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There is just one month left in the 2023 Washington state legislative session and a lot to get done in that time. It's a budget year, too. So, while lawmakers are deciding on new laws, conversation about how to use the budget is also ramping up.

KUOW's Olympia correspondent Jeanie Lindsay spoke to Paige Browning on Morning Edition.

This interview has been edited for clarity.

Paige Browning: Washington state goes through this budgeting process every two years. There's a lot of money on the table but also a lot of proposals. How do the numbers look?

Jeanie Lindsay: So, the good news is that there's still growth expected in terms of state revenue over the next two years. The bad news is that it will just be slower than expected, with officials predicting about $480 million less than they did in November. But the state is still expecting more than about $65 billion in revenue. And that's not counting the carbon emissions auction dollars that raked in about $300 million in the first auction in February; those auctions are going to happen at regular intervals, which could mean a good chunk of change for the state more than $1 billion over the next two years.

But the state's revenue can still change, right? Because there is one big moving piece that we haven't talked about yet, which is the state's capital gains tax.

Yeah, actually, on Friday morning, the court issued an opinion upholding the capital gains tax. The court was asked to expedite its opinion, because right now the state is planning to collect that tax on tax day next month and included the tax revenue, which is expected to be about $500 million a year, in the revenue forecast. Also, the Senate included that in its proposed budget released last week. So, with the court upholding it, that means that that funding will be collected, and the state will be able to use that in the state's next two-year budget.

There's about a month left in the session, a month to negotiate the budget. We got a first look at a draft from state Senate Democrats last week. What are they wanting to fund?

The operating budget that Senate lawmakers released includes about $5 billion in new spending, and almost $3 billion of that would be for education, for things like teacher salaries, special education funding. There's also a lot of money targeted at housing and behavioral health. There's also a good chunk for child care and environmental needs, you know, carbon reduction and other sort of environmental projects. There are also dollars to continue addressing the fallout from the state Supreme Court's Blake decision striking down the state's drug possession laws and the fallout from that, but then also funding some of the proposals to address addiction and addiction treatment.

The dollar amounts definitely will change, but you can kind of see what their priorities are.

That's what the Senate Democrats want. This week, we'll see a draft from the House. What will you be looking for?

Democrat leadership has said that the two chambers, the House and the Senate, are really aligned on their values and what their priorities are. But I'm going to be curious to see what those dollar amounts really break down to look like and then how much money goes into each of these different buckets. If there are, you know, drastically different takes on, say, higher education or how much they want to spend on housing. So, we don't know exactly what that will look like. But on Monday we will, so, you know, listen to KUOW to get the latest.

The rest is here:
What's in the WA state Senate Democrats' budget proposal? - KUOW News and Information

To the Editor:

On April 4th, the Board of Estimate and Taxation (BET) will make a final decision on next years town budget. The most closely watched aspect is how much it will allocate to desperately needed repairs for our aging schools. If the past is any indication, the answer will be not nearly enough. And once again, Greenwich Republicans will have denied our children the safe, accessible, 21st century buildings they deserve.

The Greenwich Democratic Town Committee believes that our schools should be the highest priority for our town more important than a new ice-skating rink or refurbished Roger Sherman Baldwin Park. In addition to giving our children what they deserve, quality public schools keep property values high. Theyre a major reason families choose one town over another.

Unfortunately, the Republican-controlled BET is fixated on funding only one major school project at a time. This short-sightedness costs all of us more in the long run.

We paid more when Hamilton Avenue School had to be torn down and rebuilt, because BET Republicans wouldnt set aside money to maintain and repair a badly leaking roof. We paid more when the ceiling at North Mianus School collapsed fortunately school was not in session. And we avoided a crisis when the Board of Education (BOE) fundedan engineering study of Central Middle School that the Republicans on the BET refused to fund.Thankfully the BOE found federal money to pay for the study, because the school was in such bad shape it needed to be condemned and rebuilt. And were seeing it again, with BET Republicans refusing to provide what the BOE has requested for new construction and renovations, forcing them back to the drawing board to revise projects to fall in line.

