Session Preview - This Week in Olympia

January 11, 2019

We begin this session with two more WEA members in the legislature, adding expertise in higher education.  It’s powerful and effective to have educator voices in Olympia representing us. We welcome them to their new jobs and look forward to working with them as the session unfolds. On Monday, a new legislative session begins in Olympia, with solid pro-education, pro-labor majorities in both houses, thanks in large part to the actions of WEA members and WEA PAC to support candidates who support our issues. 

• Dr. Sharon Shewmake, from LD 42 in Whatcom county. She is an economics professor at Western Washington University.
• Matt Boehnke, from LD 8 in the TriCities area. Matt is on the faculty of Columbia Basin College. 

They join:  

• Steve Bergquist, from LD 11 in the Olympia. He is a high school teacher in Renton. 
• Lillian Ortiz-Self, from LD 21 in Snohomish County. She is a school counselor in the Everett district.
• Monica Stonier, from LD 49 in Vancouver. She is a reading coach in the Evergreen School District. Monica was voted by her peers to be the Democratic floor leader this session. 

WEA has a comprehensive legislative strategy that addresses many remaining needs for public education and educators, from students and aspiring educators through higher education and retirement. You’ve probably heard some of our priorities – restoring local levy flexibility, ensuring solid health care for our members and improving school safety by adding nurses counselors, social workers and other mental health professionals so that students have the supports they need. 

Below are a few other highlights we are advocating for this session. The complete list can be found on OurVoice. 

• Eliminating high stakes testing as a graduation requirement
• Making college more affordable
• Securing dedicated funding for paraeducator professional development. 
• Providing a full COLA for Plan 1 retirees and increasing health care subsidies for all retirees

We urge you to stay up to date on our activities in Olympia: 

• Follow us on Facebook 
• Sign up for the OurVoice text service – text “OurVoice” to 41411
• Subscribe to our blog to receive notices when it is updated. Look for "subscribe" in the right column.