Rep. Haigh to lead new school-funding panel in state House

December 7, 2006

OLYMPIA - When the 2007-08 Washington State Legislature begins operation on Jan. 8, state Rep. Kathy Haigh (D-35th district) will chair a newly formed House subcommittee specifically created to focus on funding for education, the largest slice by far in the state’s spending pie.

As head of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, Haigh will oversee issues relating to funding of early learning and K-12 schools, as well as the state’s public colleges and universities. The current biennial state operating budget includes more than $14 billion for all these levels of state-funded education, or better than 50 percent of the budget’s total spending of $27.3 billion.

“One of my primary reasons for seeking elected office in the first place was to transform our education-funding system,” Haigh said. “With the creation of this new subcommittee of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee, we’ll now have the staff and the standing to design an accountable, sustainable funding model to help all of our schools -- from pre-kindergarten through the university level -- meet the ambitious education goals we’ve set. It will be quite a challenge,” she said, “but I think we are ready for it.”

Haigh, a Shelton veterinarian who is now wrapping up her second two-year term as chair of the House State Government Operations & Accountability Committee, has been a member of the state House of Representatives since 1999. During her tenure as leader of the State Government panel, Haigh was instrumental in developing, refining and passing the most sweeping election-reform measures in the state’s history.

“Our goal then was to help rebuild the public's faith and trust in government as a whole,” Haigh said. “The task with this new position is to make sure we’re making the very best use of the taxpayers’ dollars to achieve the kinds of education excellence our state deserves.”

Haigh's past committees include the House Rules, Education, Appropriations, Transportation and Community Security committees. Special committee assignments have included the Joint Committee on Veterans & Military Affairs, the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Committee, and the Capital Projects Advisory Review Board.

Haigh represents Washington's 35th legislative district, which includes Mason County and portions of Grays Harbor, Kitsap and Thurston counties.

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