Sen. Randy Gordon covered a lot of ground Saturday, May 8th, hosting three town halls in the 41st Legislative District. Gordon updated constituents on what was accomplished during the regular and special legislative sessions and answered questions about a host of public policy issues.
The subjects varied from the state’s fiscal problems to identifying an alternate funding source for K-12 education. School reform efforts were also discussed.
At each meeting, Sen. Gordon gave an overview of the state budget process and how revenues are generated. The Legislature’s balanced budget solution achieves the following:
- Makes no cuts to basic education and preserves 54,658 teachers,
- Preserves critical preschool programs for children under three,
- Protects Working Connections childcare for 37,000 families,
- Fully funds all-day kindergarten,
- Maintains the Apple Health for Kids program serving 486,000 children,
- Preserves levy equalization funding for rural school districts,
- Secures state financial aid for 57,000 young adults,
- Provides retraining in high-demand fields for an additional 3,800 workers,
- Provides community mental health services to an average of around 55,000 people per month
- Saves health care for 69,000 people on the Basic Health Plan.
The meetings were held in Bellevue, Mercer Island and Newcastle.
