With a background of yellow Highline Public Schools buses and supported by officials from a dozen school districts, Gov. Jay Inslee stumped Thursday, May 2 in Burien for his education budget proposal that would raise revenues through cutting some business tax breaks.

The news conference was held at Highline’s transportation facility, next to the Puget Sound Skills Center.

Inslee has suggested adding an additional $1.2 billion into education by closing some tax breaks and extending existing taxes. The tax breaks Inslee has targeted would raise about $565 million, according to The Seattle Times.
In Burien, Inslee said the state cannot continue to cut social services to fund education.

“It is hard to educate a homeless, sick, hungry child,” Inslee declared. “We need to find another route.”

The governor said the primary duty of the state is to fund education but “not on the backs of seniors, the disabled and children.”

Inslee pointed to a tax break to oil companies for oil used at their refineries. He said the tax break was enacted in 1949 and was never meant to be interpreted so broadly.

He said some have said it is politically too hard to cut tax breaks, but sounding the theme of the news conference, Inslee declared, “We can do hard things.”

The governor said he realizes when the Legislature reconvenes on May 13 there will have to be some compromises but he said he would not compromise in providing an adequate education for every child.

Highline Superintendent Susan Enfield introduced the governor and pledged educators would “rally behind the governor in this plan.”
Enfield noted Inslee attended Cascade Middle School in White Center.

“The Highline School District must be doing something right if we can produce a governor,” Enfield said.

Tukwila School Board member Mary Fertakis said it is time for businesses to step up and invest in education.

She noted the New York Times has named the Tukwila district the most racially diverse school district in the country.

Fertakis also noted that school districts are usually among the top three employers in a community.

Following the news conference, Enfield told the Highline Times that the added money in Inslee’s proposed budget would provide significant funds for Highline programs such as all-day kindergarten, transportation and other needs.