Education, health care issues still alive midway

By JENNIFER BYRD | The Associated Press • Published March 05, 2007

Comments (0)

Lawmakers started the session promising to make education and health care top priorities - and they have - but they've also had to deal with attention-grabbing issues such as a proposal for a NASCAR racetrack, a new arena for the Seattle SuperSonics and what to do with the Alaskan Way Viaduct.

At the halfway mark of the session, many bills are still working their way through the system while others have died. Capitol veterans warn that nothing is ever really dead while the Legislature is in town, but many measures that fail to make the cut by March 14 will disappear for good.

"As far as I know, everything, all of the major pieces of legislation we are tracking, is moving along just fine," said Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane. "We're still on track with our major agenda - health care, education, passing a 'rainy day' fund. We're still sticking to basics."

House Majority Leader Lynn Kessler, D-Hoquiam, sounded equally optimistic.

"All of our caucus priorities are absolutely progressing through the process," she said Wednesday. "So far all the ships are heading the right direction and we hope to reach the dock right on time."

With majorities in the House and Senate, the Democrats are pushing through their agenda with force. Republicans say it's too expensive, expands government and that many of their concerns are being ignored.

"It's no surprise that when you have one-party rule, that sometimes the minority voice gets lost in the shuffle," House Minority Leader Richard DeBolt of Chehalis said. "I think that's happening this year."

Education

Education has taken the forefront. A lawsuit filed by a coalition of teachers, parents, community groups and school districts in January accusing the state of failing to live up to the constitution - which defines education as the state's paramount duty - is pending.

Lawmakers are trying to do more and bills including significant budget enhancements, day-long kindergarten for more children, more college enrollment slots and measures dealing with the high-stakes Washington Assessment of Student Learning are moving along, Kessler said.

Next page >>