to the call of the Speaker. Lawmakers have been focused on agreeing with changes made in the opposite chamber, and trying to get housekeeping issues out of the way.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Senate gets closer to budget vote
For those of you still following the drama in the Senate chambers, Majority Leader Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, just requested that a number of amendments be withdrawn, leaving just two on the bar for debate BEFORE they start on the floor speeches about the budget. Like all the other amendments offered tonight, these are expected to be defeated. (However, as this was being written, an amendment regarding higher education was adopted.)
In addition to previously mentioned amendments, Senate Democrats also proposed buying back the $19 million that would be reduced in national board bonuses.
One of the most spirited moments was the discussion about restoring the Readiness to Learn funding. Senator Sharon Nelson, D-Vashon Island, asked why $3 million could be prioritized for fair prizes but programs that help kids and families get cut. The debate went back and forth, with passions on display.
Senate Republicans were well organized on the amendments and returned to a message that their budget represented their priorities, and that they could no longer afford to fund even good programs. Others said that perhaps programs could be bought back in the negotiated budget.
At 11:30 p.m., the last amendment was defeated, with Democratic Sens. Kastama, Sheldon, and Tom continuing to vote with Senate Republicans. Debate has now started on the Zarelli striking amendment.
In addition to previously mentioned amendments, Senate Democrats also proposed buying back the $19 million that would be reduced in national board bonuses.
One of the most spirited moments was the discussion about restoring the Readiness to Learn funding. Senator Sharon Nelson, D-Vashon Island, asked why $3 million could be prioritized for fair prizes but programs that help kids and families get cut. The debate went back and forth, with passions on display.
Senate Republicans were well organized on the amendments and returned to a message that their budget represented their priorities, and that they could no longer afford to fund even good programs. Others said that perhaps programs could be bought back in the negotiated budget.
At 11:30 p.m., the last amendment was defeated, with Democratic Sens. Kastama, Sheldon, and Tom continuing to vote with Senate Republicans. Debate has now started on the Zarelli striking amendment.
Senate reconvenes, takes up budget amendments
After a short recess, about 8:20 p.m., the Senate returned to the floor and began work on the striking amendment offered by Senator Zarelli, R-Ridgefield. Senate Democrats offered 35 amendments to restore funding. If the votes continue along the same lines, each amendment will go down by a vote of 24-25.
Amendments that would have restored funding to K-12 funding if adopted included:
- $2.8 million to restore Medicaid Funding for school-based medical services
- Keeping Running Start at 1.2 FTE instead of the 1.0 proposed by Senate Republicans
- $1 million for the Washington College Bound scholarships
- $3.2 million for Readiness to Learn
- $2.8 million for Nav 101
- $950,000 for the Reading Corps
- $1 million for the Beginning Educator Support Team program
The Senate Republicans did not propose an apportionment shift.
The speeches are worth listening to on TVW.
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Amendments that would have restored funding to K-12 funding if adopted included:
- $2.8 million to restore Medicaid Funding for school-based medical services
- Keeping Running Start at 1.2 FTE instead of the 1.0 proposed by Senate Republicans
- $1 million for the Washington College Bound scholarships
- $3.2 million for Readiness to Learn
- $2.8 million for Nav 101
- $950,000 for the Reading Corps
- $1 million for the Beginning Educator Support Team program
The Senate Republicans did not propose an apportionment shift.
The speeches are worth listening to on TVW.
-
Reading of the Republican budget proposal ends
After more than an hour of reading the Senate Republican supplemental operating budget proposal, Lt. Governor Brad Owen called a halt and the Senate resumed business.
Standing for a point of personal privilege, Senator Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, expressed her dismay at the way the afternoon's proceedings had unfolded. Senator Ed Murray, D-Seattle, shared Eide's concerns, saying this was no way to write a budget and totally left out the public's voice and Senate deliberations.
The Senate is "milling" right now, as both sides of the aisle decide next steps.
On the other side of the Capitol building, the House adjourned shortly after 5 p.m. They will meet Saturday at 9 a.m. In House Ways and Means, and will be on the floor at 12:30 p.m.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee was scheduled to meet tomorrow at 1:30 p.m., but that meeting may be in jeopardy due to the afternoon's events.
Standing for a point of personal privilege, Senator Tracey Eide, D-Federal Way, expressed her dismay at the way the afternoon's proceedings had unfolded. Senator Ed Murray, D-Seattle, shared Eide's concerns, saying this was no way to write a budget and totally left out the public's voice and Senate deliberations.
The Senate is "milling" right now, as both sides of the aisle decide next steps.
On the other side of the Capitol building, the House adjourned shortly after 5 p.m. They will meet Saturday at 9 a.m. In House Ways and Means, and will be on the floor at 12:30 p.m.
The Senate Ways and Means Committee was scheduled to meet tomorrow at 1:30 p.m., but that meeting may be in jeopardy due to the afternoon's events.
What does the Senate Republican budget mean for K-12 funding
The striking amendment was just posted to the web site .... Here is the difference with the Senate Democrats' budget proposal - at least $26 million in cuts to K-12, including:
- $19 million from National Board bonuses ... Rolls the original bonus back from $5,090 to $2,500 but retains the challenging schools bonus;
- cuts the second year of most non-basic education programs, similar to the House Republican budget proposal;
- includes $5.7 million for the teacher/principal evaluation system;
- appears to have similar language to the Senate D budget proposal regarding the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program;
- Makes a similar add of the ALE students in small schools counts and the study on the transportation formula;
- does not appear to include the blue ribbon commission on education as proposed by the Senate Democrats and House budget
That's a quick review of differences ... More as I get some time to review the budget proposal.
