The big five
Here’s a look at five of the key issues in Olympia.
Education
Gov. Chris Gregoire wants to launch a broad slate of changes: phasing in all-day kindergarten, expanding pre-kindergarten learning programs, adding thousands more college students, increasing teacher pay and shrinking class sizes.
Where things stand: The first major issue out of the box: reducing the 60 percent “supermajority” requirement for school-district levies and bonds.
At a hearing Monday, one senator said it’s absurd to build jails or stadiums with only a simple majority vote while holding schools to a higher standard.
Health care
Lawmakers are considering adding 32,000 children to state-paid health coverage and spending $26 million over the next two years to increase childhood vaccinations.
Where things stand: A health care task force is recommending using the state’s $4.5 billion-a-year purchasing power for public health care to negotiate lower prices.
It also wants state health programs to integrate proven “chronic care management” to reduce the price of expensive ongoing problems like heart problems or diabetes.
The economy
From making health care cheaper to a “holiday” for some workers’ compensation costs, lawmakers and the governor say they want to help the cooling economy, particularly small business.
Where things stand: On Wednesday, Gregoire laid out a 10-year “business plan” for Washington.
Among the recommendations: Improve education and work force training, invest in transportation and other infrastructure, boost tourism, and cut public and private health care costs.
Same-sex marriage
Proponents want it, or at least domestic partnerships that would include many of the legal rights of married people.
Critics are countering with a call to write the state law banning gay marriage into the state constitution – an unlikely move that would require approval from a legislative supermajority as well as voters statewide.
Where things stand: Bills to allow both same-sex marriage and a state-run domestic partnership registry have been introduced in the House and Senate.
Environment
Gregoire has proposed spending $200 million toward the $9 billion problem of cleaning up the Puget Sound, among other proposals.
Where things stand: Environmental groups are also pushing for a phase-out of toxic flame retardants, cleanup money for the Spokane River and other changes.