WASHINGTON STATE SENATOR • 12TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT Senator Linda Evans Parlette 2015 LEGISLATIVE REPORT October 2015 Greetings, The Legislature has wrapped up its work for the year. We were in session for much longer than expected: a record 176 days from mid-January to Let’s Stay Connected! mid-July. The results were positive, however, for students, families and employers across our state. Now that I am back home in Wenatchee there are several ways we can stay For the third straight year our bipartisan Majority Coalition Caucus connected. In addition to the options led the way to a balanced state budget that addresses the needs of below you may contact me anytime via Washingtonians without requiring general tax increases. The new email at [email protected] or budget features an unprecedented level of support for education, led by phone at my Olympia office at by the college tuition reduction our Senate majority first proposed. (360) 786-7622. The Legislature approved new investments in trails and state parks and The office is staffed by my executive other recreational assets, as well as habitat restoration. We also reached assistant, Grace Edwards, and my bipartisan agreement on a new package of projects to make our highways legislative assistant, Jimmy Martin. better and safer, coupled with reforms to stretch transportation dollars E-MAIL: [email protected] further. WEBSITE: www.SenatorParlette.com Much of my time at the Capitol was devoted to participating in budget OLYMPIA OFFICE: negotiations and other high-level discussions that go with being chair 316 Legislative Building of the Senate majority. I also succeeded in addressing several issues P.O. Box 40412 important to north central Washington, either through new laws or Olympia, WA 98504-0412 budget allocations. Please keep reading for the details. PHONE: (360) 786-7622 While we accomplished many important things, they seem insignificant Toll-free legislative hotline: considering the terrible wildfires that have destroyed homes and 1-800-562-6000 livelihoods throughout our part of the state in the weeks since I got home. DISTRICT OFFICE: We are all saddened that three young firefighters were lost and a fourth 625 Okanogan Ave., Suite 301 is fighting for his life due to severe burns, and pray for the recovery of all Wenatchee, WA 98801 those harmed while trying to protect people and property. PHONE: (509) 663-9702 I represent you as your state senator even when we are not at the Capitol. SENATE LEADERSHIP: I welcome your questions and comments and hope you won’t hesitate to Majority Coalition Caucus Chair contact me using the information on this page. SENATE STANDING COMMITTEES: • Health Care With warm regards, • Ways and Means (budget) • Rules Senator Linda Evans Parlette • 2015 Legislative Report No new taxes needed to balance new state budget The priority for our 2015 session was to $12,000 agree on a new budget to fund the next $10,740 two years of state-government operations $10,336 First-ever tuition cuts $10,000 (services and programs, such as education). $7,560 $7,560 Highlights of the new operating budget $8,000 $6,954 $6,968 $7,209 include: $6,491 $6,000 $5,400 $5,400 $5,400 $5,400 • A record level of support for K-12 education $4,000 $3,217 • The first cut in college tuition in state $2,000 history (at state-run colleges and $0 universities) UW WSU CWU EWU TESC WWU CCs • More support for mental-health Current Tuition New Tuition evaluation and treatment • More senior citizens and disabled residents are eligible for property-tax relief been steadily improving, and generating more revenue through existing tax rates. • Increased funding for services to Washington’s developmentally disabled community Since our bipartisan coalition began leading the Senate in 2013 we have focused on keeping state-government This year leaders of the majority in the House of spending within the amount of revenue available. While Representatives wanted new taxes (such as a tax on that priority meant a longer-than-usual legislative income from selling investments) to enable even more session this year, we know stable tax rates are good for spending. Our Senate majority saw no need for new Washington families and employers and can only help taxes, however, because Washington’s economy has our state’s economy continue its recovery. Package of new highway investments is first since 2005 Our final day at the Capitol brought the passage of are intended to increase accountability for project the final bill in a transportation reform-and-revenue management and stretch taxpayer dollars even package that will fund and complete local highway further. projects across Washington. On top of supporting For people in our part of the state, the improvements new roads