State Supreme Court Holds Legislature in Contempt for Education Budget

Thursday, the Washington State Supreme Court, according to many critics, overstepped itself in holding the Legislature in 'contempt' for failing to live up to educational spending standards.

This fuss stems from the 2012 McCleary Decision.  A group of teachers, educators and other so-called experts won a decision from the State Supreme Court saying the legislature wasn't fulfilling it's financial expectations towards school spending.

The Court also ruled that Washington's educational funding system was unconstitutional.  That's why you've heard so much buzz about Gov. Inslee and others wanting to close tax loopholes so they can throw more money on the pile.  The court mandated the legislature spend hundreds of millions we don't have in addition to existing budgets.

Thursday's ruling   could   mean the following, according to KOMO-TV in Seattle:

"The order says that if the Legislature does not finish its work, the court and attorneys will talk after the session about what kind of punishment to impose. Sanctions suggested by  the justices include having the court redo the budget for lawmakers, or having it declare all tax exemptions unconstitutional."

While provisions do allow the court to pass certain actions when it comes to the legislature, to have the court "redo" the budget for  the lawmakers without citizens input would seem to be a serious breach of justice.

While nobody argues there shouldn't be money spent on schools,  the satisfy the McCleary statutes would cost the state nearly $4 billion dollars in each bi-annual (two year) budget - money our state doesn't have.

This action today should scare every taxpayer, and let them know just how out-of-control and out of touch the Supreme Court, and many in the educational system are with taxpayer burdens.