| |
Fall City lawmakers’
proposal would require state to
fund education first
Rep. Glenn Anderson,
R-Fall City, will attend today’s meeting with the Office of State Public
Instruction (OSPI) to speak on behalf of his bill, House Bill 2637, to
change the state’s spending process to fund education before any other
state service.
“Washington’s constitution dictates that education is our state’s
‘paramount duty’ and it directs the state to make ample provisions for
the K-12 education of all our students,” said Anderson. “While we have
an spirited debate each year, there’s a simple solution to deal with the
state’s unending struggle with education funding – fund it first.”
Anderson added that the Washington State Supreme Court agrees that our
state’s constitutional provision requires the legislature to define and
fully fund K-12 basic education before it funds any other program. He
said his approach would create an entirely new form of accountability in
our education system.
“When the taxpayers know exactly what they are spending on education,
they can look at the amount and ask the right questions,” said Anderson.
“And, if they are anything like me, they will ask if they are getting
their money’s worth.”
Anderson said it would also end the age-old “raising taxes for the
children” tactic for marketing new taxes.
“It would be nice to get through an election year or a budget year
without hearing about how we need to raise taxes ‘for our children’s
K-12 education’,” Anderson said. “Education would be fully funded, which
would cut through the rhetoric and allow policy and budget writers to
address accountability and expectations for our students and our
teachers.”
“It’s time to make the leap, end the debate and work toward solutions
based on accountability and curriculum – not money,” said Anderson.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public
Information Officer - (360) 786-7252
|
|