Tag Archives: Governor Inslee

Happenings on The Hill

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Yesterday the Washington Legislature convened for the third special session since the adjournment of the 2013 regular session in April. Governor Inslee called lawmakers back to Olympia, with 48 hours notice, to move through legislation designed to retain Boeing in Washington.

The legislation would continue current tax incentives for the airplane manufacturer through 2040 at a cost to the state of approximately $8.7 billion in loss revenue and a second bill would make additional investments in the community and technical college system for aerospace related training and education.  The state would also agree to fast-tracking aircraft-factory permits and working to find a balanced plan for more stringent water quality standards under consideration by the Washington Department of Ecology.

In return Boeing has agreed to keep the manufacturer of the 777x in Washington from which the state hopes to gain jobs and additional economic benefit.

The announcement of another special session also gave new life to the potential consideration of a transportation package. The proposed transportation package in the regular session ultimately was a casualty as lawmakers sought to strike a deal in the second special session and adjourn a very long session.  However the chances of a transportation package moving this special session is increasingly unlikely as the Senate is expected to vote on the Boeing related legislation and then adjourn tomorrow without considering a transportation package.

Governor Inslee Launches New Statewide Performance Framework

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Yesterday Governor Inslee announced a new statewide,  state-agency centered performance initiative that identifies key goals of his administration and measures the progress towards these goals.

According to the Governor’s Office, Results Washington aims to make state government more effective, efficient, accountable and transparent. Governor Inslee’s goals for Results Washington reflect what the Inslee Administration believes matters most to Washingtonians.  As stated by the Administration, by routinely measuring and monitoring each goal and implementing improvement plans, the state will drive towards producing results in five goal areas:

  • World-Class Education
  • Prosperous Economy
  • Sustainable Energy & a Clean Environment
  • Healthy & Safe Communities
  • Efficient, Effective & Accountable Government

Higher Education

Results Washington identifies the goal of a World-class education through outcome measures that increase access to education to provide students with 21st century skills to succeed from early learning to higher education.

To achieve this goal the framework identifies two outcome measures for higher education that identify the results the Inslee Administration wants to achieve.

  • Increase the percentage of population enrolled in certificate, credential, apprenticeship, and degree programs.
  • Increase the attainment of certificates, credentials, apprenticeships, and degrees.

The progress on each of these outcome measures will be determined by a set of specific, detailed, quantifiable indicators. For higher education these include to date:

  • Increase the number of students enrolled in STEM and identified high-demand employment programs
  • Increase the percentage of students entering public higher education who access and complete high-quality online learning
  • Increase the percentage of eligible students who sign-up for the College Bound program
  • Increase the percentage of eligible students who receive the State Need Grant
  • Increase the number of families saving for postsecondary education training expenses using the GET from 152,000 in 2012 to 182,000 in 2017.
  • Increase project-based, career workplace, community learning opportunities that provide STEM and 21st century skills
  • Increase number of STEM graduates in 4-year colleges
  • Increase the number of STEM graduates in community and technical colleges
  • Increase the percentage of adult basic education and English-as-a-second language students who transition to precollege or college level within one-year from 10% to 13% by 2017.

Specific percentage increases and by what date for the majority of these indicators have yet to be determined. Data is expected to be included within the next six months as the Governor’s Office and higher education stakeholders continue discussions.

Next Steps

In the coming weeks the Inslee Administration will continue outreach efforts to collect feedback. For example, two events are scheduled in the near future.

  • On September 12 at 10:00 a.m. Governor Inslee  will host a Town Hall providing a Q&A session on Twitter.
  • Between September 17 and October 1 the Governor’s Office will host an interactive, moderated website where users can share, comment and vote on feedback and ideas submitted by other users.

The next iteration of this work, scheduled to be released in mid to late October, will reflect the feedback provided from stakeholders, state employees and the public.

Governor Announces New Accountability Framework for All of State Government

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Last week Governor Inslee announced the preview of a new accountability framework for state government in Washington.  The new approach “Results Washington” is based in the Lean method pioneered by Toyota car factories and used by Boeing.

The mission statement in progress states that the intention of the new framework is “To build a thriving Washington by fostering the spirit of continuous improvement, enhancing the conditions for job creation, preparing students for the future and valuing our environment, our health and our people.”

Results Washington is still a month away from a formal roll out, but a preview of the framework was provided by Inslee’s Chief of Staff Mary Alice Heuschel at an event on government management and efficiency.

Though similar to Governor Gregoire’s Government Management Accountability Program (GMAP) which also was based on the Lean method, Results Washington is expected to be broader encompassing all of state government.

The framework will focus on five goals:

  • A world class education system from preschool through college
  • A prosperous economy
  • Making Washington a national leader in sustainable energy and a clean environment
  • Health and safe communities
  • Efficient, effective and accountable government. This is an overarching goal over the four goals previously listed.

