Wait 'Til Next Year
The Washington state legislature is committed to taking bold action on funding public education... next year.
State lawmakers’ proposal to fix school funding calls for more study
I guess some things just don't change. It's always "next year" for these people. Don't they know that we were here last year? Do they think we can't figure out that this year is the "next year" in their promises last year?
Once again, their plan for this year is to work on a plan for next year. You might wonder what happened to the plan they made last year to work on a plan for this year. Yeah, that didn't work out. It was a total failure, so their bright idea is to do it again without any changes.
State lawmakers’ proposal to fix school funding calls for more study
I guess some things just don't change. It's always "next year" for these people. Don't they know that we were here last year? Do they think we can't figure out that this year is the "next year" in their promises last year?
Once again, their plan for this year is to work on a plan for next year. You might wonder what happened to the plan they made last year to work on a plan for this year. Yeah, that didn't work out. It was a total failure, so their bright idea is to do it again without any changes.
Comments
Not even a total plan? Wonder what the Supreme Court will think.
Let's get ready to rumble.
- But that trick never works.
- This time for sure!
Steve
Threat of school closure has been used in other states and potentially will motivate parents and communities to insist that legislature gets going in a way that Olympia demonstrations and letter writing campaigns have not. Might also get Inslee off his duff. Not sure a governor could have done less in terms of leadership for the K12 situation. Inslee wants to get re-elected, so the only way he, too, will take a firm step forward apparently is a substantial threat of voters up in arms.
EdVoter
EdVoter, you may get your wish.
First, what a lot of blather from BOTH sides. No one on this "work group" should be all that proud of themselves.
Rep. Lytton. “Today we have a plan that moves us forward. But this is about more than meeting the Court’s request — this is about doing our jobs for Washington’s schoolchildren."
1) not a plan
2) moves it forward...to another taskforce
From one bill (they are identical), this oddity from bottom of page 1 to top of page 2 so please help me out:
"It is the intent of the legislature to provide state funding for competitive salaries and benefits that are sufficient to hire and retain competent certificated instructional staff, administrators, and classified staff. Additionally, the
legislature intends to minimize any disruptive impact to school districts and taxpayers."
What do you think is the purpose of that second sentence? What disruptive impact could reviewing and then paying "competitive salaries and benefits?" Do they mean the costs?
Raise the fine to 2 million per day. Sequester the state budget. Shut down non-essential state government in September, not schools.
-NNNCr
I see two choices: Stop legislators' pay until real reform happens (may not be effective, most are probably wealthy enough that it wouldn't be a hardship). The big stick is jail time. I don't see any other way to get the legislators' attention.
I wrote to some media contacts today to point out to them that they might want to pay attention to what is happening and what IS (not may) coming.
http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/09/10/22835544/how-can-washington-properly-fund-its-schools-do-what-new-jersey-did
1976 was a different time. Not this crazy, extreme inequality we see now. I would argue the 60-70's were our more liberal, big government days since FDR. Even SCOTUS has been turning right since (big government when it comes to the Patriot Act and eroding personal privacy). Now we have HRC for a liberal. Hahaha.
Jailing them adds to the delay. Fining them with tax money. Same budget. Maybe SC can withhold legislators' pay and per diem. Mass punishment works well in classroom management!? But then who decides and allocates SC budget?
There will be a budget, but watch for all the strings.
-voter
For jail time, the straightforward thing is to make it a working session. There's a bus waiting for them after breakfast that takes them to the Legislature and takes them back to prison before dinner. It would be helpful to have them mixed in with the general population. I'd give that about five days before a deal was done.
“I am pleased to see that the bipartisan group I convened was able to find common ground and develop a good foundation for answering the very difficult questions related to our next steps for financing K-12 education,” Inslee said. “I look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature this session and beyond on this important priority.”
I would have liked to see some kind of "if this doesn't happen,I'll have to consider other options" talk. I realize it is just the start of the session but this bill is just a bit piece of (expensive) nothing.
CK
If he doesn't do it, I hope the Supreme Court brings down the hammer, not the gavel.