- $19 million from National Board bonuses ... Rolls the original bonus back from $5,090 to $2,500 but retains the challenging schools bonus;
- cuts the second year of most non-basic education programs, similar to the House Republican budget proposal;
- includes $5.7 million for the teacher/principal evaluation system;
- appears to have similar language to the Senate D budget proposal regarding the Transitional Bilingual Instruction Program;
- Makes a similar add of the ALE students in small schools counts and the study on the transportation formula;
- does not appear to include the blue ribbon commission on education as proposed by the Senate Democrats and House budget
That's a quick review of differences ... More as I get some time to review the budget proposal.
Last bill ... SB 6616
The bill would take solid waste tax revenues from the Public Works Trust Fund and redirect them to the general fund permanently.
Senator Derek Kilmer of Gig Harbor reminded the body of the Washington Policy Center call for more transparency and to put budgets on the bar for review of 72 hours.
All four were relieved from the Senate Ways and Means Committee and placed on the floor calendar for a vote.
They have reverted to the 6th order of business, which is floor action.
Senator Derek Kilmer of Gig Harbor reminded the body of the Washington Policy Center call for more transparency and to put budgets on the bar for review of 72 hours.
All four were relieved from the Senate Ways and Means Committee and placed on the floor calendar for a vote.
They have reverted to the 6th order of business, which is floor action.
Next up ... SB 6378 and SB 6615
The bill would skip a pension payment ...
Senator Murray said that the Senate Rs have broken faith by not bringing forward their budget ideas sooner. "this is not how you build a budget," said Murray.
Senator Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, says to move the bill to the floor would damage the pension system in the state.
Motion passed - Senator Tom, Kastama, and Sheldon, Democrats, continue to vote with the Republicans to bring the bills forward.
SB 6615 - a permanent shift for funds to local government to the general fund.
As long as the three Democrats continue to vote with the Republicans, the bills will be boosted to the floor.
Senator Murray said that the Senate Rs have broken faith by not bringing forward their budget ideas sooner. "this is not how you build a budget," said Murray.
Senator Steve Conway, D-Tacoma, says to move the bill to the floor would damage the pension system in the state.
Motion passed - Senator Tom, Kastama, and Sheldon, Democrats, continue to vote with the Republicans to bring the bills forward.
SB 6615 - a permanent shift for funds to local government to the general fund.
As long as the three Democrats continue to vote with the Republicans, the bills will be boosted to the floor.
Senate is in meltdown ....
One of the bills that they are attempting to boost to the floor is SB 5967, the Governor's supplemental budget proposal. It cuts K-12, social services, etc. The Senate Republicans are planning to run their version of the supplemental budget. But now the fight is whether they boost the bill to the floor to let it go to a vote.
They have also asked for three additional bills from Senate Ways and Means. The bills are two revenue bills and a pension bill, we think.
Senator Jim Hargrove has made a motion to send the bill to Senate Government Ops Committee if it comes to the Senate floor.
Any bill that is boosted is not subject to the 5 pm cutoff fast approaching.
They have also asked for three additional bills from Senate Ways and Means. The bills are two revenue bills and a pension bill, we think.
Senator Jim Hargrove has made a motion to send the bill to Senate Government Ops Committee if it comes to the Senate floor.
Any bill that is boosted is not subject to the 5 pm cutoff fast approaching.
Senator Benton moved 9th order ... 3 Ds vote with Rs
Watch TVW to see what happens. The Senate Republicans want to run their version of the budget.
Senate passes revised WaKIDS bill
The Senate passed ESHB 2586, by a vote of 43-5, sending the bill back to the House for agreement on the changes adopted on the Senate floor. This bill is informally called the WaKIDS bill, and refers to a kindergarten readiness inventory conducted during the initial weeks of the start of school.
The changes by the Senate would direct OSPI to convene a stakeholder group to review some of the issues raised during the session on implementation of the readiness tool. Teachers, parents, principals, and others would be part of the working group. The preliminary report is due December 1, 2012, with a final report due the following year.
In addition, while there is still a goal of full implementation by the 2014-15 school year, the bill allows for school districts to continue to apply to OSPI for an annual waiver from the requirement until all-day kindergarten is funded by the state.
The bill was a compromise on some of the amendments that had been added in the Senate policy and fiscal committees. It is expected to receive concurrence by the House.
Of the bills remaining on the Senate and House calendar, the only major education bill that remains is SSB 6442, the bill that would consolidate the K-12 health benefits system into a state program. With the clock ticking down to today's 5 p.m. deadline, it looks like many bills will be left on the calendar or in Rules.
Once the deadline ends, typically only bills that are necessary to implement the budget will be considered, along with budget bills.
The changes by the Senate would direct OSPI to convene a stakeholder group to review some of the issues raised during the session on implementation of the readiness tool. Teachers, parents, principals, and others would be part of the working group. The preliminary report is due December 1, 2012, with a final report due the following year.
In addition, while there is still a goal of full implementation by the 2014-15 school year, the bill allows for school districts to continue to apply to OSPI for an annual waiver from the requirement until all-day kindergarten is funded by the state.
The bill was a compromise on some of the amendments that had been added in the Senate policy and fiscal committees. It is expected to receive concurrence by the House.
Of the bills remaining on the Senate and House calendar, the only major education bill that remains is SSB 6442, the bill that would consolidate the K-12 health benefits system into a state program. With the clock ticking down to today's 5 p.m. deadline, it looks like many bills will be left on the calendar or in Rules.
Once the deadline ends, typically only bills that are necessary to implement the budget will be considered, along with budget bills.
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