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2021 Legislative Session

April 26, 2021

2021 Focus on Advocacy – April 26 Report

And … that’s a wrap! Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org The Legislature is expected to adjourn “sine die” April 25 by midnight. Over the past week, there was a lot of action, including the release of the compromise, agreed-to two-year operating, capital, and transportation budgets. Once released from a conference committee, the…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 19, 2021

2021 Focus on Advocacy – April 19 Report

All that’s left is for the lady to sing… Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Only one week remains in the 67th legislative session, and there is actually a lot that’s left to do before that famous lady sings the final song: budgets, the climate commitment act, a capital gains tax, and a…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 12, 2021

2021 Focus on Advocacy – April 12 Report

Act Now: write your legislators and preserve K-12 funding Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org This is the week that budget negotiators will begin working what is called the “differences list,” which is exactly what it sounds like – a list of differences between the House and Senate budget proposals. Negotiators will start…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 12, 2021

WSPTA Shares Information on Digital Equity and Budget Priorities with the Legislature

Washington State PTA President Janice Kutzera and Advocacy Director Sherry Rudolph sent two timely letters to legislators this past weekend. The first letter was sent to members in the State Senate asking them to pass ESHB 1336 regarding digital equity. Read the full letter here. The second letter was sent to members of the Senate…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 5, 2021

WSPTA tells Senate budget committee to “get the lead out”

Speaking in favor of ESHB 1139 (acting on lead in drinking water), Gwen Loosmore encouraged members of the Senate Ways & Means Committee to pass the bill out of committee before the cutoff and to provide the funding necessary to help school districts replace fixtures with lead contamination. Hear Gwen’s testimony here.  In addition, thanks…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 5, 2021

2021 Focus on Advocacy – April 5 Report

Tell legislators to preserve K-12 funding this session Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Now that both chambers have released and passed their versions of a two-year operating budget, here are some suggestions of where to spend your advocacy efforts – please tell your legislators and budget writers to: Fund the actual costs…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

April 1, 2021

House School Seismic Safety Retrofit Gets Praise

Registered professional engineer and WSPTA parent advocate DaleAnn Baker thanked House Capital Budget Committee members for their $65 million investment in the school seismic safety retrofit program. The Senate was not as generous, with a proposal of only $3.1 million. Seismic safety is one element of the legislative platform adopted last fall by members at…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

March 29, 2021

Call to Action – Lead in Drinking Water

Take action on lead in drinking water today! No fooling, the Senate Ways & Means Committee will hear public testimony on April 1st regarding E2SHB 1139, taking action on lead in drinking water. Washington State PTA would like you to “take action” by signing in as “Pro” before noon on April 1 on this important bill.…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

March 29, 2021

2021 Focus on Advocacy – March 29 Report

Budgets released, different approaches for K-12 Prepared by Marie Sullivan, WSPTA Legislative Consultant, legconsultant@wastatepta.org Last week the Senate and House Democrats released transportation, operating and capital budgets, starting with transportation on Monday; the House capital budget Wednesday evening; the Senate operating and capital budgets on Thursday; and the House operating budget on Friday. The Senate…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative

March 24, 2021

Stabilizing K-12 Funding a Priority This Session

Last fall members adopted a position in support of preserving K-12 education funding under the pandemic. At issue was a possible $9 billion budget deficit that could lead to reduced state funding and mid-year cuts. Fortunately, the state’s economy is recovering and a third infusion of federal stimulus funds is forthcoming. Lizzy Sebring asked Senate…
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Category: Advocacy , Legislative