This Week At the Capitol

As expected, this session is moving along rapidly.  Policy bills need to be introduced, heard and moved out of their house of origin quickly. Because of this timeline, each day there are a great number of people at the legislature advocating for their issue. It is a very crowded building!

The Governor’s supplemental budget was announced last week and now the session begins in earnest. The House and the Senate quickly passed their bonding bill, making the case that it will bring needed infrastructure to the state along with needed jobs. One local metro paper said it best this week with the headline “Yes, Yes, No,” referring to what most people think will be the fate of any bill this session that does not agree with the executive branch. As of Thursday, with the hopes of negotiations, the bonding bill had yet to be presented to the Governor. I cannot stress enough that without additional revenue—translation, taxes—the state budget balancing act is a zero sum game. If schools are “held harmless” another needed part of the budget must pick up the cost…………..

This weeks Parents United Newsletter is packed full of important information.  Please access full newsletter/update here.