News & Updates

This morning, after five months of study, analysis and a lot of public outreach, two reports were released regarding the future of a new UW campus in North Puget Sound.

The first report, was prepared by the University and is the preliminary academic plan for the new campus.  In a nutshell, the plan calls for the establishment of a four year comprehensive UW branch campus by 2025 to serve approximately 5,000 students with a broad array of arts and sciences academic programs as well as a strong concentration of degrees in the so-called “STEM” disciplines (science, technology, engineering and math).  The campus would serve not only residents of the Snohomish, Island and Skagit county areas but it also intended to draw students from throughout the state and northwest region, attracted primarily to obtain four year STEM degrees.  Students attending the campus would also benefit from academic programs that included an “experiential learning” component which will involve working in the community with private or public partners on real world projects tied to their field of study.  The plan also calls for an ambitious K-12 outreach effort because a significant portion of the future demand for the campus will depend on the ability of the University and the state to increase college participation rates, particularly in this geographic area.

The second report, prepared by NBBJ consultants, contains siting options and recommendations for the new campus.  This report evaluates the sites suggested for the new campus and provides a detailed description and analysis of the four final sites in Lake Stevens (Calavero); Marysville (Smokey Point) and Everett (Pacific Station and Riverside).  The report concludes that the Everett Pacific Station site is the most preferable given that it leverages the region’s existing urban infrastructure and current and forecasted employment opportunities, promises the most sustainable campus development strategy in the 21st century and is among the least costly solutions for on and off campus infrastructure improvements.

So, what happens next?  Hopefully, everyone involved in the process of building this new campus will carefully review both of these new reports.  The Governor’s 2008 supplemental budget recommendations (which are due no later than December 20), could contain some funding for the new campus in the form of monies for new programs which might be offered in the Fall of 2008 as well as for the K-16 outreach effort.  It is not yet clear if the Governor will endorse the consultant’s site recommendations.

Ultimately, the final decision on both short and long term funding for the new campus rests with the state legislature.  They are also charged with making the final decision on where the new UW North Sound campus will ultimately be located.  The 2008 legislative session convenes on Monday January 14, 2008.

• Late Friday afternoon and in response to the Supreme Court decision which declared Initiative 747 unconstitutional, Governor Gregoire announced that she would seek to reimpose the 1% property tax limitation during the upcoming 2008 legislative session.  Here’s a link to a statement from her office announcing the decision.
• Representative Jon Lovick (D-Mill Creek) who serves as Speaker Pro Tempore is the new Snohomish County Sheriff.  According to this morning’s Everett Herald, Lovick plans to announce his resignation from the House tomorrow in a letter to the Governor.  The paper further identified three candidates for Lovick’s 44th district seat.  They are former Snohomish Mayor Liz Loomis, 2006 state Senate candidate Lillian Kaufer and county Democratic party chairman Mark Hintz.
• Representative Brian Sullivan (D-Mukilteo) won a seat on the Snohomish County Council will announce his resignation from his 21st district seat this Friday.  The three individuals vying for his position include Snohomish County Labor President Darrell Chapman, Mulkiteo City Councilman Marko Liias, and Lynnwood City Councilman Mark Smith.  Sullivan served as chair of the House Agriculture and Natural Resources committee.

As many of you have already read, the state Supreme Court ruled yesterday that Tim Eyman’s 2001 Initiative 747 was unconstitutional on a close 5-4 decision.  That initiative limited increases in property tax collections to 1 percent per year unless voters approved higher amounts.  The Supreme Court upheld a June 2006 King County Superior Court ruling that found voters were deceived by the initiative because the text of the measure misled voters about the substantive impact of the intiative on existing law.

While it is impossible to tell what this ruling means for your own property taxes in the short or long term, the ruling clearly puts the property tax issue right on the front burner for the 2008 legislative session.  Already Governor Gregoire has asked local governments to resist raising property taxes, attempting to calm homeowner fears that in the words of Tim Eyman local governments “will be like pigs at the trough.”

Both Democrats and Republican legislators seem to agree that some sort of property tax cap will need to be re-enacted, but the question is what sort of cap can get enough votes in both chambers?  Given the failure on election day of tax increases for transportation in Proposition 1 and a sales tax increase for social programs in Thurston County, many members are sensing the public is back in a strong “no tax” mood.  Expect some pushback from local government officials, though, who have struggled to maintain service levels for the past several years while having to live within the constraints of the 1 percent limit.

