Legislature in Contempt

Supreme Court Rules Legislature is in Contempt

In a unanimous ruling, the State Supreme Court ruled the Legislature is in contempt by failing to provide an ample funding for basic education, the State’s paramount duty according to the state constitution. The Court has given the Legislature until the end of the 2015 session to come up with a solution. 

Governor Inslee said, “This unprecedented action by the Supreme Court is a critical moment in our history. No one should be surprised, yet no one should minimize the court’s order. I urged lawmakers to act this year and agreed with the court that we must do more to adequately fund education, which I believe is both a constitutional and moral obligation.”

Here are a couple takes on the Court’s action and what it means moving forward:

• Court puts Legislature on notice: Do more for schools or face consequences – Crosscut.com

• Court finds state in contempt in school funding case – Bellingham Herald

• State justices find lawmakers in contempt over school funding – Everett Herald

• Washington Supreme Court Finds State In Contempt In McCleary Case – KPLU.org