It’s the final countdown
Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org
The Legislature has one week left in the regular 105-day session and odds are against them finishing on time. In fact, lawmakers haven’t ended a regular budget session on time since 2009, when the state was facing serious cuts to programs to make ends meet. That isn’t the story this year, when more than $4 billion in new revenue is projected over the next four years. However, majority Democrats say the revenue growth isn’t keeping pace with current expenditures and that more funding is needed to meet obligations, including a settlement over individuals who need mental health services not jail time. Read more here.
Keep up with the bills and committee hearings related to WSPTA member-generated Legislative Priorities and long-term positions by utilizing the WSPTA Bill Status Report.