Eide says passage of simple majority ‘tremendous victory’ for education

OLYMPIA – Sen. Tracey J. Eide, D-Federal Way, the long-time sponsor of legislation that brought the issue of simple majority for school levies to voters this month, says voter approval of the measure was a watershed moment for Washington’s education system.

After victory became apparent for Referendum 4204, Eide said “after sponsoring for 11 years the bill to give citizens the chance to vote on simple majority for schools for years, I’m thrilled we were finally able to get it to them. The voters have spoken, and our schools will now be on equal election footing as sports stadiums, fire districts and jails.”

The Referendum, a measure to change the state constitution, would allow school levies to pass with a 50 percent-plus-1 vote instead of a 60 percent supermajority. To get the measure to voters, the bill needed a two-thirds vote of both the state House of Representatives and Senate, which happened in the 2007 legislative session.

Eide said education is her top priority and the issue that brought her to the Legislature.

“I’ve been sponsoring this bill since 1993,” said Eide. “I was serving in the House, and my son and daughter were still in elementary school. Now it’s 14 years later, I’m in the Senate, and we finally gave schools the chance to compete on equal footing with hundred-million dollar sports arenas.”

“Providing students across the state with the best education possible is something that both local communities and the Legislature play a key role in, so placing school levies on the same ground as other levies is a big step forward,” she said.

Eide said a variety of organizations were involved in the movement to pass the simple majority measure, ranging from the Federal Way Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union Local 925, to the League of Education Voters and the Washington Parent Teacher Association. “This level of broad support really shows that education is a priority in Washington,” Eide said. “Communities like Federal Way and those around the state will see positive changes for students. Giving students the tools to succeed in life is the reason behind all of this work.”

Return to Sen. Eide's home page