The revenue forecast is in, and, as expected, the news isn't good; because of the sluggish economy, the state should expect to collect $780 million less in tax revenue than expected. This means the state budget shortfall is now $5.1 billion, about a sixth of the entire state budget.
This means proposed cuts to higher education will be that much more difficult to fight, and raises the possibility of even more cuts.
GPSS Legislative Assistant Melanie Mayock has been pushing for a renewed look at the prospect of advocating for new revenue, and that idea is starting to look more and more attractive. The trick is that new revenue (tax increases) is largely seen as a pipe dream this session, because voters — through i1098 (income tax on high-earners), i1053 (requiring two-third majority for tax increases), and i1107 (candy tax) — have resoundingly said they are not interested in revenue as a solution to the budget shortfall.
Tim Eyman's 1053 is particularly what has made the new revenue discussion a non-starter in Olympia this session; it would require either a two-thirds majority in the Legislature — politically impossible this session — or a legislative simple majority coupled with voter approval via referendum to increase taxes.
We are in talks with a coalition for new revenue that has been pushing to close tax loopholes, among other things. Unlike last session, when new revenue was a huge part of the Washington Student Association's message, we have largely been playing defense against cuts this session. But we believe the more voices that are out there advocating for new revenue, the more politically feasible it would be for legislators to tackle this difficult issue.
STUDENTS FACE HUGE IMPACTS TO THEIR PROGRAMS
Meanwhile, students from UW's Evans School of Public Affairs, Information School, and Public Health Genetics are facing the threat of their programs either being consolidated with other programs or eliminated completely because of budget cuts.
In response to these threats and to the revenue forecast, GPSS has organized a day of advocacy focused exclusively on graduate and professional student issues. The inaugural GPSS Day of Advocacy will take place Thursday, March 24, and will include 17 meetings with some of the most influential higher education voices in Olympia.
We will be meeting with the Governor’s Higher Education Advisor, the Office of the Speaker of the House, the Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, the Chairs and Vice Chairs of both higher education committees, the Chair of the House Education Appropriations Committee, the Vice Chair of House Ways & Means, and the Ranking Minority Members of the House and Senate Higher Education committees, among others.
This will be a unique opportunity for graduate students particularly impacted by budget cuts to make their case directly to some very powerful people.
Topics that will be covered include:
With the gaping budget shortfall growing and the cuts we are facing, we have our work cut out for us. But we will make our case and tell legislators that graduate education is one of the most potent economic drivers around and that higher education should be a priority.
This means proposed cuts to higher education will be that much more difficult to fight, and raises the possibility of even more cuts.
GPSS Legislative Assistant Melanie Mayock has been pushing for a renewed look at the prospect of advocating for new revenue, and that idea is starting to look more and more attractive. The trick is that new revenue (tax increases) is largely seen as a pipe dream this session, because voters — through i1098 (income tax on high-earners), i1053 (requiring two-third majority for tax increases), and i1107 (candy tax) — have resoundingly said they are not interested in revenue as a solution to the budget shortfall.
Tim Eyman's 1053 is particularly what has made the new revenue discussion a non-starter in Olympia this session; it would require either a two-thirds majority in the Legislature — politically impossible this session — or a legislative simple majority coupled with voter approval via referendum to increase taxes.
We are in talks with a coalition for new revenue that has been pushing to close tax loopholes, among other things. Unlike last session, when new revenue was a huge part of the Washington Student Association's message, we have largely been playing defense against cuts this session. But we believe the more voices that are out there advocating for new revenue, the more politically feasible it would be for legislators to tackle this difficult issue.
STUDENTS FACE HUGE IMPACTS TO THEIR PROGRAMS
Meanwhile, students from UW's Evans School of Public Affairs, Information School, and Public Health Genetics are facing the threat of their programs either being consolidated with other programs or eliminated completely because of budget cuts.
In response to these threats and to the revenue forecast, GPSS has organized a day of advocacy focused exclusively on graduate and professional student issues. The inaugural GPSS Day of Advocacy will take place Thursday, March 24, and will include 17 meetings with some of the most influential higher education voices in Olympia.
We will be meeting with the Governor’s Higher Education Advisor, the Office of the Speaker of the House, the Chair of the Senate Ways & Means Committee, the Chairs and Vice Chairs of both higher education committees, the Chair of the House Education Appropriations Committee, the Vice Chair of House Ways & Means, and the Ranking Minority Members of the House and Senate Higher Education committees, among others.
This will be a unique opportunity for graduate students particularly impacted by budget cuts to make their case directly to some very powerful people.
Topics that will be covered include:
- Threat of Evans School consolidation
- Threat of iSchool consolidation
- Threat of Public Health Genetics elimination
- Threat of cuts to Work-Study program
- Prospect of referendum for new revenue to fund financial aid
- Funding the Childcare Matching Grants program
With the gaping budget shortfall growing and the cuts we are facing, we have our work cut out for us. But we will make our case and tell legislators that graduate education is one of the most potent economic drivers around and that higher education should be a priority.
