In a statement released on Sunday, state Reps. Jim Walsh, R-Aberdeen, and Joel McEntire, R-Cathlamet, said they changed their vote on a special education funding bill after it received a boost in the state Senate. The two legislators had initially voted against House Bill 1436, arguing the measure fell short of what it was meant to accomplish.
"When House Bill 1436 first came to the floor of the state House of Representatives, it did not come close to fully funding K-12 special education in this state. Our commitment to the administrators, teachers and-most importantly-the families of southwest Washington was to fully fund special education. So, we voted 'no' on the bill,” Walsh and McEntire said. “During the negotiations that followed that vote, especially when the bill moved over to the state Senate, it got better. It adds more money, sooner to special education programs and students all around Washington. It adjusts funding formulas in a positive way. And, it actually delivers more resources instead of just promising to do so at some later date.”
The two 19th District legislators said the changes were “significant improvements” that deserved a “yes” vote.
"Is K-12 special education fully funded? Not quite. But it's closer to that standard than it has been in a long time,” the legislators said.
They added the pressure of their initial “no” votes may have been a small part of a large process but they were glad to have done a small part in pushing HB 1436 to a better place. HB 1436 has now been sent to Gov. Jay Inslee to be signed into law.
