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More 2015-17 budget links (plus an updated outlook)

First, as part of our 2015-17 budget preview policy brief, we included a chart showing the projected new revenues and spending needs for the biennium. It was based on one from the Office of Financial Management. I’ve updated the chart to reflect new information from OFM: And now to the links: 1. Contract negotiations with […]

Davis column on contempt ruling: "Court finesses crisis it created"

In my column today, I examine the state Supreme Court’s decision to find the state in contempt. We blogged about the decision here. The court chose to give lawmakers one more chance before imposing “sanctions and remedies.” It was the smart, face-saving move given the circumstances. But the court never should have forced the issue. Having […]

Budgeting and education

In the Everett Herald, Jerry Cornfield writes about Initiative 1351, which would reduce class sizes for kindergarten through 12th grade. Actually, current law already requires class size reduction for K-3. I-1351 would move up some of that spending, but it mostly mandates spending over and above what is already required under current law and McCleary. […]

State Supreme Court finds Legislature in contempt, defers sanctions

Yesterday’s big news was the state Supreme Court order finding the state in contempt for failing to respond adequately to the court’s McCleary decision, calling for a rapid ramp-up in state funding of basic education. (Like everyone, we’ve written a lot about this, good background here.) The judicial rebuke was expected. The question was how […]

Davis column on Rutgers research finding Americans "unhappy, worried, and pessimistic"

In a column I examine recent survey research from Rutgers University. The research, “Unhappy, Worried, and Pessimistic: Americans in the Aftermath of the Great Recession,” paints a bleak, if not unrealistic, view of American public opinion five years into the alleged economic recovery. From the column: Report co-author Carl Van Horn says, “The slow, uneven, […]

Former Govs. Spellman and Gregoire Urge Supreme Court to Exercise Restraint, Caution

In today’s Seattle Times, John Spellman and Chris Gregoire offer timely counsel to the state Supreme Court ahead of tomorrow’s hearing addressing whether the court should hold the Legislature in contempt for failing to make adequate progress on education funding. Republican Spellman served as governor from 1981-1985; Gregoire served from 2005-2013. The pair note that […]

Regarding McCleary, does the Legislature need its mind concentrated?

As Dick noted, in June, the state Supreme Court ordered the state to address why it should not be held in contempt for failing to comply with an earlier court order to submit “a complete plan for fully implementing its program of basic education for each school year between now and the 2017-18 school year.” […]

Washington exports college students – a trade deficit that we cannot afford

The Seattle Times reports that Washington sends more students out of state for a college education than come here to attend school.  [Bjong “Wolf” Yeigh, chancellor of the University of Washington Bothell,] was analyzing the data this year and was surprised to learn that Washington experiences the opposite effect. In fact, it’s one of only 11 states with a net loss of first-time college […]

New Brief: Initiative 1351 Class Size Reduction: A $4.7 Billion Unfunded Mandate with Dubious Educational Merit

In a new policy brief, we look at Initiative 1351, which will be on the ballot in November. I-1351 would reduce class sizes for kindergarten through 12th grade. Below are a few main points about the initiative, which are fleshed out in the brief. It would increase state K–12 spending by $4.7 billion through 2019—over […]

Fiscal impact of class size initiative, and other budget complications

The Office of Financial Management released its fiscal impact statement of I-1351 today. The initiative would lower class sizes for grades K-12 but contains no dedicated funding source. According to OFM, if approved by voters, I-1351 would increase state spending by $4.7 billion over 5 years ($2 billion in 2015-17 and $2.7 billion in 2017-19). […]