Lawmakers gird for more cuts, face court's K-12 ruling
Washington legislative leaders and Gov. Chris Gregoire, girding for a bruising election-year legislative session that convenes at high noon Monday, got renewed spending pressure from the state Supreme Court on Thursday. Just minutes before the four top caucus leaders and the governor unveiled their priorities and predictions to the annual AP pre-session forum, the high court handed down a long-awaited decision that said the state isn't meeting its constitutional mandate to adequately finance public schools. The jurists also said "fundamental reforms are needed for Washington to meets its constitutional obligation to its students. Pouring more money into an outmoded system will not succeed." Although the court didn't dictate how the Legislature should further reform K-12 and pay for basic education, the justices did put lawmakers on a short leash. Notably, they retained jurisdiction of the case and put the Legislature on notice that the court wants to see a clear commitment to funding schools. They put no pricetag or timeline on that, but referred to a 2009 reform bill that commits the state to properly fund education and implement reforms by 2018. Justice Debra Stephens, writing for the court, said the justices were loath to intrude on the Legislature's proper role as policymakers and appropriators, but said:
"What we have learned from experience (of reform and funding problems over the past 30-plus years) is that this court cannot stand on the sidelines and hope the State meets its constitutional mandate to amply fund education."The decision wasn't a particular surprise, but came just a few days before convening of the new session, which already is grappling with a $1.5 billion budget gap, anticipating unpopular spending cuts and even more unpopular tax hikes. The new opinion doesn't mandate any fresh spending in this budget period, but Gregoire said it does add weight to her argument for a voter-approved half-cent sales tax to head off a new round of K-12 cuts, including fewer school days and lower levy equalization grants. The governor's plan would raise about $500 million a year, for the next three years, with about half of that earmarked for schools. Minority Republicans said they would resist tax hikes, at least before lawmakers take a serious run at more reforms. The governor later challenged the GOP to outline reforms that help the budget problem and that have enough support to pass the Legislature. She and the Democratic leaders, for instance, nixed GOP proposals to expand electronic slot machines in non-tribal cardrooms. The governor renewed her call for a gay-marriage bill, despite Republicans' request that the session be limited to dealing with the fiscal crisis. Gregoire said lawmakers are capable of multitasking. House Speaker Frank Chopp and Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, leaders of the Democratic majorities, said they would pass a balanced budget and work on jobs, schools, and the social safety net.
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Secretary of State
Steve Hobbs
