By Randi Becker After weeks of meetings between leaders of the operating budget, capital budget and the transportation revenue-reform package, many long nights and a surprise-near budget derailment, a final agreement was reached and the Legislature's never-ending session adjourned July 10. Just over a week before, we believed there was a "five cornersGÇ¥ agreement. The governor's office and leaders of both caucuses in the Senate and House of Representatives had agreed to a package of final bills. At the 11th hour, just after Governor Jay Inslee had signed the state's 2015-17 budget, a group of Senate Democrats decided that they would not vote to suspend Initiative 1351. As a result, the hours-old operating budget was already blown out of balance by $2 billion. The nature of negotiation means that no one gets everything they want. Another important aspect of compromise and negotiation is keeping your word. It was truly disappointing to see this group of Senate Democrats not only go back on promises they made to our caucus, but even their own members were caught by surprise. In the end, however, I can honestly say that the people of Washington came out the winners. Read on for a summary of these important decisions:
Operating budget GÇô a win for students, taxpayers
For weeks, the word in Olympia had been that the two-year operating budget proposed by the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus was the "go home budget.GÇ¥ It was our belief that we could fully fund education, cut college tuition costs and provide amply for our state's most vulnerable in a responsible, sustainable way. I'm pleased to say that the final budget we passed does all of those things, and does not include the $1.5 billion in taxes the House Democrats wanted at the beginning of the legislative session! The McCleary mandate provided the framework that the rest of the budget was built on. Armed with $3.2 billion more in anticipated revenue over the next two years, we began by making the largest investment in state history toward education. We provided teachers with cost-of-living pay increases and cut higher education tuition GÇô a first not only in our state, but a first in our nation! In the end 47.5 percent of the state budget is now devoted to K-12, higher education and early learning. Before our Majority Coalition Caucus began leading the Senate in 2013, the rate of spending on non-education services and programs had been increasing more than the rate of spending on education for decades. As a testament to the turnaround, this year's budget increases spending on non-education services by only 6 percent, while boosting education spending 19 percent. Next, we made significant new investments in treatments and facilities for the mentally ill. The threshold that allows senior citizens to qualify for a property tax exemption was raised, which will allow more folks to stay in their own homes. Increased funding for our developmentally disabled community was also provided. The law requires that the final budget balance over four years. After more negotiation, the Senate Democrats agreed to suspend the class-size initiative that was holding up the end of the legislative session and also punched a $2 billion hole in the operating budget. Substantive plans were already in the works to tackle the well-meaning but costly initiative during the 2016 session. The final budget plan is sustainable, balances as the law requires, and also leaves a projected $1.4 billion rainy-day fund, the largest in state history. Transportation reform and revenue package GÇô reducing congestion, holding DOT accountable
The Legislature passed the last of the bills necessary for a $16 billion transportation reform and revenue package that will fund and complete six mega projects, over 140 local projects, and provide our state with 100,000 new good-paying construction jobs. This is a once-in-a decade plan. Cost-saving reforms that the Majority Coalition Caucus insisted on remained in the final slate of package bills. These accountability measures will hold DOT's (state Department of Transportation) feet to the fire and stretch taxpayer dollars even further. Most importantly, the unnecessary low-carbon fuel standard (LCFS) that was the governor's "must haveGÇ¥ did not make it into the package. The implementation of a LCFS would have driven fuel prices up with no environmental or transportation benefit. An 11.9 cent-per-gallon gas-tax increase, phased in over two years, will serve as the primary revenue source for the package. While no one wants to pay more at the pump, unfortunately roads are costly. Many different options were explored, but in the end, a gas tax still serves as our most stable and protected revenue source. I've heard from folks in our district about the nightmare traffic that they face every day as they travel to work and back home. Many were willing to pay a bit more at the pump knowing they would recoup those costs by not idling in traffic for hours each day. The fact that the projects in our district were funded to completion and the money was included for a study on improving roads in the Orting area led to my support of this package. http://randibecker.src.wastateleg.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2015/03/Becker-March-13.jpgWhile I'm thrilled that finishing the Yelm Loop was included in the final package, it's the roads and highways surrounding our area that impact us even more. You'll be pleased to know that congestion relief through the JBLM corridor is funded, as is the completion of State Route 167. Those changes alone will lead to an improved quality of life for those of us who commute out the district to work every day.
Capital budget GÇô building more classrooms, providing for parks
The capital budget allocates money for public buildings, schools, public lands and parks. The Legislature typically enacts a new capital budget when a new operating budget is created, every two years. This year's $3.9 billion capital budget mirrors the same principles of our operating budget: reforms, transparency and accountability. Highlights include: \* $138 million for water and flood relief. \* $26 million for drought and forest health. \* $152 million for local parks and trails. \* $200 million for 500 classrooms. \* $32 million community mental health beds. \* Home Ownership in Housing Trust Fund (10 percent)
Randi Becker, a Republican, is the state senator from the Second Legislative District, which includes south Pierce County.
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