Been a very busy week for me as the deadline for the UW North Sound academic plan recommendations approaches.  Hope to get a couple of items posted here on the blog before the Veterans Day Weekend kicks in.  Here are some items you may or may not have caught in the news the past few weeks.

• Rep. Richard Curtis (R-La Center) has resigned his 18th district seat in the state House as a result of allegations that he had sex with a man he met at an erotic boutique while attending a meeting of Republican legislators in Spokane.  Curtis was serving his second term from the southwest Washington district.  No one has yet been appointed to finish his term.
• As expected, Sharon Nelson, chief of staff to King County Councilmember Dow Constantine was sworn in as the newest member of the state House from the 34th district in West Seattle.
• The House Republican Caucus has stripped Rep. Jim Dunn (R-Battle Ground) of his committee assignments and curtailed his legislative per diem in response to inappropriate behavior towards a female staffer at a recent legislative meeting.  So far, Dunn has refused to step down from his House seat.
• Freddie Hatfield, the wife of state Senator Brian Hatfield (D-Raymond), died of cancer this month at a hospital in South Bend, Washington.  She had battled the disease for several years.
• Andy McLauchlan, a former staff director for the Senate Ways and Means Committee in Olympia in 1989 and 1990 died of liver cancer on October 29.  On a personal note, Andy was my boss during those two years when I was a new budget analyst fresh from a five year stint in Sacramento.  He was smart, savvy and an awful lot of fun to work with and I will miss him greatly.  Andy was also a former staff member for Dan Evans when he served in the U.S. Senate and has been working in the shipping industry for many years.  He was 51 and leaves a wife and two young children.

Governor Christine Gregoire was honored this month by Governing Magazine as one of the nation’s top public officials.  The Governor actually appears on the cover of the November issue which singles out nine prominent leaders around the nation for their transformational impact on their respective public organizations.  Gregoire was the only governor to make the list.

Governing Magazine mentioned Gregoire’s Government Management Accountability Program known as “GMAP” and her “negotiator-in-chief” style of dealing with tough problems.  She plans to personally attend the award ceremony in Washington, D.C. next Wednesday.

Harold Clarke, the head of the state Department of Corrections (DOC) announced his resignation today effective November 23.  He is leaving to become head of the Massachusetts prison system said a DOC spokesman.

Clarke was hired by Governor Gregoire in January 2005 after having served as head of the correction system in Nebraska.  He has recently been under fire from DOC employees who were openly critical of his job performance.  According to the Seattle Times, the Governor’s office did not ask for his resignation.  There was no announcement about who will take Clarke’s place.

The Seattle Weekly reports that Sharon Nelson, chief of staff to King County Councilmember Dow Constantine will get the nod from local Democrats to succeed Joe McDermott as a House member in the 34th legislative district (West Seattle, Vashon Island).  McDermott was recently appointed to the State Senate to complete the term of Erik Poulsen who resigned last month to become Executive Director of the Washington Public Utility Districts Association.  Nelson is expected to focus a lot of attention on transportation issues.

Well, we are less than a week away from the general election so I figured I’d better finish this preview or you will all have send your ballots in without reading these truly insightful comments.  In this election final preview, we will cover the two remaining ballot measures that we have not yet discussed — Referendum 67 and Senate Joint Resolution (SJR) 8212.

During the 2007 session, the Legislature passed SSB 5726 which established the insurance fair conduct act.  This measure would make it unlawful for insurers to unreasonably deny insurance coverage or payment of benefits and allows “first party claimants” to an insurance policy to sue insurers for unresonable denials of coverage or payment of benefits.  Essentially, Referendum 67 asks the voters of the state of Washington their opinion on this bill.  A vote in favor of Referendum 67 means SSB 5726 would be enacted into law.  A vote against the referendum means the bill as passed the Legislature would not go into effect.