across the state, it dedicates $1.5 billion this package will make to Interstate 90 through to repairs and maintenance of existing roads while Snoqualmie Pass are as important as any local unlocking some 200,000 construction jobs. projects. The same is true for the improvements A gas-tax increase phased in over two years is the it funds for the I-90 junction with State Route 18 primary revenue source for this package of projects. (the Auburn cutoff, west to Interstate 5). Also, While no one wants to pay more at the pump, it has there is funding to take down the Department been 10 years since lawmakers approved a change of Transportation building in Wenatchee (on in the gas tax – which is still the most stable source Wenatchee Avenue) and rebuild it elsewhere. This of funding for the costly job of building, repairing long-needed move will make space available for and maintaining roads. More importantly, our economic development. Senate majority insisted on several reforms that Senator Linda Evans Parlette • 2015 Legislative Report Senate majority leads way to historic support for education Until a few years ago the level of state spending on two years. This year we went farther by leading the way non-education services and programs was growing to the first tuition cut in state history. faster than the level of spending on our public schools • Under our “College Affordability Program” legislation (see chart below). This had been the case for decades, all students will see a 5% tuition cut across the board even though Washington’s constitution clearly states for 2015-16. A larger reduction follows at four-year the Legislature’s number-one duty is to provide for institutions for 2016-17, saving many students more basic education. Our bipartisan coalition has turned than $2,000 overall. that around. Spending on education overall is up by • Besides reducing tuition for the first time in state 19% in the new budget, compared to a 6% rise in non- history (also the lone tuition cut approved in the education spending. nation this year) the new law also caps the rate of Historic support for public schools: Support for K-12 future tuition growth by tying it to a percentage of the education accounts for more than 47% of the new state’s median wage. operating budget – a record $18.2 billion. A share that large has not been seen in at least 30 years. My legislation to preserve and • We directed $1.3 billion specifically toward K-3 class- size reduction, all-day kindergarten, and fully funding increase access to education, the maintenance, supplies, and operating costs of our health care, recreation school districts. This is a strong response to the state Supreme Court’s ruling in the McCleary education- • Stehekin school can stay: State law used to require funding case from 2012. a school district to dissolve if its K-8 enrollment dropped below five students. Not any more — now • Also, teachers will get their voter-approved 3% cost- K-8 enrollment must be lower than five for three of-living pay increase plus another 1.8% pay increase consecutive years before a district may be dissolved. in the next two years. I proposed that change (Senate Bill 5120) to protect Lower tuition improves access to college, reduces access to education for Stehekin families; enrollment student debt: Our Senate majority initiated the tuition at the one-room Stehekin School was under five this freeze at state-run colleges and universities these past year, but has a history of being over five in most years. Until 2013, funding for education was a lower priority 600% 575% 500% 400% All Other Government 287% 300% 200% Education 100% 0% 1982-83 1983-85 1985-87 1987-89 1989-91 1991-93 1993-95 1995-97 1997-99 1999-01 2001-03 2003-05 2005-07 2007-09 2009-11 2011-13 Funds NGFS + Opp. Pathways + Hosp. Assessment — 1981-83 to 2011-13; Education = K-12, Higher Ed. & Dept. Early Learning Senator Linda Evans Parlette • 2015 Legislative Report • Health-care breakthroughs: As a registered prescribe and distribute prepackaged emergency pharmacist I am concerned about access to health medications to emergency-room patients, when care. Three health-care policies I proposed this year pharmacy services are not available within 15 miles became law; two are examples of “model” legislation of the hospital – or if the patient has no reasonable that other states may consider. ability to reach a pharmacy. Those scenarios are ▶ The law created by Engrossed Substitute Senate not uncommon in our part of Washington. Bill 5557 makes Washington the first state to grant • “No Child Left Inside” to continue: In 2014 the gov- “provider” status to pharmacists, from a health- ernor appointed me to his Blue Ribbon Task Force on plan standpoint. This allows pharmacists to take a Parks and Outdoor Recreation.