The big four
Education
Gov. Chris Gregoire is backing a slate of changes: phasing in all-day kindergarten, expanding prekindergarten learning programs, adding thousands more college students, increasing teacher pay and shrinking class sizes.
Where things stand: The House on Wednesday voted to delay for several years a rule that high schoolers must pass the math portion of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning to get a diploma. That requirement was supposed to take effect with the Class of 2008. Instead, it could shift to the Class of 2013.
Lawmakers have also approved a bill capping tuition increases at the state’s public colleges at 7 percent a year through 2017.
Health care
Gregoire has already signed a law to enact one of her top priorities: adding 38,000 more children to state-paid health coverage. She has also proposed spending $26 million over the next two years to deliver more childhood vaccinations. Another new law will require insurers to provide the same coverage for mental health care that they do for medical care.
Where things stand: On Thursday, the House approved several health-care reforms recommended by a commission convened by Gregoire. It focuses state-paid health care on proven treatments, promotes health programs for state workers, and encourages the use of electronic medical records, which proponents say will save money. Part of what lawmakers are considering: a “connector” pilot project to allow small employers to pool insurance in hopes of driving down costs.
Same-sex marriage
In what both sides say is a step toward same-sex marriage, the House on Wednesday approved setting up a registry of same-sex and heterosexual senior-citizen domestic partners. The agreements will convey some of the legal rights of married people. Critics had countered with a call to write the state law banning gay marriage into the state constitution – a dead-on-arrival proposal in Olympia that would have required approval from a legislative supermajority as well as voters statewide.
Where things stand: On Wednesday, the House approved domestic partnerships 63-35, meaning the bill now goes to Gregoire, who is expected to sign it into law. Supporters of the bill vowed to press ahead for same-sex marriage.
Environment
Among other proposals, Gregoire wants to spend $200 million toward the $9 billion problem of cleaning up Puget Sound.
Where things stand: Lawmakers have also voted to ban toxic flame retardants and spend tens of millions of dollars on habitat and outdoor recreation sites.
The House also voted late Thursday to ban utilities from signing long-term contracts with coal-fired plants, if those plants produce excessive greenhouse gases. To meet the standard, coal-fired plants could inject into the ground carbon dioxide over certain levels. Some Republicans predicted that the restriction will drive up power prices for Washingtonians.