By JAN ANGEL

26th Legislative District Senator

In the Senate, we continue working in good faith to try to find an agreement on a final budget. However, it has become clear that we will be going into a third special session.

With so many important issues facing us, it is critical that we get the job done right. Our education leaders from all four caucuses, in the House and the Senate, have been meeting continually and working to find an agreement on what our education system must look like to meet the needs of our children, now and into the future.

That’s no easy job.

We all want a world-class education for our children and the end result must ensure all students have access to a high-quality education, regardless of where they live or what their financial status is.

When it comes to state investments through the capital budget, we have been clear that we will not proceed with negotiations until there is a solution for the Supreme Court’s Hirst decision in place. The court’s action created a near shutdown of the use of well water on rural property. The problem must be addressed this year.

This decision puts property owners in a very difficult situation and makes it almost impossible for them to use their own property. Many people with private wells in our own community will suffer and lose their future homes and investments without action.

The Senate has proposed and passed a solution to this issue three times already with Senate Bill 5239. The House has yet to act.

The outcome of this ruling will affect every property owner if it is not resolved this year. It is imperative for anyone who relies on well water that we do not relent on handing out a capital budget without a solution to this critical issue for all property owners.

We will continue to do our very best to come to a good agreement. The fundamental issue is how these spending plans will be paid for. The House and the governor have put forth huge tax increases to fund their spending plans that would cost taxpayers billions of dollars over the next four years.

Incredibly, they still have not voted on their tax plans even once. Since they insisted on using these tax increases as their negotiating position, the Senate did what they would not and brought their tax bills up for a vote. They failed unanimously.

Funding for this budget must be nailed down and that has not been completed yet. We will continue to work for a final budget that provides a high-quality educational system, invests in our priorities, protects our economy, while living within our means – like any responsible household would do with their own budget.

Progress is being made. The challenges to reaching a final agreement are monumental and historic, but we will not give up our defense of taxpayers and property owners.

Sen. Jan Angel, R-Port Orchard, is in her fourth term representing the 26th District, which includes portions of Pierce and Kitsap counties.