HOUSE APPROVES BILL LEADING TO MORE WSU PROGRAMS IN SPOKANE. ANOTHER
SENATE VOTE TODAY?
The state House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation
late last week that will eliminate the Spokane Joint Center for Higher
Education later this year. It is legislation that is almost certain to
pave the way for more Washington State University programs to be offered
to place-bound Inland Northwest students and it is expected to lead to
more WSU-sponsored research in the Lilac City. Substitute Senate Bill 6655
passed the full House on a 64-30 vote. Two Spokane Democrats, Reps. Jeff
Gombosky and Alex Wood led the unsuccessful opposition to the bill. Gombosky
argued the bill was making changes in Spokane "far too fast." But on this
vote, the bill garnered bi-partisan support and the votes of virtually
every other state representative representing the Spokane area. An amendment
by Gombosky to continue the joint center and "strip all but study language"
from the bill was defeated 58-38. Another amendment to restrict graduate
programs that could be offered by WSU in the Spokane area was defeated
on a voice vote. The final House-approved bill contains all of the key
elements of the original legislation that passed the state Senate 28-21.
Language protecting existing Eastern Washington University programs in
Spokane was added in the House Higher Education Committee by Rep. Larry
Sheahan, R-Rosalia, a legislator who has both WSU Pullman and EWU Cheney
in his legislative district. Now, it will be up to the state Senate to
decide whether it can accept the amendments added in the House. If Senate
leaders decide to accept the changes, a final Senate "concurrence" vote
that would send the bill to Gov. Gary Locke could come today. Key authors
of the Senate language were Senate Transportation Chair Gene Prince, R-Thornton;
Senate Ways and Means Chair Jim West, R-Spokane, and Senate Higher Education
Chair Jeannette Wood, R-Woodway.
SUPPLEMENTAL CAPITAL BUDGET PASSES HOUSE - FEW DIFFERENCES LEFT BETWEEN
THE TWO HOUSES
A supplemental capital construction budget (SSB 6455) that provides
$3 million to make necessary repairs and improvements to WSU Pullman campus
buildings has passed the state House in much the same form as the state
Senate. It appears that language regarding salmon enhancement projects
are all that separate the two houses on the construction budget for all
of state government. The differences, which according to some reports may
involve just three words in the budget, may need to be resolved by a House-Senate
conference committee.
VANCOUVER BORDER COUNTY BILL APPEARS TO HAVE DIED ON THE SENATE CALENDAR
- HOUSE BILL 2373
For the second straight year, House-approved legislation creating a
pilot program for reduced tuition appears to have died in the state Senate.
House sponsors had indicated they could live with amendments added by a
Senate committee but the bill failed to clear the Senate by Friday's 5
p.m. deadline. The bill would have allowed Portland students to take up
to eight credit hours of classes from WSU Vancouver at resident tuition
rates.
HOPES FOR DISTINGUISHED PROFESSORSHIP FUNDING NOW REST WITH SENATE
BILL 6727
The last live bill in the Legislature that could provide funding for
distinguished professorships and graduate fellowships appears to be Senate
Bill 6727. The bill, however, has passed each house of the Legislature
in dramatically different forms. The Senate version of the bill, proposed
by Senate Ways and Means Chairman Jim West, could provide annual funding
for the programs. The House version of the bill provides for no funding
this year. There are no indications that the issues will be dealt with
in the supplemental operating budget (ESSB 6108) or any other bills that
are still alive in the Legislature. It was a key provision of the unsuccessful
"Endowment Bill" described below.
OPPOSITION FROM PRIVATE COLLEGES APPEARS TO HAVE KILLED HIGHER EDUCATION
"ENDOWMENT BILL"
Accusations from "independent" institutions that a major higher education
endowment bill for public schools could stifle private fundraising efforts
has apparently killed the bill in the state House of Representatives. Substitute
Senate Bill 6242, which passed the Senate 40-8, enjoyed unusual priority
support from all six of the state's public higher education institutions
and all 32 of the state's community colleges. Presidents from many of the
state's institutions spoke out for the bill. But the bill was severely
amended by the House Appropriations Committee and left to die on the House
calendar without a floor vote Friday. No public money would have been provided
by the legislation. It simply sets up the mechanism for allowing future
allocations of state dollars to public institutions to be matched on a
dollar-for-dollar basis by private donors. But the "Friends of Higher Education,"
a consortium of private institutions, said matching endowments are unfair
competition to their fundraising efforts and those of charitable groups.
Some charities have disputed that accusation but House leaders appear to
agree with the concerns.
BILL ALLOWING WSU EMPLOYEES TO REGAIN RETIREMENT SERVICE CREDITS
PASSES LEGISLATURE
Senate Bill 6303, legislation which allows up to 50 WSU employees to
buy back lost credit for past years of service, has been approved by both
Houses of the Legislature and has been sent to Gov. Gary Locke for approval.
The legislation was proposed by Washington State University and the Washington
Federation of State Employees. The Federation and WSU failed last year
in gaining legislative approval but this summer the Joint Pension Policy
Committee of the Legislature agreed to address the issue and recommended
legislative action. The bill passed both houses unanimously and was delivered
to the governor's desk late last week.
