OLYMPIA — A key House leader slammed the door Tuesday on an attempt to etch a future university for Snohomish County into state law.
And in a few days, the kibosh will likely be put to similar efforts in the Senate and all but end chances that a new college will be secured from the Legislature this year.
Rep. Mike Sells, D-Everett, learned Tuesday his bill to put a University of Washington branch campus in the county — without providing money to operate it or land to build on — would not be acted on by the House Higher Education Committee.
Committees chairwoman Rep. Deb Wallace, D-Vancouver, made the decision.
She wants a nonbinding resolution that says the state is willing to expand into Snohomish County if doing so fits with findings of a study on how to meet future demands for higher education.
“It does kind of keep things alive,” Sells said. “But I am disappointed at not getting a vote on my bill.”
Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, a co-sponsor of the bill, said, “She’s always opposed a Snohomish County campus and that’s a very difficult problem for us to overcome.
“We’ve got to make her understand Snohomish County’s needs,” he said. “A memorial isn’t going to educate one kid.”
Attention now turns to the Senate, where three bills to launch a college await action in the Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee.
One is identical to the Sells’ bill. Another proposal authorizes a state college without linking it with any existing four-year university. The third would build and operate an independent polytechnic university with money raised from a higher sales tax in Snohomish County.
Sen. Jean Berkey, D-Everett, author of the companion to the Sells’ bill, didn’t sound confident Tuesday that any of the three measures will advance.
“How do we get there?” she said of landing a long-sought college with instruction focused in science, technology, engineering and math. “We are not there with any one of these three bills.”
Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, who sponsored the bill for an unaffiliated college, said the House action “is not good” but does not close the door completely on efforts.
“I’m not done in the Senate,” she said.
The Senate committee has until Feb. 25 to pass any or all of the bills to keep them alive this session.
Sen. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, the panel’s chairman, said there are issues with each measure and none have majority support on the committee.
“They have to have the votes,” he said. “I think we’re still noodling through to see if the concerns can be addressed.”
Up in Snohomish County, Pat McClain, executive director for governmental affairs for Everett, took the news in stride.
After 20 years of discussing a college, he wasn’t surprised at the turn of events. Lawmakers are dealing with a major fiscal crisis and this probably seemed like a potentially costly distraction, he said.
“We tried in our approach to leave the money issues out,” he said. “They are on the horns of a dilemma. You can’t sit here and say you didn’t expect this.
“Will we be back next year?” he asked. “Certainly.”
Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623, jcornfield@heraldnet.com.
The bills
SB 5625: Creates a state college in Snohomish County. Initial enrollment would target upper division and transfer students. Focus will be on science, technology, and engineering instruction; preparing students for careers in green industry technologies and establishing incubator programs with businesses.
SB 5106: Establishes an independent four-year Snohomish Polytechnical College and a higher education investment district. With voter approval, the district may increase sales tax to pay for the college’s construction and operation. Once construction bonds are paid off, the state could assume control of the university.
HB1467/SB 5864: Establishes a University of Washington branch campus in Snohomish County. Instructional focus on high-demand programs emphasizing science, technology and engineering. Upper division, transfer and graduate students would be targeted for enrollment though the campus may admit freshmen and sophomores gradually and deliberately.
For full text and information, go to leg.wa.gov.
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