Cost-cutting pressure by BET Republicans compromises school design, and further, proposals by the Republican Town Committee risk negatively impacting teaching models that have been successfully used for decades. How shameful would it be to welcome 8th graders to a brand new Central Middle School in the fall of 2026, then tell them in the spring that they must choose only one guest to attend their graduation because the Republican BET would not pay for enough seats in the school auditorium?

Speaking of shameful,eighty percentof our schools are not ADA compliant. Greenwich has already been the subject of anOffice of Civil Rightscomplaint. Students at Old Greenwich School must choose between navigating flights of stairs on crutches or staying home while they recover from an injury. Aside from being short-sighted from a risk management standpoint, failing to make our schools accessible sends the wrong message about who we are as a town. As Democrats, we stand for inclusivity, and our schools should reflect our values.

And dont get fooled by a makeshift plan concocted by five BET Republicans at the 11th hour. That plan does not address all of the Old Greenwich School issues and does not have backing from the community or the BOE. BothCentral Middle SchoolandOld Greenwich Schoolurgently need major funding this budget cycle. Failing to provide it would be malfeasance. The dismal state of the places where we send our children to learn can no longer be ignored or tolerated. Greenwich Democrats wholeheartedly support moving forward on both of those projects with the scope approved by the Board of Education. Its time for our town to invest in our students.

Joe AnglandGreenwich, CT

Angland is the chair of the Greenwich Democratic Town Committee

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Greenwich Democrats Wholeheartedly Support Both School Projects - CT Examiner

WATERLOO Three Cedar Valley legislators expressed concern and anger over multiple issues at a community forum on Friday night.

Thirteen lawmakers were invited by the League of Women Voters of Black Hawk and Bremer Counties, but only three Democrats attended. The forum was attended by a few dozen constituents.

If we made it mandatory for a percentage of people from the Republican Party to attend these meetings, wed get a lot farther on cooperation and getting things done, resident Bill Shane said.

Those who did attend discussed the topic at hand mental health.

Tom Eachus, the executive director at UnityPoint Health Black Hawk Grundy Mental Health Center and a social worker of 35 years, said hes worried about the state of mental health care in Iowa.

Were currently facing the worst workforce shortage in my 35 years, and at the same time the demand for mental health services increased, Eachus said.

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Rep. Timi Brown-Powers said there is a perfect storm of demand for more mental health beds in the state as well as more staff.

She said there are currently 92 mental health beds for the entire state of Iowa, which includes 36 beds for children.

That is pathetic, she said.

A social worker who didnt provide her name spoke up about the worker shortage.

What is the plan when we cant keep social workers the profession that provides the most mental health services when we cant get social workers to come here and stay here? She asked.

She also said more social workers will be needed after Gov. Kim Reynolds signed multiple bills into law regarding transgender children.

On Wednesday, Reynolds signed laws restricting the bathrooms transgender students can use at school, as well as banning gender-affirming medical care for minors.

Also brought up at the forum was a conversion therapy ban being discussed in the city of Waterloo.

This month, a discussion was tabled about banning conversion therapy a practice that attempts to make a non-heterosexual person become heterosexual.

Waterloo resident Forest Dillavou spoke up about the issue.

(Children) came in as boys and girls. I can tell the difference, he said. You folks need to stand up for those little children.

Brown-Powers, who is also a therapist, explained the controversy of conversion therapy.

The research shows that that therapy is very dangerous, increases suicides and it hurts children, she said. I think thats why they are pushing to ban it in the city. I dont know if theres anyone here practicing that to be honest, and I dont have that answer. This is just banning one type of treatment to those children that we know can be very deathly for a child.

Rep. Jerome Amos Jr., a former Waterloo city councilmember, agreed.

Im a left-handed individual, and people tried to force me to use my right hand, he said. It was not going to work, and I firmly believe that it wouldve been detrimental if Id been forced to. Forcing anything should not be anything that should be happening.

