“I supported this budget, not only because I helped write it, but also because there is a sound Democratic imprint contained within its pages.
“We held firm in this budget. We protect seniors and the disabled and we ensure that women’s health care choices are their own.
“Many of my Democratic colleagues also supported this budget, but they did so while making clear that we are far from finished when it comes to answering our constitutional obligation to K-12 education in this state.
“While we made a small investment in K-12 education with this supplemental budget, I agree that we did not go nearly far enough.
“We must continue to discuss the K-12 funding question this year. We must invest in smaller class sizes, updated textbooks and technology and ensure that we retain and recruit the best teachers by funding cost of living increases.
“We must continue that discussion this year in the little time we have left.
“Earlier this week my Democratic colleagues put forth a proposal – which I cosponsored – that will put us on track to fully fund K-12 education in our state by 2018.
“That proposal is not an ultimatum. It is an idea. And it’s an idea that I encourage all of my colleagues – Democratic and Republican – to come together and advance for the sake of Washington’s one million school kids.
“Our work on K-12 education funding must continue.”