The Governor’s Washington Learns higher education legislation (SB 5806) was pulled from the House Rules Committee last evening for possible consideration on the House Floor today. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Mark Schoesler (R-Ritzville) caps resident undergradaute tuition rates at no more than 7 percent, but also establishes the Global Challenge States (GCS) and the peer institution funding comparisons for higher education institutions and requires funding of higher education schools in the state at the 60th percentile of GCS schools within at least 10 years.
In other Olympia news, capital budget negotiators met briefly yesterday at noon to talk about their respective spending differences. Operating budget negotiations are beginning more slowly but sources indicate that conversations are beginning, initially focused on the size of the ending reserve and whether the House will accept the Governor and Senate proposals for a constitutional rainy day fund.