AWSP Blog

This week has been filled with committee hearings on various bills as both houses rush to hear, then vote bills out of committee, in order to beat the next policy and fiscal deadlines. The state revenue council issued the latest revenue projections and wow, the unanticipated and now new revenue shows an additional $861 million for the 2019–221 budget. Of course, remember at the start of the session, it was reported that the state was looking at over $1 billion-dollar shortfall after case load projections and funding court mandates.

In this episode of AWSP News, we discuss March Madness in our “Walk a Mile in My Shoes” campaign, our AWSP News special report on principal contracts and the pay gap, a new TPEP report from UW, The Main Idea education book review service you’ll soon have access to, our Equity Conference with WASA and WSSDA, OSPI’s MTSS Fest in Spokane, an updated survey for elementary science instruction, and the support of partners SPU and Horace Mann.

The legislative flow has now shifted to upcoming hearings where bills that have passed either house are scheduled for public hearings. The next deadline of note is the planned release on March 20th of the latest revenue forecast and projection. Budgets developed by both houses will follow.

Going outside, even in the city, has its benefits. City parks have opportunities for life satisfaction. While traveling to a remote outdoor setting is great, you can also look near your school. At-risk adolescents who participated in an Urban Forest Health Intervention Program showed an increase in life satisfaction and physical activity levels and a decrease in such risky behaviors as smoking.

Both houses have been on their respective floors debating and voting on various bills and amendments or in caucus/recess privately debating what bills to bring forth. Lobbyists hover outside each chamber’s doors waiting for requested legislators to come out. A lobbyist’s hope is to either encourage vote on a bill, to influence its content via suggested amendments, or to urge defeat.