Each goal will be organized as SMART- Specific, Measureable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound.

In the next month the Governor’s Office will be working to finalize the main goals and develop targets that agencies will aim to reach. There is expected to be three phases and a system of “leading indicators” to show progress. The indicators will cut across agency boundaries and results will be made public on a single website.

Governor Inslee Signs Biennial Capital Budget

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This afternoon Governor Inslee signed into law the 2013-15 biennial capital budget (SB 5035) with a single veto.

The Governor vetoed language that would require the Superintendent of Public Instruction to create an interagency agreement with Evergreen’s Washington State Institute for Public Policy to analyze the relationship between school design and student performance and to develop recommendations for the school construction assistance program.

The language was vetoed based on the reasoning that it was deemed overly broad and an unnecessary expense.

The biennial capital budget signed by the Governor provides $15.280 million for Evergreen’s capital program.

Over the next biennium Evergreen receives funding for three projects: (1) Science Lab I – Basement Renovation ($1.805 million), (2) Science Lab II – Second Floor Renovation ($4.694 million), and (3) Lecture Hall Renovation – Design ($1.308 million).

In addition the budget includes funding for minor works preservation and preventative maintenance.

Governor Signs Operating Budget

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On Sunday Governor Inslee signed into law the 2013-15 biennial operating budget with a modest list of vetoes.

Among the items the Governor vetoed were three studies directed to the Washington State Institute for Public Policy, an Evergreen public service center.  These include:

  • Extraordinary Foster Care Cost Study based on the reasoning that a study is not necessary at this time.
  • Safety Assessment Tool Study based on the reasoning that a study at this time would be premature when the Department of Social and Health Services has not yet determined whether the assessment tool will continue to be used, modified, or maintained.
  • K-12 Funding Task Force based on the reasoning that another task force is duplicative of proposals from recent work groups.

The legislatively passed operating budget makes the strongest investment in higher education in years. The proposed budget assumes no increases in resident undergraduate tuition rates for the 2013-15 biennium. For 2013-14 the public, four-year institutions are prohibited from using tuition-setting authority to exceed the appropriated tuition level.

The total budget provides $3.1 billion in state funds to support higher education. The budget provides $119.3 million in funding to support the core academic functions of the institutions of higher education. Finally the budget makes an investment in financial aid including the College Bound Scholarship program and the State Need Grant.

Governor Calls Second Special Session Beginning This AM

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Yesterday Governor Inslee held a press conference to announce a second 30-day special session to begin today at 9:00 a.m.

Special sessions are authorized to run for 30 days and the governor cannot limit the types of bills or topics that are considered in a special session.  Legislation that was not passed off either the Senate or the House floors will be returned to the Rules Committee in its chamber of origin as part of the close-out process for the regular session.

In addition, the Governor stated that his Cabinet would be meeting to discuss contingency planning as the new fiscal year approaches on July 1. The state constitution does not provide for spending money if no budget is in place July 1, but it does mandate some services that would be required to continue.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/06/11/2634910/gov-inslee-plans-for-mmajor.html#storylink=cpy

Governor Speaks to WASAC

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Late this week, Governor Inslee addressed the Washington Student Achievement Council. The Governor shared with the Council his vision for education – early learning through graduate school.

Inslee opened with the recognition that pockets of excellence and innovation exist throughout the state and that it is his intention to spread these pockets to the entire state. To do this Governor Inslee put forth two primary goals for the Council.

The first is focused on alignment. The Governor asked the Council to work towards greater alignment within the education system to allow for the opportunity to take advantage of the new economy. In particular, to educate students so that they are equipped throughout their education with the skills necessary to take advantage of the new economy.

The second is centered on lifetime education. The Governor spoke to the need to shift away from focusing on one sector of the education system (i.e. K-12) and build a high quality lifetime education system at all levels. The intention is to create a system that allows Washingtonians to tap into education throughout their lifetimes and to recognize that education is changing every few years in fundamental ways.

The Governor also spoke about the opportunities that exist to partner with business to achieve the goals he identified.

Inslee followed his opening comments with the introduction of the newly appointed citizen board members to the board and shared with them and the other members of the Council that he believes there are challenges in education that are facing Washington, but that the culture of innovation in this state offers the chance to meet these challenges head on.

In closing the Governor highlighted his commitment to completion, closing the opportunity gap, and working to provide an education system that allows students to envision beyond high school their goals and dreams.  He closed by saying “no excuses, no exceptions, and excellence for all”.

Washington Legislature Convenes for Special Session

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This week the Washington State Legislature convened for a 30-day special session.

