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Rep. John Driscoll, serving the 6th District Serving parts of northern and southern Spokane, and communities in western Spokane County. |
Lawmakers propose up to $130M boost for school projects
Many schools under construction, in danger of stopping work, to benefit
Jan. 12, 2009
OLYMPIA – Lawmakers are opening the 2009 legislative
session with a bill to keep the state fund for building schools in the
black and school construction projects from halting.
State Rep. John Driscoll, D-Spokane, introduced the bill aiming to make
around $130 million available for schools.
“Local communities have been doing their part to support great schools
for our kids,” Driscoll said. "Many of my local schools in Spokane could
be hurt by this problem. I don't want to see any schools under
construction stopped, or local taxpayers hit with the bill to keep those
schools going."
State money for these local school projects is running out partly
because so many school passed levies or bonds and got their construction
projects moving.
Driscoll teamed up with Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, chair of the
Capital Budget Committee that controls state construction projects.
"If we don't do this, folks in hard hats could lose their jobs when
schools under construction stop work, mid-shovel," Dunshee said. "And
thousands of school kids might be stuck without the new school they need
to be inside. Doing this is also a job maker, an economic stimulus --
and not doing it, in these hard times, would be a job killer."
More than 60 school districts are affected by this problem -- and would
be helped by House Bill 1113.
"It's not the schools' fault," Driscoll said. "Our taxpayers shouldn't
be punished for passing new levies and bonds, and our kids certainly
shouldn't be punished.”
“In a tough economy, I can think of no better signal to send that the
state will continue to be there for our teachers and kids, and
continually do our part to keep workers in good jobs.”
# # #
Projects lists for specific areas may be available. Contact staff
for more information.
For more information:
Rep. John Driscoll (D-Spokane), 360-786-7962
Print-quality photo:
www.leg.wa.gov/documents/House/Members/Photos/Driscoll.jpg
Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish), 360-786-7804
Print-quality photo: www1.leg.wa.gov/House/dunshee_photo_download.htm
Staff contact – Andrew Dziedzic, 360-786-7218
Information on HB 1113:
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?bill=1113&year=2009