Washington Business Fall 2018 | Legislative Review & Vote Record | Page 15

washington business The plaintiffs’ attorney, Thomas Ahearne, isn’t quite ready to take a victory lap. In an email to The Everett Herald, Ahearne said he needed to review the numbers in the latest report to see if the money allotted by the state is enough money to provide each student an amply funded education as required under the state constitution. The upcoming 2018 school year will be the first chance to see the “constitutional adequacy” of all the changes enacted by the Legislature, he said. “As the court deliberates the work the Legislature has done on K-12 education funding, AWB will continue to advocate for investments in basic education that improve student outcomes and support teachers,” Anderson said. court agrees, state has met mccleary mandates On June 7, the state Supreme Court ruled that the state has finally complied with the mandates of its 2012 McCleary K-12 education funding ruling. In doing so, the court also removed the $100,000 per day fines for lack of compliance with McCleary put in place in 2015 and terminated oversight of the Legislature’s budgeting process. “Today’s Supreme Court decision affirms that, at long last, our Legislature is providing the funding necessary to cover the basic costs of our K-12 schools,” Inslee said upon hearing the court’s announcement. “Reversing decades of underfunding has been among the heaviest lifts we’ve faced in recent years and required difficult and complex decisions, but I’m incredibly proud and grateful for all those who came together on a bipartisan basis to get this job done.” For more information on K-12 education issues, contact AWB Government Affairs Director Amy Anderson at [email protected]. For tax and fiscal issues, contact AWB Government Affairs Director Clay Hill at [email protected]. Both can be reached at 360.943.1600. “AWB will continue to advocate for investments in basic education that improve student outcomes and support teachers.” Joint Committee on Article IX Litigation Report April 9, 2018: http://bit.ly/2qcEf3j — Amy Anderson, government affairs director, AWB Printing Packaging Mailing Signage Corporate Identity Contact Jenilee Antone at 253.255.7529 or [email protected] Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee, is AWB’s 2018 Legislator of the Year. With him at left is Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn. special edition 2018 13