DOR requests 5 year sunsets for new tax preferences
The state Department of Revenue (DOR) is requesting legislation that would automatically sunset any new, extended, or amended tax preference after 5 years. DOR's request bill (HB 2530) is scheduled for a public hearing at 3:30 on Monday.
According to DOR:
Superintendents: Turn your districts into charter school districts, like the one in New Orleans
Neerav Kingsland, chief strategy officer for New Schools for New Orleans, has written a great open letter to urban superintendents across the nation. The five parts of this letter have been published this week in Rick Hess’ Education Week blog, starting with Part I on Monday, January 23 and ending tomorrow, Friday, January 27th.
Mr. Kingsland says this to the urban superintendents: Stop trying to be Reformers of your centralized bureaucracies. Start being Relinquishers of power. Give that power to independently run charter public schools.
Remember the budget deficit?
As we conclude the 18th day of the 2012 REGULAR Session, the lack of legislative urgency to solve the state's billion dollar plus deficit grows more troubling with each passing day. It's been 92 days since the Governor called last December's special session declaring "timely legislative action is needed to secure the State’s fiscal health and address the shortfall in the 2011-2013 operating budget."
Sound Transit performance audit awarded to TKW
The State Auditor's Office has selected Talbot, Korvola & Warwick, LLP (TKW), in conjunction with Delcan Corporation to conduct the performance audit of Sound Transit.
In its proposal, the company says its approach will include the following scope of questions:
1. Has Sound Transit implemented the State Auditor’s recommendations from the prior performance audit in time to benefit Sound Transit 2, which was approved by voters on November 4, 2008? If not, how was ST2 affected?
State argues 18-year-old 2/3 vote requirement for taxes is constitutional
Acting on behalf of the state the Attorney General's Office has once again argued the 1993 voter-approved requirement for a 2/3 vote to raise taxes is constitutional (policy has been subsequently re-approved by the voters and legislature on multiple occasions).
Here are some pull quotes from the state's motion for summary judgment in the most recent legal challenge:
Legislators introduce bill to toll Alaskan Way Viaduct
Charter public schools would give us more Eric Pettigrews
The air was electric at today’s House hearing on HB 2428. Everyone in the room knew that this bill, if it passes, would allow the first charter public schools in Washington’s history. This bill, if it passes, would move Washington state into the vanguard of education reform. This bill, if it passes, will remove Washington from the list of nine backwater states which currently ban charter public schools. <
Indonesian railway stringing concrete balls to deter roof riders
A common problem in some countries is passengers riding on the roofs of trains because there is not enough room inside. So instead of adding more train cars, officials in Indonesia have a different approach....stringing concrete balls across the tracks to presumably knock people off if they decide to hitch a ride on the roof. Read the article and watch the video.
Meanwhile, Sound Transit officials have more pressing problems...Light-rail riders drop their pants to lift spirits.
State Auditor sheds light on local government finances
State Auditor Brian Sonntag launched a new website today that allows citizens to quickly find data on local government finances. Here is a summary of the new resource:
Welcome to the new Local Government Finance Reporting System (LGFRS). This site is designed to mirror the annual report data submitted to the State Auditor’s Office by local governments. It includes unaudited data for all local governments . . .
HB 2370: Bike lanes and sidewalks instead of reducing traffic congestion
A new bill in Olympia would add Health as a transportation policy goal, leaving congestion relief off the list…again.
Washington has six transportation goals. They are:
The News Tribune calls for charter schools and better thinking about education reform
The News Tribune published a smart editorial about education reform over the weekend. It is called "School reform can't wait for a booming economy."
It is well worth reading. Check it out here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/15/1984005/school-reform-cant-wait-for-a.html.
House committee passes LEAN management bill
Neither ice nor snow could slow down efforts to improve agency efficiency today as the House State Government Committee adopted by a vote of 11-0 an amended version of HB 2173: Maximizing the use of lean strategies in state government.
Here is a memo describing the changes from the original bill:
A Day to Honor Dr. King, Break Down Barriers...and be Green
As we honor the message of Dr. King, we should take the opportunity to break down barriers by making the world a little closer through trade. While the environmental community encourages us to buy from others in our own community, those whose culture and experiences are most like ours, we want to encourage you to enjoy the work, skill and craftsmanship of those in cultures unlike ours.
Charter School Bill Threatens Union’s Power
The ink was barely dry on a proposed charter school bill (SB 6202, HB 2428), before it became the target of attack by Mary Lindquist, president of the Washington Education Association, the state’s powerful teachers’ union.
Cuba: Leader in Business Innovation
Over at the Bainbridge Graduate Institute, which describes itself as "The Pioneer of Sustainable Business Education," the institute is committed to educating about the ways business can promote environmental sustainability. On its web page, BGIs purpose statement reads: "We believe that business—as society’s most influential institution—is a powerful force for social change."