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McCleary v. State of Washington court decision is critical to ensuring budget writers fund education first, says Dahlquist

The Washington State Supreme Court today released its written decision in the case that challenged the adequacy of state funding for K-12 education under Article IX, Section 1 of the Washington State Constitution, McCleary v. State of Washington. Rep. Cathy Dahlquist, former Enumclaw School Board president and current state lawmaker focusing on education issues and funding, had this to say about today’s court decision:

“Today’s ruling makes it clear that budget writers can no longer put education on the ‘buy back’ list of government services. It is a welcome ruling and one that resonates with my work in the Legislature. This year, I introduced legislation that would ensure education was prioritized in the budget by funding it first. As we grapple with the large spending gap, the court’s directive should serve as our guide to crafting a budget that prioritizes education funding before state agencies and government programs. I also believe the court’s candor about follow through on education reforms passed by the Legislature, most notably House Bill 2776, will reinforce the fact that budget writers must be held accountable for the decisions they make and how education is treated in every spending plan moving forward.

“As a member of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee, there is an ongoing discussion about how much the state is spending on certain agencies. Most recently, the Puget Sound Partnership was the subject of our review. We have spent millions on this agency since its inception in 2007, which has not outlined or achieved a single benchmark to improve the water quality in the Puget Sound. Meanwhile, the governor and majority party are all too quick to cut education funding, then tell taxpayers they can ‘buy back’ their kids’ schooling through a $500 million dollar tax increase. These budget games are irresponsible and indefensible.

“I plan to continue to advocate for a sustainable budget that prioritizes education by funding it first. My hope is this court decision clarifies that education is our ‘paramount duty.’”

The decision can be found here. The 2012 legislative session begins Jan. 9 and is scheduled to last 60 days.

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For more information, contact Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252

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