Rep. Bob Kressig detailed what could happen to children who identify differently than their assigned gender at birth.

These children, when they begin to grow and their identity doesnt match their sexuality, they begin to pull back from the school, Kressig said. They dont associate with others. So suicide is one of those areas that can occur.

Other topics that were discussed at the forum included Reynolds government reorganization bill and a bill that would eliminate funding for diversity, equity and inclusion at higher education institutions.

A woman holds up a poster as part of a protest in front of the courthouse ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump exits Trump Tower on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. The man visited to show his support for the former president and his opposition of District Attorney Alvin Bragg's attempt to have Trump indicted. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump unfurls a flag outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

New York State Court police keep an eye as people protest in front of the courthouse ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Enzo Alcindor, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, sits on his vehicle with flags outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Paula Magnuson, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, walks with her dogs outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Bob Fertik, of New York, stands in front of the New York Criminal Courts building carrying a sign supporting the possible criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump, on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Stephanie Lu, of New York, stands in front of the New York Criminal Courts building criticizing New York County District Attorney Alvin Bragg and a possible criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump, on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Supporters of former President Donald Trump's protest in front of the New York Criminal Courts building on Monday, March 20, 2023, in New York. A New York grand jury has heard from what could be the final witness in the investigation into Trump as law enforcement officials accelerate security preparations in advance of a possible indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump raises a flag outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

A vehicle drives past President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Monday, March 20, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. The decision whether to indict former President Donald Trump over hush-money payments made on his behalf during his 2016 presidential campaign lies in the hands of a Manhattan grand jury that has been meeting in secret to hear evidence for weeks. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Media gathers around a lone supporter of former President Donald Trump as she protests a in front of Trump Tower, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

A woman performs with a mask of former president Donald Trump as a small group of people protest near the District Attorney office, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York, in an anticipation of former president's possible indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A man, wearing a patriotic colored Guy Fawkes mask and holding an American flag, joins a small group of protesters near the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York, in an anticipation of former President Donald Trump's possible indictment. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Kathy Clark, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, stands outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Colton McCormick, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, stands outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Jeffrey Shinko, of Lucerne County, Pa, holds a sign while standing in front Trump Tower on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. Shinko traveled from Pennsylvania to New York City to show his support for former President Donald Trump. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

A Trump supporter takes part in a protest near the Manhattan District Attorney's office, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York, in an anticipation of former President Donald Trump's possible indictment. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

A Trump supporter wearing a costume with antlers takes part in a protest near the district attorney's office in New York on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Supporters of former U.S. president Donald Trump take part in a protest near the District Attorney office ahead of former President Donald Trump's anticipated indictment on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. A New York grand jury investigating Trump over a hush money payment to a porn star appears poised to complete its work soon as law enforcement officials make preparations for possible unrest in the event of an indictment.(AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

Mary Kelley, a supporter of former President Donald Trump, stands outside of Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump holds up a Bible as she acknowledges passers-by, outside his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Supporters of former President Donald Trump gather outside his Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A supporter of former President Donald Trump walks with a cross from outside his Mar-a-Lago estate over a bridge to West Palm Beach, Fla., Tuesday, March 21, 2023. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

A woman walks on Fifth Avenue carrying a flag showing support for former President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Trump supporter Jeffrey Shinko, right, of Lucerne County, Pa, and a man protesting Trump, argue about a possible criminal indictment of former President Donald Trump Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

Mike Hisey, left, dressed to portray former President Donald Trump in a prison uniform, stands in front of Trump Tower ahead of a possible announcement of a criminal indictment of the former president on Tuesday, March 21, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)

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Only Democrats attend legislative forum about mental health topics - WCF Courier

Sarah Siddiqui Wolek addresses a question during a forum earlier this months for applicants to the District 16 House of Delegates vacancy. Screenshot.

The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee on Tuesday night nominated Sarah Siddiqui Wolek for a vacancy to serve in the House of Delegates representing Bethesda-based District 16.

