Rep. Seaquist Fights Against Education Cuts During Special Session

Following e-newsletter was sent from Rep. Larry Seaquist, D-Gig Harbor on Wednesday.

In . This last-minute event meant that a special session was necessary in order to negotiate a budget compromise that would garner enough votes to pass both chambers. With virtually all other business complete, we're now in the early days of talks between the "Five Corners" --Republicans & Democrats in the House and Senate, plus the Governor.  

I'm asking the negotiators to hold the line on education.  This legislature was one day away from a historic commitment: NO MORE CUTS TO K-12 EDUCATION, NO MORE CUTS TO HIGHER ED, NO MORE CUTS TO EDUCATION, PERIOD.  I'm staying in Olympia to help keep the pressure on to wrap this up ASAP.

Frankly, I'm not happy about this snafu.  As a long-time budget strategist, I think last week's breakdown was a sign that we need to change the way we operate in Olympia.  Our economic climate is changing rapidly; we need to change the way we do the taxpayers' business to keep up.

While we wait, I'm laying out a major work plan for the Higher Education Committee that I chair.  I'm asking my colleagues and our staff to take on a number of projects to try to cut the cost of college, get more students to degrees faster, and help many more working adults complete a degree or get the extra qualification they need to get a pay increase or start a new career.  We have hundreds of businesses hungry to hire skilled workers and I want to make sure our university and college system is running at top speed helping more people get better jobs.

As always, I really value your ideas.  What do you think we need to be doing next?

Please Join Us – Telephone Town Hall Thursday at 6:00 PM

On Thursday evening, beginning at 6:00 p.m., I will hold my second hour-long telephone town hall of the year. If you do not receive a call to participate on the night of the event, you can still join the conversation by calling toll-free 1-877-229-8493, and entering ID code 18646 at the prompt. This number is only available when the town hall is in session.

Please consider joining me — I look forward to discussing your ideas.

Very best wishes,

Larry