It’s so more kids can afford to go.

“It’s like a career,” for some people, she said. “Your career starts after college.”

The chairwoman for the Higher Education Committee is actually working with colleges on an excelerated program she calls “Degree in 3.” By doing that, students would not incur as much debt. She also said Running Start is helping so many students reduce their costs of higher ed.

Bailey, of the 10th District, said she hears so many stories of adults being burdened by student loans, either for themselves or their children.

“They stick with you until you die,” she said, adding many people are paying on loans who never even finished their degree, which hurts the economy.

She said high schools put too much emphasis on getting a college degree. The high dropout rate is a great indicator of that.

“They swung the pendulum a little too far,” she said.

To educate students for the future, schools need to look at all facets of training and jobs. She likes the Career Technical Education courses. The NJROTC classes teach life skills, respect and team-building, attributes that will help students in all aspects of life.

 

 

Schools in general did well this session, she said, as K-12 funding received money to reduce class sizes and pay quality teachers.

Per-student spending has increased 33 percent, and is not half the state budget.

Because of the Supreme Court’s McClearing decision more needs to be done. But the state is “on target,” she said, adding that jumped a big hurdle to get it done by 2018. As long as the economy keeps doing well, lawmakers expect to reach the goal.

“Luckily the court gave us some time,” she said. “It can’t be done on a one-budget cycle.”

 

 

Bailey, R-Oak Harbor, said the Marysville-Arlington area did well in transportation funding, with money going for Highway 529, 152nd, the Arlington Airport road and more. Those funds come from gas taxes, so in a way they are a user tax, she said. There was some talk of a state income tax, as always, but it has never been popular in this state. Because Washington has a Business and Occupation tax, an income tax on top of that would cause people to go elsewhere, Bailey said. All the tax talk was about adding to sales and capital gains, instead of restructuring the system.

 

 

As for the session in general, she said it went on a long time. “A lot longer than it needed to be,” she said, adding they needed to balance the budget with the resources available.

“Everybody always wants more,” she said, adding this budget has “no gimmicks” and keeps the rainy-day fund intact.

Bailey set pet projects were put by the wayside.

“We all have those,” but because of McCleary they were put on hold.