Reps. Bruce Dammeier of Puyallup and Gary Alexander of Thurston County say they will lay out their proposal in the House Republican Caucus room at the Capitol. Dammeier is the GOP caucus’ leader on education issues who proposed the policy in House Bill 2533, and Alexander is the caucus’ budget leader.
Our report on Dammeier’s bill getting a hearing yesterday is here, and TVW’s coverage of the proceedings is here.
In their announcement today, Republicans said Gov. Chris Gregoire’s draft budget issued in November cuts $630 million from K-12 schools, and they will cut less.
“We cut it by less than $50 million – there’s a $580 million difference in cuts between the governor’s and our budget,’’ Alexander said. “We invest $580 million more in education than the governor does.’’
Alexander went on to say that the cuts, measuring about $45 million, are in the areas of reform spending passed by past legislatures. “As far basic education goes we don’t take a cut at all,” he said.
It is unclear yet whether Dammeier’s House Bill 2533 will get voted on by Friday’s cutoff in the House Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee chaired by Democratic Rep. Kathy Haigh of Shelton. The budget proposal will be introduced to that committee, and Alexander said his caucus is “hopeful” that Haigh gives it a hearing.
Majority Democrats in the Senate have indicated they are waiting for the Feb. 16 revenue forecast before laying down their full budget plan.