Since the Legislature adjourned two weeks ago little progress has been made towards a final budget. Budget writers for each chamber did meet a few times since Sine Die, but no deal was reached. The differences between the three-corners (i.e. Governor, Senate and House) remain vast as legislators begin this next phase in the process.

Yesterday, both the Senate and the House convened to caucus. The Governor and the Senate Majority Coalition each held press conferences which echoed what has been in the atmosphere since Sine Die, no significant progress has been made; Though both shared their intention to work out a final budget within the 30-day special session.

Not much is expected this week or even next week. No floor votes are scheduled this week, but a few committees are meeting.

One bit of news is a revised special session agenda for the Governor. Governor Inslee announced a narrower focus for the next 30-days than the wide open one he declared at the end of the regular session. The top three priorities for the Governor include: a budget compromise, a new transportation revenue package, and tougher drunk driving legislation.  The Governor still hopes that action will be taken on the DREAM Act and the Reproductive Parity Act.

The 30-day special session is set to end on June 12. If a budget compromise is not reached another special session will be called.

 

Regular Session Ends; Special Session Scheduled

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The 105-day regular legislative session came to a slow end over the weekend. The Senate and House adjourned in the early evening on Sunday.

Both chambers spent the last week and the weekend moving through a series of bills deemed necessary to implement the budget -including a revenue package in the House – as well as concurrences and confirmations of gubernatorial appointments in the Senate.

Legislation that was not passed off either the Senate or the House floors will be returned to the Rules Committee in its chamber of origin as part of the close-out process for the regular session.

Legislators will not be back in town until May 13, when Governor Inslee has announced for a 30-day special session to begin. Special sessions are authorized to run for 30 days and the governor cannot limit the types of bills or topics that are considered in a special session. Usually there is agreement among the Governor’s Office and the four caucuses on what the agenda for the special session will be, but as of close of business yesterday this did not appear to be the case. 

Though Governor Inslee is hopeful that between now and May 13 budget negotiators, who will work in Olympia during this break, will have a deal come mid-May. In the Governor’s eyes the agenda would include:

  • An operating budget that makes a substantial downpayment on McCleary but not on the backs of those that are less fortunate;
  • A transportation plan that preserves funding for existing infrastructure projects and funds new projects including the new bridge across the Columbia River; and
  • Important education policy measures to ensure that new education funding will achieve results.

Governor Inslee also referenced a handful of non-budget issues that he would like to see end up on his desk at the end of the special session. Among these issues is legislation on stiffer penalties for repeat DUI offenses, gun reform, the reproductive parity act, and the state DREAM Act.

In his press conference on Sunday, Governor Inslee provided insight into the difficult tasks that lie ahead noting that lawmakers were “…aren’t miles apart. At the moment, they’re light years apart.”

Governor Inslee Releases Biennial Budget Priorities

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This morning Governor Inslee released his priorities for funding over the next two years. The Budget priorities call for a commitment to education and rebuilding the state’s economy while meeting obligations with targeted investments and accountability.

“Our number one priority is revitalizing Washington’s economy and building a 21st centruy workforce.  To do that, we must start with a strong commitment to education – and we must ensure that our investments get results.”

Governor Inslee identifies six budget priorities for the state:

  • Make signficant and targeted investments in education to meet our constitutional obligations under the McCleary decision
  • Step up efforts on Lean management so state agencies operate more effectively and efficiently within available resources
  • Close tax breaks whose benefits do not outweight the needs of our schoolchildren
  • Promote policies and opportunties to grow jobs
  • Prepare Washington for a vibrant, thriving economy
  • Protect vital services to seniors, children and disabled individuals

The proposal provides a path to address the state’s current $2 billion plus budget challenge, provide more than $500 million in reserves and proposes $1.2 billion as a “down payment” to meeting the state’s basic education obligations required by the McCleary ruling.

For Higher Education the proposal would fund institutions at maintenance level, increase tuition at the public baccalaureate institutions, and make a series of investments in high demand programs and financial aid.

The total proposal invests $112.9 million above maintenance level to higher education.

  • Fully funds maintenance level budgets at postsecondary institutions
  • Holds tuition at current levels for community and technical colleges and proposes a tuition increase of 3% at Evergreen and the comprehensive institutions and 5% at UW and WSU
  • Invests $11 million in a competitive enrollment pool for the public four-year institutions and a $5 million pool for the community and technical colleges
  • Expands capacity for high-cost programs at the community and technical colleges ($20 million)
  • Creates a Clean Energy Institute at the UW ($12 million)
  • Invests in WSU’s Center for Bioproducts and Biofuels ($5.2 million)
  • Increases funding for the College Bound scholarship program to meet the shortfall ($35 million)
  • Increases award amounts in the State Need Grant and Work Study programs to keep pace with the proposed tuition increases ($24.7 million)

Next week the Senate Majority Coalition is expected to release their budget followed by the House.