OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee says the state doesn’t need new taxes to fulfill its education funding obligations.
Inslee said in an interview with The Associated Press on Friday that Washington can get sufficient money into the education system by encouraging economic growth, making government more efficient and curbing state health care costs.
Inslee’s plan seems to put him at odds with other top Democrats, including Gov. Chris Gregoire. She said earlier this month that the state needs to look at revenue as a response to a recent state Supreme Court ruling.
The Washington Supreme Court determined in January that the state isn’t meeting its constitutional obligation to amply pay for basic public education. The Legislature has created a task force that is examining this year how to properly fund education.
