UPDATE: UW Everett bill awaits House vote

The House of Representatives did not vote Friday on legislation to create a University of Washington North Sound campus in Everett.

House members are not voting on bills this weekend so it will be Monday before the bill, HB 2548, is acted on. Snohomish Democratic Rep. Hans Dunshee is the legislation’s sponsor.

Here’s where I thought things stood Friday morning and not much seems to have changed a day later:

If I had to wager, I’d say it will pass though I suspect some of the “yes” votes won’t be doing so out of a deep commitment to starting a new university in Everett.

Dunshee argues a good case for House Bill 2548 as the best path to expanding higher education in Snohomish, Island and Skagit counties.

There will be those joining him who do so because they trust Dunshee’s judgment. They also are pragmatic; Dunshee holds power on the House budget-writing committee and these lawmakers may need his help on their legislation in the days ahead.

I’m guessing a few Democrats who don’t think the idea of a college is ripe will still vote for it. They don’t want to oppose a colleague if they think there is a good chance the Senate will kill this bill at a later date.

That’s not a bad calculation. Right now, there is no college bill in the Senate. The Ways and Means Committee bottled them up this week.

Senators are waiting to see what the House does. The answer won’t arrive before Monday.