Manweller cautions Democrat education plan may spur new lawsuits

February 22, 2017

An education funding plan to address the McCleary lawsuit moved through the state House on Wednesday – a plan that Republican say lacks reforms and a way to pay for the billions of dollars in new spending. John Sattgast reports from the state Capitol.

SATTGAST: Representative Matt Manweller called the Democrat education funding bill a failure. During floor debate, Manweller said the Democrat plan would actually increase the state's reliance on local levies to fund education – which runs counter to the McCleary directive of the state Supreme Court.

MANWELLER: “If adopted without this amendment, will get us back in court so quick, the chandeliers will shake. You cannot use local levy money to pay for basic education. We know that. There's a stack of judicial orders this high telling us that.”

SATTGAST: While the plan proposes ample spending, Republicans say Democrats fail to show how they would pay for it — leaving taxpayers wondering how they might be affected.

House Republicans offered seven amendments that focused on levy reform, class sizes, career and technical education, accountability and addressing failing schools. All but one were rejected by majority Democrats.

The measure passed the House, 50-47. It now goes to the Republican-controlled Senate where it's expected to be dead on arrival.

John Sattgast, Olympia.