Proponents of Referendum 67 argue that the measure simply requires the insurance industry to be fair and pay legitimate claims in a reasonable and timely manner.  They claim that Washington is one of only 5 states with no penalty when insurers intentionally deny a claim.  Supporters include Rep. Steve Kirby (D-Tacoma); Rep. Tom Campbell (R-Roy); Diane Sosne, President of SEIU Local 1199; and Kelly Fox, President of the Washington Council of Firefighters.

Opponents of Referendum 67 argue that the measure will increase the number of frivolous lawsuits and represents a windfall for lawyers at the expense of consumers.  They claim that existing laws enforced by the state Insurance Commissioner are adequate to protect consumers.  Individuals listed against Referendum 67 include W. Hugh Maloney, President of the Washington State Medical Association; Don Brunell, President of the Association of Washington Business; Dana Childers, Executive Director of the Liability Reform Coalition; and Bill Garrity, President of the Washington Construction Industry Council.

SJR 8212 is a proposed amendment to the State Constitution which would authorize the state to contract out inmate labor in Washington State provided that the inmate labor programs are operated so that they do not unfairly compete with Washington businesses.

For many years, the state Department of Corrections (DOC) has managed a comprehensive inmate work program.  Part of that program involves Class I industries or “free venture” industries that use outside employers (both profit and non-profit) that produce goods and services for the public using DOC inmates.  The inmates work for these industries by their own choice and are paid wages that are comparable to wages paid outside the prison.

In 2004, the Washington Supreme Court ruled that these Class I prison industry programs violated article II, section 29 of the State Constitution.  Therefore, SJR 8212 would establish the ability of DOC to operate these work programs in the constitution.

Supporters of the resolution argue that that these work programs are important because they have been proven to reduce the chance of re-offending upon release.  The wages paid to the inmates also helps to insure that victims of crime received timely compensation for the offense.  Proponents include Senator Jim Hargrove (D-Hoquiam); Sen. Mike Carrell (R-Lakewood); Rep. Al O-Brien (D-Mountlake Terrace); and Donald Pierce, Executive Director of the Washington Association of Sheriffs and Police Chiefs.

Opponents claim that the purpose of the criminal justice system is to dispense justice and punishment for crimes and that the proposed work programs will take jobs away from law abiding private citizens.  They argue that the existing prison training and vocational programs should be sufficient to help offenders prepare to re-enter society.  Rep. Lynn Shindler (R-Spokane) and Rep. Larry Crouse (R-Spokane) prepared the voters pamphlet argument against the amendment.

Last Thursday, representatives from the four-year and two-year institutions attended the Higher Education Coordinating Board (HECB) meeting at WSU Vancouver to present their respective 2008 supplemental budget proposals.  As you may know, the University is asking Olympia for about $21 million additional state dollars on the operating side and about $19 million in additional capital budget support.

Prior to the meeting, however, the Board’s fiscal committee decided to follow the lead of the Governor’s Office of Financial Management and endorse only those supplemental requests that corrected technical errors in the underlying 2007-09 biennial budget or which addressed emergent or critical needs.  Insitutional policy requests, which the Board acknowledged had merit, would be deferred for consideration in the 2009-11 budget cycle.

So, which UW budget requests made the HECB cut?  Well, not too many.  Only three of the University’s nine individual operating budget requests received a “Do Pass” recommendation from the Board including proposals to restore the cut to non-resident graduate student subsidies ($1.9 million); provide for a safer campus ($862,000), and establish a recruitment and retention salary pool for professional staff and librarians ($3.3 million).  On the capital side, only our $4.5 million request related to campus safety was recommended.

The Governor is now just beginning her review of all agency supplemental budget requests so the University’s attention turns to the executive branch.  Her 2008 supplemental budget recommendations are due to be forwarded to the Legislature no later than December 20, 2007.

The Seattle Post-Intelligencer broke the story on their blog yesterday afternoon that Dino Rossi would announce this Thursday that he will run again for Governor in the 2008 general election.  I realize there isn’t a whole lot of drama about this since speculation he would run has been a regular feature of the political blogs since the day he conceded the 2004 election more than three years ago.

Still, there’s nothing like a old formal announcement to officially kick off the highly anticipated rematch with Governor Christine Gregoire.  This morning’s Seattle Times indicates he will hold two functions on Thursday — one in Issaquah in the morning and one in Spokane in the afternoon.  No word yet about when the Governor will make her candidacy “official.”