Wolek prevailed over a crowded field that included a former state lawmaker, a mayor, and several policy experts and political insiders. She was nominated to replace Ariana Kelly (D), who was elevated to the state Senate earlier this month following a vacancy there. Kelly had served in the House since 2011.

Eighteen people sought to replace her through the central committees application process. Wolek won after three rounds of balloting shortly after 10 p.m. Tuesday.

Saman Qadeer Ahmad, chair of the central committee, said a letter of nomination would be sent to Gov. Wes Moore (D) later Tuesday night. The governor has 15 days to make the appointment to the seat.

Wolek is a professor at the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland and is the founding director of the universitys Intentional Life Lab, which seeks to help students develop meaningful life and career paths while managing well-being and mental health.

She worked in the federal government for more than a decade, including posts at the U.S. Treasury Department, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the White House Office of Management and Budget. She left the White House shortly after the 2016 election.

Wolek highlighted her familys roots during the interview process. She described herself as as a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim woman married to a Catholic Polish immigrant raising three children who attend county public schools.

Wolek grew up in Montgomery County, in neighboring District 15, and spent part of her childhood in Pakistan. Her family returned to the U.S. so a younger sibling could attend special education programs in Montgomery County.

Wolek said during the interview process that she would champion special education students and their families in Annapolis. She also wants to bringa focus to issues of mental health and well-being, pathways to home ownership, and reimagining education for a new economy to her work as a delegate.

Wolek will join House Majority Leader Marc Korman and Del. Sara Love in representing the district in the House of Delegates.

Including Kelly, Moore has already filled four vacancies in the General Assembly, all resulting from his decision to tap state lawmakers for key posts in his administration: Then-Del. Alonzo Washington (D) was appointed to replace longtime Prince Georges County state Sen. Paul Pinsky (D) after Pinsky was named director of the Maryland Energy Administration. Ashanti Martinez (D) was then appointed to replace Washington in the House.

Kelly replaced former Sen. Susan Lee (D), who has become Secretary of State in the Moore administration. And in Montgomery Countys District 14, Bernice Mireku-North (D) was appointed to the House early this year after Moore tapped Eric Luedtke, who had been the House majority leader in Annapolis, to become his chief legislative officer.

More legislative vacancies are in the offing: Del. Kirill Reznik (D-Montgomery) resigned Tuesday after almost 16 years in the House to become assistant secretary at the Maryland Department of Human Services. The Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee announced Tuesday that the application process for that vacancy will kick off Wednesday, with plans to fill the seat by April 18.

There could be other vacancies on the horizon in the state House and Senate as Moore continues to build his administration.

A bill that would require special elections for legislative vacancies in the first two years of the four-year legislative term appears to be stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee. It was introduced by Del. Linda Foley (D-Montgomery) who ironically is a former chair of the county Democratic Central Committee who was appointed to her seat to a fill a vacancy in late 2021.

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To fill House vacancy, Montgomery Democrats pick university ... - Maryland Matters

This is WESA Politics, a weekly newsletter by Chris Potter providing analysis about Pittsburgh and state politics.Sign up here to get it every Thursday afternoon.

True story: On the night in 2019 when Bethany Hallam won her seat on Allegheny County Council, I found myself after deadline at an all-night Eatn Park. Sitting a few tables away was County Treasurer John Weinstein, quietly celebrating his own (fifth!) re-election win with a couple friends. I started eavesdropping you hear a lot of stories this way, though not necessarily about politics and Weinstein was praising Hallams campaign: She worked hard, he said, but she never attacked rival John DeFazio personally.

I let Weinstein know I was there, and we exchanged pleasantries. He left shortly after, and when I got ready to go 20 minutes later, I discovered hed paid the server for my order of pretzel sticks.

A couple lessons could be drawn here. First, Weinstein was impressed by Hallam from the outset. And second, hes always willing to do you a favor.

