The state Legislature passed a two-year operating budget Monday evening after many late nights of negotiations.
The race to the budget finish line took two special session and the beginning of a third. Gov. Jay Inslee had to sign the bill by midnight Tuesday for the government to continue operating. (Update: Inslee signed the bill within a few minutes of midnight, Tuesday, after the press deadline).
Sen. Joe Fain, R-Auburn, said Sunday evening many members and staff had worked many late nights to finish the bill. Allowing the operating budget vote to go beyond Tuesday would have meant passing a continuing resolution to fund the government for a month. Fain said the continuing resolution was a backup plan if negotiations fell apart, but he felt it was “unacceptable.”
Senate members announced a tentative agreement was reached Saturday, the 163rd day of the session.
Fain said Sunday evening he and others were working on getting the vote done by Monday.
“We’ve had a good response so far,” Fain said. “I’m optimistic.”
Fain said funding for schools and teacher salaries were increased in the budget and there was a college tuition reduction.
A few highlights are the budget allots $1.3 billion for K-12 education; funds for all-day kindergarten, and pay increases for teachers and state employees. The Senate majority members said the budget comes without any new taxes.
School funding has become the Sword of Damocles hanging over the 2015 Legislature.
The state Supreme Court found the state of Washington in contempt for not complying with the Court’s Jan. 5, 2012 McCleary v. Washington order, which directed the Legislature to fulfill its funding obligation as stated in Article IX of the state Constitution.
The Constitutional clause reads: “It is the paramount duty of the state to make ample provision for the education of all children residing within its borders, without distinction or preference on account of race, color, caste, or sex.”
The balancing act for the House, Senate and governor was to find the money to pay for schools, roads, human services and a myriad of other services.
In the January contempt finding, Chief Justice Barbara A. Madsen wrote the state “failed” to submit a funding plan by April 30. Madsen wrote, “Sanctions and other remedial measures are held in abeyance,” to allow the Legislature to comply by the end of the 2015 session.
