Advocacy and Public Policy Briefing
Prepared by Susan D. Baird-Joshi, Region 2 Legislative Chair, Washington State PTA * July 29, 2017
1. Ballots Due August 1, 2017
Mail your Washington State ballots or drop them off by Tuesday, August 1, 2017, 8 p.m. Issues in this summer ballot
include taxes and preliminary votes for elected officials:
• King County Proposition 1 Sales Tax for Cultural Access Program
• Elected positions with more than two candidates (school district boards, city councils, port commissioners, and
county executive)
The ballot mailer includes a list of drop-off locations in King County. For more election information, visit the King
County Elections home page, http://kingcounty.gov/depts/elections.aspx. For news and reminders, visit the KC Elections
Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/kcelections/ .
WA State PTA has not taken a position on Prop. 1. PTAs cannot endorse candidates.
2. Washington State Legislative Session Includes Benefits for Children and Families
Extending into multiple special sessions during the summer, the Washington State Legislature and Governor approved a
budget that includes funding provisions to address the McCleary decision, requiring the state to “amply fund” K-12 basic
education. The bill included $7.3 billion in new funding for K-12 education to satisfy McCleary.
Other actions that could benefit children and families include the Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) Program,
increased funding for the State Need Grant and a new Department of Children, Youth and Families.
The House proposed a Capital Budget with construction projects throughout the state totaling $4.17 billion, including new
schools. However, the Legislature adjourned before passing the legislation. The Senate Republicans wanted a long-term
solution to the State Supreme Court’s decision affecting property owners’ water rights and abilities to drill wells, known
as the Hirst decision. For more information, see the Governor’s session round-up. https://medium.com/wagovernor/2017-legislative-session-produces-major-achievements-for-washington-74d6d557e3b4
3. Affordable Care Act Proposed Changes Would Have Impacted Washington’s Children
On June 28 Washington State’s Governor Jay Inslee and Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler sent a joint letter to
Washington State’s Congressional delegation—two senators and 10 representatives—urging them to vote no on the
Senate’s Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA). The act did not pass. More children would have lost coverage due to
their parents’ loss of coverage. The governor’s web site has the letter and facts about health insurance in Washington.
Region 2 covers eastern King County and consists of the Bellevue, Issaquah, Lake Washington, Mercer Island, Riverview, and Snoqualmie Valley school districts. https://www.wastatepta.org/pta-leaders/pta-regions/region-2/