A significant issue facing the Legislature this year is addressing something called the levy cliff. If the Legislature fails to act by April, school districts in every county of our state will get a massive budget cut, totaling $358 million. Although the bill to avoid going over the levy cliff passed with strong bipartisan support last week in the House and had bipartisan support in the Senate last year, Senate Republicans have locked up against it this year. They say it is to keep the pressure on to fully fund schools, but in reality it only holds their own school districts hostage.
If we go over the levy cliff, it will be the largest cut to schools in our state’s history. Seattle Public Schools will lose tens of millions of dollars, while Renton will also lose millions (for an interactive map for cuts to districts statewide, please click here). This is unacceptable. Democrats are doing everything we can to get the bill through the Senate before districts have to start sending out layoff notices to teachers and cutting programs for students.
I co-sponsored Senate Bill 5312, a bill to “Ban the Box” and prohibit the inclusion of a check-box for criminal records on job applications. A public hearing will be held on the bill this Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. in Senate Hearing Room 4. Come to Olympia to testify on the bill, or follow along online by clicking here.
The City of Seattle enacted a similar measure, known as the Fair Chance Employment Ordinance, which went into effect on Nov. 1, 2013. Dozens of other cities and a number of states have also passed Ban the Box measures. More than 70 million Americans have a criminal record, and studies show individuals who have been incarcerated are much less likely to re-offend if they have steady employment. Data also shows people of color are disproportionately affected by these vetting practices.
People are suffering now. People need jobs, and employers need qualified employees. This bill gives those who have paid their debt to society a chance to get a job, support their families and rebuild their lives. Another version of the bill is working its way through the House, sponsored by Rep. Ortiz-Self, D-Mukilteo (House Bill 1298) and I am hopeful one of the bills will pass and become law this session.
The President’s Executive Orders last Friday is an affront to everyone that lives in our district. If you or someone you know has been affected by the recent executive action against immigrants and refugees, please seek support. Below is a list of local resources:
- City of Seattle has a long list of resources here
- Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
- American Civil Liberties Union-Seattle
- OneAmerica
- City of Seattle’s Immigrant and Refugee Commission
To read a statement of principle from the Senate Members of Color Caucus, please click here.
To read the Attorney General of Washington’s statement regarding his lawsuit against the Trump Administration, please click here.
