Legislature still in special session…
During even-numbered years the Legislature adopts a supplemental budget, making changes to the biennial budget passed the year before. It has been a unique year as seven supplemental budget proposals have been introduced! Two budgets were still under consideration at the end of the regular session – one passed by the House, the other by the Senate. Time ran out so the regular session ended without passage of a supplemental budget and a solution to the budget deficit problem. The Governor called the Legislature into special session anticipating that the differences would be ironed out quickly. Unfortunately, at the time of this writing there has been no budget agreement. The Governor is mediating daily sessions of the budget writers from both parties.
And that is where we stand – at an impasse. Most Legislators are at home working in their districts and will not return to Olympia this week. Negotiations continue but it is all behind closed doors. Our lobbyist Donna Christensen meets regularly with key supporters in the Legislature and has been advised that HCP funding is not in danger, though anything can happen.
There will probably be (undefined) changes to K-12 education in the final budget when it appears. When the impasse is broken legislators will return to Olympia to vote. There will not be any opportunities to testify or propose any amendments. It is usually a take it or leave it situation.
What can and should we be doing right now?
1. All of you who have had contacts with supportive legislators should write or phone as soon as possible to say “Thank You” for their support. You know who these legislators are so we leave it to you to take the initiative and make these important contacts. Don’t ask for anything. Just say thank you for the continuing support. This helps to shore up our support in the Legislature in general.
2. Donna will be notified when legislators are due back in Olympia, and she will let us know if we need to call on you to contact legislators. We will get a message out to you as rapidly as possible.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNFAILING SUPPORT OF OUR EFFORTS ON BEHALF OF GIFTED STUDENTS. For some insight on why we all make this effort, see http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/unwrapping_the_gifted/
You can follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/wagifted
or on our blog at http://wcge.wordpress.com