Welcome to the end of week six in the 2013 regular session.
Aside from being almost one-third of the way through the 105-day session, today (Feb. 22) has another important significance.
After today, policy bills that haven’t yet had a hearing in committee, will be singing the swan song. Sure, there are ways to resuscitate certain budget-related bills, but the curtain call for the majority of unheard bills will come today.
Now, for those bills still among the living. Several Higher Ed related policy bills have been generating some buzz this week. Here is a sampling:
Do you know what happened yesterday in the House Higher Ed committee? The DREAM Act passed. http://t.co/yxVlK9XDHO #waleg
— WA House Democrats (@WAHouseDems) February 22, 2013
Bill limiting differential tuition in state higher ed passes #waleg House 95-1
— Jimmy Lovaas (@jimmylovaas) February 15, 2013
Senate Higher Ed. Committee just passed a bill suspending differential tuition for two more years #WAleg
— Jillian Stampher (@JillianStampher) February 21, 2013
Gov. Inslee made another slate of appointments this week, naming new department heads for Transportation, Revenue and Financial Institutions. The Governor also announced his choice of a new General Counsel.
Gov. Jay Inslee names new state transportation secretary http://t.co/Jgq2pEyw #wagov #waleg
— TVW (@TVWnews) February 19, 2013
As we reported earlier in the week, President Young visited Olympia for meetings with lawmakers. The State Capitol also saw visitors from the other Washington: Sen. Patty Murray (D), and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R).
U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, tell #WALEG it is too early to freak on sequestration cuts http://t.co/hWqGNOGvgR
— Brad Shannon (@BradShannon2) February 21, 2013
Senator Patty Murray was here yesterday. Here's what she discussed with House Democrats in Olympia: http://t.co/RfNifvHGQX #waleg
— WA House Democrats (@WAHouseDems) February 21, 2013
Finally, a big topic of the week was the release by House Democrats of a statewide transportation package. Gov. Inslee reacted to that proposal, and gave his thoughts on the state budget, jobs legislation, gun control, and Hanford cleanup on this week’s “Inside Olympia” via TVW.
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