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Today at noon, the 2010 Legislative Session officially
opened. The second year of the 61st Legislature is
considered a “non-budget” supplemental session, limited to
60 days. Of course, given the state’s current $2.6 billion
(and growing) budget “deficit,” much of the action during
this session will be budget-related. (NOTE: Generally, when
discussing the state budget, saying there is a projected
“deficit” means that anticipated revenues are expected to
fall short of anticipated spending.)
On Dec. 9 Gov. Chris Gregoire, as required by law,
unveiled her 2010 Supplemental Operating Budget request.
(For details of Gregoire’s budget proposal, please see
WSSDA’s Pre-Session Legislative Update.) The budget
proposal would solve the budget shortfall with $1.6 billion
in programs reductions or eliminations, along with a series
of budget transfers. As required by law, this first budget
proposal is balanced with only current resources and
includes no new revenue. If adopted, the budget would make
devastating cuts in virtually every area of state
government. Upon releasing this budget proposal, Gregoire
stated that the proposed reductions are “hurtful and
damaging” and is not true to her values. She then explained
that she would be introducing a second budget that will be a
combination of budget reductions and new revenue. That
so-called “Book II” budget is expected to be released soon —
in fact, numerous rumors were circulating today that this
proposal could be released as early as tomorrow (Tuesday) as
she presents the annual State of the State address to a
joint session of the House of Representatives and the
Senate.
A handful of legislative committees met today; however,
the major activity was the noon-time official convening of
the 2010 Legislative Session. In the House, two newly
elected members were recognized: Rep. Susan Fagan
(R-Pullman) and Rep. Terry Nealey (R-Dayton). Additionally,
as tradition holds, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp
(D-Seattle) provided some remarks to officially open the
session. Speaker Chopp began with a moment of silence for
the police officers who were killed in action in the
previous months. He then told his colleagues that the
Legislature “must build on what we have already achieved.”
He firmly stated, “Despite our difficult budget, we need to
bring reality — not just rhetoric — to our Constitutional
duty,” speaking specifically of K-12 Education. He commented
that “Our challenge is to balance the budget in a balanced
way, responding to the immediate needs of our people.”
Responding to these comments was the House Minority
Leader, Rep. Richard DeBolt (R-Chehalis). DeBolt stated that
this session will be among the hardest lawmakers have ever
faced, but stressed that “Our job is to make sure that we
can help in the creation of jobs, that we can be there as a
tool and an advocate to the businesses of Washington state”
and that the state’s budget “is predicated on people
working.” In addressing his opposition to tax increases, he
said that “We have to have a strong education system. We
have to have a healthy environment. And third, we have to
have a healthy business community to pay for those first two
things.”
Comments from both sides of the aisle today were
courteous and positive. It is anticipated members will be
more confrontational during the remaining 59 days of this
session.
Given the high stakes, school directors and other
educators will need to remain alert during the 2010
Legislative Session. WSSDA encourages our members to be
informed and involved in legislative activities. Please
remember, however, there are some restrictions on “public
agency lobbying,” and reporting requirements for some
activities. School superintendents received a routinely
disseminated memo from the Public Disclosure Commission
dated Dec. 24, 2009, outlining lobbying restrictions and
reporting requirements. Please review that memo with your
superintendent. For further details or questions about a
district’s lobbying activities or reporting, please contact
the PDC: Jennifer Hansen (jhansen@pdc.wa.gov
), Chip Beatty (cbeatty@pdc.wa.gov
), or toll free at 877.601.2828.
Finally, for information on bills, budgets and budget
proposals, legislative contact information, committee
schedules and various other important information, visit the
Washington State Legislature’s Home Page at:
www.leg.wa.gov .
Continue to monitor this Daily Legislative Update and
WSSDA’s weekly Impact newsletter — and continue to build
relationships with your legislators. And, of course, do not
hesitate to contact your WSSDA staff for assistance.
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