If a capital gains tax is paired with property tax relief and closing loopholes, then it has a chance. But that is the only way, or Dems will get swept out in 2020. Property tax relief must be the number one priority in the next session. I agree with Stinson; the Dems broke it, now they must fix it.

What a shock, all those new funds the state raised go straight into teachers' pockets and not for, say, more or better teachers.

Thanks to Summer for this good overall picture.

@2, what are you mumbling about? More teachers would mean you need more students/buildings, no? Is that happening everywhere? No. as for "better" teachers, are you saying those "better" teachers get paid more and, if so, who decides who is "better?"

Inslee doesn't support charter schools (not last time I looked and I keep up). Where did you see this?

One other thing to keep in mind - that property tax money? Seattle schools will not see all of Seattle's property tax increase for schools. Nope, part of that money goes to property-poor districts. Which is kinda sort fair, except for the large number of low-income and homeless students in Seattle Public Schools.

@4 In 2016 Inslee saved charter schools by not vetoing them: https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/education/charter-school-bill-likely-to-become-law/

How many overtime sessions was the legislature supposed to go into, ten, twenty? Blame the voters, not the legislature for lack of some type of income tax.

I blame Thug Ericksen, R-Ferndale, 42nd District, for being such a corrupt, obstructionist RepubliKKKan turd and tool of the Trumpist fossil fuel industry. His wife is also the highest paid public school teacher in Washington State. It is high time for challenger Pinky Vargas to unseat this shamefully misrepresentative criminal from too years already in office.
@6 cronkus: You're right--I blame the idiots in the 42nd District who keep stupidly voting RepubliKKKan.

2

Dude, becoming a teacher is expensive. Grad school student loans, state certification, and endorsements to your cert are EXPENSIVE. Teachers with top notch pedagogical training, and the drive to be self-reflective and willing to keep up with research and PD to remain effective, are expensive for a school to keep. Those "better" teachers can go to schools in high income areas where they are paid decently and provided with adequate support (texts, tech, supplies) to do a great job.

If you want good teachers in all public schools, then the districts have to be willing to pay them decently. As it is, they work their asses off and pay a ton of out-of-pocket expenses to keep their classes afloat.

But, hey, teacghers are sacred and the centet is right, so what do I know?

Do the math. I had a class with 42 students, 32 desks and 25 books. What do you expect the outcome to be?

Kudos, Summer, for a superb piece that clearly and cogently makes the case for our teachers. And they ARE our teachers, whether we are students, former students, parents, citizens, taxpayers, grandparents, guardians or even if we don't have kids and never plan to ever had kids.

OUR communities, our state and our nation depends on well-educated, literate citizens. Without teachers we won't produce such people. And for you cynics out there who say, "Well we don't have many well-educated, literate citizens now!" I ask you to think how many we'd have without teachers.

Wait, so you think my property tax should increase the same percentage as my revalued property which has been ridiculous the last few years. This is my home not a piggy bank. I know education is expensive right now, I am putting two kids through college. How has education got to be so expensive? Lets dig a little deeper