Ive been thinking of that encounter since Weinstein jumped into this years county executive race especially since last week, when state Rep. Emily Kinkead accused Hallam of trying to strike a political deal in 2022. According to Kinkead, Hallam said that if she stepped down from the county sewer authority board, Weinstein would cut off support for a candidate challenging her re-election. All in hopes that he could be appointed to fill Kinkeads board spot instead.

Hallam and Weinstein deny that account. And along with the mystery of who is telling the truth is another question: How did two young Democrats who would probably vote the same way on any issue that matters end up at odds?

One answer: Politics isnt just about the votes our leaders cast. Its about the friends, and enemies, they make along the way.

The writing was on the wall moments after Hallam was sworn in three years ago. She and other progressives joined a coalition behind now-President Pat Catena a faction of Democrats aligned with Weinstein rather than unite with those more friendly to County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.

The Fitzgerald group tends to be more socially liberal, and on paper Hallam might seem to have more in common with them. But the coalition she joined was united by something that may be even more powerful than shared convictions: opposition to almost everything Fitzgerald does.

Weinstein and Fitzgerald have long been at odds, while Hallam saw Fitzgerald as an obstacle to advancing a progressive agenda. It wasnt about ideology as much as pushing back on administrative interference, she told me. But whether that majority is motivated by political rivalry or philosophical conviction, Hallam said, It has been successful as hell.

She points to her first term, when council advanced a number of causes such as a 2021 sick leave bill that had made no progress before. Catena assigned Hallam to the Jail Oversight Board, a position that enables her to seek changes at a facility where she herself was once detained on drug charges.

Hallam said that given the chance, I would do it all over again, though she acknowledged that some allies started turning on us the day we backed Catena.

Some still question the decision. Fitzgerald ally Tom Duerr, who was sworn in alongside Hallam, said joining Team Weinstein may have seemed like the most expedient path. But he said the resulting political tensions delayed progress on such issues as sick leave, which took more than a year to get done.

There could have been fewer hurdles to get where she wanted, he said.

Still, if youre going to oppose Rich Fitzgerald, there are only so many allies you can turn to. And while politics abhors a vacuum, Weinstein is adept at filling it. Critics deride him as the embodiment of old-school politics, but he and his circle have sought to connect with a new generation of leaders outside county council, too.

Consider that Catena and another Weinstein friend, County Councilor Bob Palmosina, joined Hallam in endorsing progressive champion Summer Lees congressional bid a year ago. (Fitzgerald backed her chief rival, Steve Irwin.) Or that Weinstein and Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey both have ties to the powerful Laborers union and as noted here previously local political consultant Moses Nelson.

Kinkead took a different path. While Hallam backed Gainey in the 2021 Pittsburgh mayoral race, Kinkead backed the re-election of Bill Peduto, and the two shared a campaign manager. And as a state official, Kinkead has had less cause to clash with Fitzgerald even if she wanted to.

None of that would make Hallams alleged proposal more appealing, and its not clear such a deal would have helped Weinstein anyway. Gainey would have had to appoint Weinstein to fill her seat. His office says he wouldnt have, and City Council which still has Pedutoites in its ranks would have had to approve it.

But the political landscape could be different next year, with Weinstein controlling the executive branch and a friendly majority in the county legislature.

Hallam says not to worry.

Its about being a check on the executive branch, she said of her mission, and pledged to follow it no matter who holds the office. For that matter, she said, I dont want to say [Weinstein] doesnt care about council, but he doesnt take an interest in it to the point of trying to call shots.

As significant as the county executive race, though, theres a bigger picture.

One dynamic driving this election cycle is a generational struggle, as a rising tide of millennials seeks to supplant its elders. (Gen Xers are left to write political newsletters.) But you can see tensions within that younger generation too, because political conflicts, like political power, are part of the inheritance.

We may look back at 2023 as the coming of age for this new crop of leaders. Like any coming of age, that can be awkward and painful and one of the hardest parts is trying to escape the shadow of your elders.

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Allegheny County Democrats: surprising alliances and divisions - 90.5 WESA