In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Washington Legislature adjourned the first special session of 2010. The 30-day special session came on the heels of the constitutionally required 60-day supplemental session because the Legislature failed to find consensus on revenue and appropriations.
The stalemate between the House and Senate came to an end on the last day of the 30-day special session. The Legislature adopted a two-part revenue package and found agreement on the final 2010 supplemental operating and capital budgets.
The Legislature implemented a four-prong approach to solving the state’s $2.8 billion budget shortfall. The Legislature passed two-bills (SB 6143 and HB 2493) that combined will generate $757 million in revenue by closing tax loopholes and increasing taxes.
In addition, the Legislature reduced funding for state programs and services by $755 million, including a reduction in funding of $73 million to institutions of higher education near the minimum level required for the receipt of federal stimulus funds (SB 6444). The Legislature also incorporated approximately $618 million of approved/anticipated additional federal relief to Washington State and made $461 million in additional transfers from various funds to increase General Fund-State resources.
In the end, the final combination of revenue and budgets for the 2010 supplemental session was a mixed bag for higher education and The Evergreen State College. As the details shared in prior blogs and future analysis will show, while student financial aid was protected and some investments were made, higher education funding again experienced a decline at the state level. So what is beyond the 2010 legislative session for the Office of Governmental Relations at Evergreen. Contrary to what many may think there is little time for a break.
Now that the 2010 Legislature has completed its business and has adjourned we will prepare our annual Legislative Report. The Report – which includes a full review of the 2010 budgets and revenue package and a comprehensive list of of the legislation that Evergreen tracked – will be posted to the Office of Government Relations website.
In the following weeks we will share with you actions the Governor takes on the dozen or so bills passed during special session.
Legislative Session 2011
In the following months we will work with Evergreen’s Office of Budget and Operations to prepare for the 2011 Legislative Session- less than a year away. Our eyes will be on the initiative process as the November elections approach. Tim Eyman, a leader in the initiative process, has already filed several separate measures as of yesterday (April 13). Each measure seeks to repeal a separate slice of the $631 million in new revenues passed by the Legislature on Monday. Eyman’s measures target: (1) the 28 cent per-six-pack increase on mass-marketed beer; (2) the 2 percent-per-can tax increase on soda/pop; (3) the $1 per-pack increase on cigarettes and increases on other tobacco products; (4) the sales tax on candy and bottled water; and (5) the B&O tax on service businesses.
The filing of the measures is preliminary and it may be months before decisions are made regarding what measures to pursue. Beyond the initiative process we will also keep you posted with regard to the latest news regarding the 2010 elections. Ninety-eight seats in the House and half the Senate will be up for election this fall. In addition, U.S. Representative Brian Baird, which represents southern Washington, has decided to step down opening his seat for someone new.
Finally, we will continue to keep information coming with regard to federal higher education- and education-related issues, topics, and reports.
So much to do…so little time…lets get started!