Ahead of a Senate Democratic effort to push a vote on the levy cliff, Senate Republicans introduced their attempt to fund education in the state.
What’s the plan?
The proposal would shift the state to a per-student funding model, alter the levy system and change how taxpayers pay property taxes, boost starting salaries for teachers (to $45,000 annually), prohibit teachers from striking, and delay the levy cliff, according to reporting from The Spokesman Review. The proposal comes with a referendum clause, meaning voters would need to opt in with a November vote, according to the report.
Democratic response
Democrats issued statements Friday morning calling for bi-partisan negotiation, but largely indicated a proposal was a positive move toward that aim.
“I’m glad Republicans have put something on the table so that we can start negotiating a solution,” said Rep. Pat Sullivan, D-Covington, in a statement. “We will begin reviewing their proposal immediately to see where we agree and where more work needs to be done. The key thing is that at least now we can start the work we should have begun three weeks ago.”
Sen. Christine Rolfes, D-Bainbridge Island, echoed that sentiment in her statement.
“This is a positive step forward and it gets the Legislature that much closer to fully funding education for our state’s 1 million students,” she said in her statement. “We have a lot of work to do, and Democrats’ priority will be in making sure funding does not fall squarely on the middle class and on rural communities. I welcome Republicans to the conversation and to the table and am ready to get to work.”
Floor rules
Action on the floor was somewhat less cordial.
Following the release of the GOP proposal, lawmakers commenced a debate of floor rules. Democrats proposed rules that would bring a bill to the floor with a majority of present lawmakers, according to reporter Melissa Santos, from the Tacoma News Tribune.
So: Democrats are trying to amend the Senate rules so they can pull a bill to the floor based on majority of senators present #waleg #waedu
— Melissa Santos (@MelissaSantos1) January 27, 2017
Democrats are asking Lt. Gov Cyrus Habib to make a ruling on how many votes are required to amend the Senate rules. #waleg #waedu https://t.co/bPSn28sIIE
— Melissa Santos (@MelissaSantos1) January 27, 2017
In anticlimatic development, Sen. Marko Liias says he is trying to change Senate rules today to force levy cliff vote Monday. #waleg #waedu
— Melissa Santos (@MelissaSantos1) January 27, 2017
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