WSCC Catholic Advocacy Bulletin - 2015 Legislative Wrap-Up

WSCC Catholic Advocacy Bulletin - 2015, No. 19

July 13, 2015

2015 Legislative Session Finally Ends
On Friday, July 10th, the longest Washington State legislative session, finally adjourned after 178 days and three special sessions. A history-making adventure in politics and compromise.

The second special session ended on June 27 without passing the 2015-2017 operating budget. The Governor immediately called a third special session which began on June 28. Budget negotiators from the House and Senate hammered out a compromise on June 29. The House passed the Operating Budget by a vote of 90-8, and the Senate passed it by a 38-10 margin. The Governor signed it the next day, averting a shutdown of the state government.

The operating budget provides $38.2 billion to fund agencies and programs for the next two years. The compromise does not include a capital gains tax; although it eliminates a number of tax exemptions and preferential tax rates. This will result in about $350 million in additional revenue through 2019.

Legislators were also able to pass a capital budget and a long overdue transportation budget. Even though the Legislature passed the three budgets, it was not able to adjourn. Key measures that are needed to implement the new budgets, especially bonding measures for the capital and transportation budgets had yet to be passed. However, these bills were not taken up because an agreement on a bill necessary to implement the budget began to unravel.

The sticking point was over whether to partially suspend I-1351 that voters approved last fall to reduce K-12 class sizes. The 2015-2017 budget includes funding to reduce only K-3 class sizes. Without delaying the implementation of the part of I-1351 covering grades 4-12, the state operating budget would have been about $2 billion short of being balanced. The state constitution requires the budget to balance. In order to modify an initiative within two years after enactment, the I-1351 partial suspension required a two-thirds majority vote. The issue was resolved when a compromise was reached between the Republicans and Democrats in the Senate. After this compromise, the bond bills were quickly passed and the 2015 legislative session ended.

Social Service Funding Begins Recovery from the Recession
For the first time since the fiscal crisis, legislators added significant funding to social service programs in the 2015-2017 operating budget. Encouraged in part by those who participated in Catholic Advocacy Day in March and your response to WSCC Alerts, several key programs had their first real increases in years. The new operating budget provides a 9% increase for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This $30 million increase for TANF partially restores the 15% cut made in the wake of the recession. Responding to constituents and several court orders, legislators included approximately $70 million in additional funding for the evaluation and treatment of people with mental illness. The State Food Assistance Program (FAP) that serves legal immigrants who are not eligible for food stamps was restored to 100% of the federal level after struggling for the last four years at only 75% of the federal level.

However, other programs were not increased. The Housing and Essential Needs (HEN) program will continue to be funded at current levels. While not increased, maintaining current levels could not have occurred without advocates pressing lawmakers on behalf of poor and vulnerable people. Funding for Volunteer Services will stay the same as in the last biennial budget. The basic human needs of many Washingtonians continue to go unmet. Plan on participating in next year's Catholic Advocacy Day, February 8, 2016.

More Housing for Homeless
Early on July 1st, the Legislature approved the 2015-2017 capital budget. Noteworthy is that the Housing Trust Fund will receive $75 million over the next two years. While not the $100 million WSCC and other housing advocates were asking, the budgeted amount will fund desperately needed projects throughout the state for seniors, veterans, homeless youth, families, and farmworkers.

Your Advocacy Efforts Rewarded
The funding increases for essential programs in the operating and capital budgets are a testament to your advocacy efforts during the 2015 legislative session. Both on Catholic Advocacy Day and at other times during the legislative session, your contacts with legislators significantly contributed to better than anticipated budgets for vulnerable people.

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The Washington State Catholic Conference (WSCC) is the public policy voice of the Catholic Bishops of Washington State.