Establishing Washington’s 2015-2017 Biennial Budget: The Longest Session on Record

With great anticipation, the 2015 Washington state legislative 105-day long session convened Monday January 12 to address a number of legislative issues left on the table at the end of the 2014 legislative session.  These issues include amendments to the recreational marijuana statute (Initiative 502) enacted in 2012, oil-transport via rail, minimum-wage, loss of the No Child Left Behind waiver, and gasoline-tax increases for enhancements to the state’s transportation infrastructure. The provisions of the Washington State Constitution outlining the “paramount duty” to amply provide for the basic education of youth remained the virtual elephant in the room, casting a giant shadow over all budget bills.