Last year, at an annual legislative lunch recapping the session and discussing the upcoming one, Southwest Washington lawmakers told Clark County business and community leaders that 2016 would be a pivotal year in fixing the state’s public school funding crisis.
The 2016 session recently adjourned, and once again state legislators faced many of those same leaders Wednesday afternoon at The Heathman Lodge in Vancouver.
And? Lawmakers reported that they had passed a measure panned by many as a “plan for a plan” to fix the state’s public schools, saving the heavy lifting for next year.
Sen. John Braun, R-Centralia, said education funding will be “without a doubt, the biggest problem we face next year.”
Rep. Jim Moeller, D-Vancouver, echoed the sentiment, saying that next year “will probably be the toughest year that we will see in a long period of time.”
But Sen. Ann Rivers, R-La Center, said the measure approved this year ensures necessary research to give the state a better sense of how much basic education actually costs and how much money lawmakers need to spend to fund it. Until now, Rivers said, the amount has been a moving target. The measure passed this year, Senate Bill 6195, will clarify the amount. The results should be ready this fall, Rivers told the audience.
“But make no mistake about it, there’s no easy solution to education funding in our state,” the senator said. “Anyone who thinks it’s just going to be a walk in the park and this next session is going to be easy and breezy is out of their mind. I fully predict we’re going to see another July 1 sine die (a late adjournment) over this issue. … We’ll get there; it’s not going to be pretty.”
Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, said the final proposal also should be about “accountability and results,” and the public is expecting “improved test scores and better graduation rates.”
Lawmakers said they also are hoping to see more of a focus on career and technical education programs.
The Southwest Washington legislators also discussed a wide range of other topics, including the affordable housing crisis and the benefits of divided government.
Legislators discussed some of their personal priorities, as well. Rep. Paul Harris, R-Vancouver, said he was pleased to see a bill regulating vaping passed the Statehouse this session. Rep. Lynda Wilson, R-Vancouver, vowed to continue to push a measure increasing safety measures for military recruiting centers. Sen. Annette Cleveland, D-Vancouver, said she is working on legislation to give tenants a longer notice if they are going to be evicted. Rep. Brandon Vick, R-Felida, is tweaking a measure to allow terminally ill patients to access experimental drugs that he hopes could save their lives.
Rep. Sharon Wylie, D-Vancouver, was unable to attend. Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, also was absent.
The legislative review luncheon was produced by the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce and the Building Industry Group political action committee. The event was sponsored by the Vancouver Business Journal, IBEW Local 48 and DeWils.
