Posted February 17, 2012 by Brad Boswell
This week marked house of origin cutoff, which means that legislation needed to be out of its originating chamber by Tuesday to continue though the process. We are entering the back half of session, and the legislature is beginning to focus on the various budgets that need to get out, as well as the very complicated and controversial job of identifying the $1 billion in cuts to balance the budget. The legislature did receive some good news this week with the revenue forecast identifying the reduction of expected caseloads by over $300 million dollars and revenue increases at approximately at approximately $96 million, improving the overall budget outlook by over $400 million.
This week we had members of the Chamber Executive Committee in Olympia. We met with key legislators and Governor Gregoire, and discussed a variety of issues including the Chamber’s support of needing education reform, additional transportation resources and the importance of the aerospace industry in Washington State.
Transportation
Both chairs of the Transportation Committees as well as other key legislators have indicated that some kind of modest transportation fee package should pass this session as well as some additional tools for local governments to use in the area of transportation. Those bills are being heard and should pass out of both the House and Senate Transportation Committees next week.
Education
Education reform remains a hot topic; however, significant progress has been made this week in the area of teacher and principal evaluations. House and Senate negotiators from both parties have reached a compromise and the legislation does the following:
- Creates a four-tier teacher and principal rating system (unsatisfactory, basic, proficient, distinguished)
- Teachers/principals can be put on probation (or assigned a provisional status) if they receive less than basic rating.
- Principals and teachers will be evaluated each year.
Learn more about the Chamber's legislative agenda , and the shared agenda we're advocating with 29 other business organizations around the state. You can also view the list of the bills our government relations team is tracking this session, which is updated weekly.