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Olympia Office:
437 John L.
O'Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Phone: (360) 786-7852
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Toll-Free Legislative Hotline:
1-800-562-6000
Web site:
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Rodne |
Committees:
Financial
Institutions and Insurance
Judiciary (Ranking Republican)
Transportation |
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Dear friends,
As summer comes to a close and a new school year
begins, I hope this letter finds you and your family
well.
I want to take this opportunity to share
with you some issues I have been working on in
preparation for the next legislative session that begins
Jan. 11, 2010. Most significantly, our state’s
budget situation continues to deteriorate. The most
recent
revenue forecast released Sept. 17 shows
our state is spending more than what it is taking in
and, thus, legislators will have to confront an
estimated $1 billion budget shortfall early next year.
Another important issue is K-12 education
funding and the work of the
Quality
Education Council.
With approximately half of the state's budget devoted to
our public schools, budget sustainability and
K-12 education funding will always be closely linked.
Both areas are experiencing major challenges -- ones
that can be overcome with the right solutions. I share
some of these proposed solutions below.
While the
2010 legislative session does not begin for another four
months, I continue to attend committee hearings and meet
with constituents from across the 5th District to listen
to their thoughts and priorities. This helps me in my
preparations for the upcoming session.
I value your opinions and need to hear from you in
order to be an effective voice for you in Olympia. If
you ever have any questions or comments, please
contact me.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Jay Rodne
State Representative
Helping our students succeed in school
The education of our children is the "paramount duty" of
the state, according to Washington's constitution. This is a
responsibility I take to heart not only as a state
lawmaker, but as a parent with two children in public
school.
There is no question that some
schools are failing our students. Part of the problem is
rooted in the fact that our state's public education
finance system is based on 1970's policies and
realities.
State
lawmakers took a big step forward in addressing this
problem with the passage of
House Bill 2261 in the 2009 legislative
session. This legislation, which I co-sponsored,
provides our state with a new blueprint to define and
fund basic education.
House Bill 2261
will help schools
meet 21st-century demands by phasing in a new definition
of basic education and a restructured education funding
formula. Specifically, among other things, it will:
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create a transparent
funding system for allocations and expenditures;
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phase in funding to
allow high school students the opportunity to
achieve 24 credits and six classes per day;
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create work groups to
determine how best to spend local levy dollars, how
to hire and compensate teachers, and how to phase in
early learning;
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establish early
learning for at-risk children, expanded
kindergarten, gifted education, and transportation
as part of the new definition of basic education;
and
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require the State
Board of Education to create a system for
improvements targeted at challenged schools and
districts that have not demonstrated sufficient
improvement through the voluntary system.
Implementing
and funding reforms
House Bill 2261 takes into account the
current struggles of our state budget, but commits to
reforming education funding as we move out of the
recession. It could not have passed without the help of
education advocates and recommendations of the
bipartisan
Joint Task Force on Basic Education Finance. It will
take similar collaborative efforts to ensure it is
implemented and fully funded.
The biggest
question moving forward is, how will the state pay for
its new, ambitious plan? The plan could cost an
estimated $3 billion to $4 billion more per year. This is in
addition to the $7 billion a year the state already
spends on education.
One solution I support is
"Fund Education First" --
House Bill 1657. This legislation would
establish that the paramount duty and first priority of
the Legislature is to fund education. It would require
that a separate education budget be enacted before any
other general spending plan could be adopted.
I
will continue to work with education advocates and
fellow state lawmakers to find solutions, and will keep
you updated as issues evolve.
Revenue forecast
projects more budget problems
A
quarterly state
economic and revenue forecast released Sept. 17
revealed that our economy continues to struggle.
Challenging economic conditions, along with
poor budgeting decisions, have rendered our state
budget fundamentally flawed and unsustainable. Simply
put: Washington is on pace to spend a lot more than it
expects to take in from projected revenues.
This
leaves two choices for state lawmakers: prioritize state
spending or raise taxes.
I have been consistent
with where I stand: our state should prioritize spending
on education, public safety and protection of its most
vulnerable citizens -- without resorting to any tax
increases. To meet our priorities while building a
sustainable budget, we must reform our
budgeting
process. For example, I support measures that would:
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More than ever, our state budget is in desperate need of
sustainability, transparency and accountability. Until
we change the budget process, we can expect more of the
same -- including large shortfalls and calls for tax
increases. We can and must do better.
Sincerely,
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For more
news and information, visit my Web site at
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/Rodne
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