With just a few days to go until the end of the third special session, Senate Republicans continue to refuse to allow a vote on the state’s bipartisan capital budget. The capital budget funds $1 billion for school construction, 115 new forensic beds at Western and Eastern State Hospitals, affordable housing projects, and other important infrastructure projects across the state. The capital budget is also a major job creating initiative, supporting 19,000 jobs annually.
As recently as June 30th, 2017, the capital budget proposal passed the House on an overwhelmingly bipartisan 92-1 vote. The third special session ends on Thursday, July 20th, 2017 – the last day that the legislature could act on the capital budget without calling a fourth special session.
Senate Republicans have continued to block action on the capital budget despite the bipartisan support in the House and calls from newspapers across the state for action.
“Countless Washingtonians depend on the legislature passing this budget,” said Washington State Democratic Party Chair Tina Podlodowski. “Do Republicans honestly think voters will be happy with them if they kill funding for school construction, parks, affordable housing, and more? The Senate plans to punish the people of Washington by withholding essential infrastructure and killing jobs across the state, all because of political games that Mark Schoesler and his cohorts are playing. They should put the people of Washington first, or the people of Washington will put them out of office.”
HB 1075 appropriates millions of dollars in projects in legislative districts holding special elections this fall, including $14 million in the 7th legislative district, $49 million in the 31st legislative district, and $7 million in the 45th district.Projects in those districts that would be lost if a capital budget fails to pass are listed below:
7th Legislative District
Department of Commerce
2017-19 Building Communities Fund Grant – Inchelium Boys & Girls Club
$27,000
2017-19 Building for the Arts Grant Program – Chewelah Center for the Arts
$97,000
2018 Local and Community Projects – Disaster Response Communications
$1,000,000
Dental Clinic Capacity Grants – NE WA Health Programs (Springdale)
$465,000
Department of Corrections
Minor Works – Preservation Projects # %
$549,000
Washington State Historical Society
Heritage Capital Grants Projects – Woodland Theater Restoration
$44,000
Department of Ecology
2015-17 Eastern Washington Clean Sites Initiative – Aitport Kwik Stop Cleanup
$193,000
2015-17 Eastern Washington Clean Sites Initiative – Colville Post and Pole Cleanup
$742,000
Washington Pollution Liability Insurance Program
Leaking Tank Model Remedies – Lindsey Texaco Cleanup
$63,000
Leaking Tank Model Remedies – Willow Bay Resort Cleanup
$63,000
Recreation and Conservation Funding Board
2017-19 WWRP Grants – Bidwell Park
$500,000
2017-19 WWRP Grants – Sinlahekin Wildlife Area Campground
$245,000
2017-19 WWRP Grants – Ferry County Rail Trail
$82,000
Brian Abbott Fish Passage Barrier Removal Board – Johnson Creek
$544,000
Public Schools
School Construction Assistance Program – Midway Elementary Modernization
$9,108,000
School Construction Assistance Program – Midway Elementary Building Replacement
$267,000
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Minor Works Preservation # %
$240,000
Total 7th Legislative District
$14,229,000
31st Legislative District
Department of Commerce
2018 Local and Community Projects – Daffodil Heritage Float Barn
$103,000
2018 Local and Community Projects – Carbonado Wastewater Collection
$1,500,000
Military Department
Minor Works Program
$1,000,000
Department of Social and Health Services
Minor Works Preservation Projects
$3,000,000
Rainier School: Roofing Replacement & Repairs
$600,000
Department of Ecology
Floodplains by Design – Pierce County Surface Water Management
$7,750,000
Washington Pollution Liability Insurance Program
Leaking Tank Model Remedies – DHSH Rainier School
$20,000
Recreation and Conservation Funding Board
2017-19 WWRP Grants – Edgewood Community Park
$500,000
2017-19 WWRP Grants – Wilkeson’s Roosevelt Park
$43,000
2017-19 WWRP Grants – Foothills Trail
$2,800,000
Public Schools
School Construction Assistance Program – Carbonado Main Building
$2,629,000
School Construction Assistance Program – Tahelah Elementary School
$5,519,000
School Construction Assistance Program – Elk Ridge Elementary Modernization
$5,021,000
School Construction Assistance Program – Elk Ridge Elementary Replacement
$4,285,000
School Construction Assistance Program – Bonney Lake High School
$2,505,000
School Construction Assistance Program – Emerald Hills Elementary
$7,310,000
School Construction Assistance Program – Wilkeson Elementary Modernization
$3,496,000
School Construction Assistance Program – Wilkeson Elementary Replacement
$1,835,000
Total 31st Legislative District
$49,916,000
45th Legislative District
Department of Commerce
2018 Local and Community Projects – Northshore Athletic Fields
$400,000
2018 Local and Community Projects – Willows Rd Regional Trail
$1,442,000
Department of Social and Health Services
Minor Works Preservation Projects: Statewide # %
$215,000
Statewide-RA Community Facilities: Safety & Security Improvements $
$2,000,000
Department of Fish and Wildlife
Minor Works Preservation # %
$200,000
Community & Technical College System
Repairs, Maintenance, and Minor Works at Lake Washington Institute of Technology
$2,999,000
Total 45th Legislative District
$7,256,000
