Washington's Paramount Duty
@paramountduty.bsky.social
A non-partisan, grassroots group of parents and allies working to compel Washington State's government to amply fund basic education and fulfill its paramount duty. http://paramountduty.org
If @governorferguson.bsky.social calls #waleg back into session to deal with the budget, you had better believe we will insist on billions in new funding for our public schools, funded by a wealth tax.
Why WA governor should herd lawmakers back to a special session | Editorial
Gov. Bob Ferguson should call lawmakers back to Olympia to clean up some mistakes around taxes, juvenile justice and kids in foster care.
www.seattletimes.com
May 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
If @governorferguson.bsky.social calls #waleg back into session to deal with the budget, you had better believe we will insist on billions in new funding for our public schools, funded by a wealth tax.
It is really not OK that House Dems in #waleg are slashing spending for public schools, especially when schools across the state face a budget crisis. Should we urge @governorferguson.bsky.social to veto the final budget if it includes the House's levels of K-12 spending and not the Senate's?
House waters down Senate’s big spending proposal for basic education
More cash for special education and school materials and operating costs passed both chambers, but is a fraction of what the Senate aimed to spend
open.substack.com
April 17, 2025 at 3:15 PM
It is really not OK that House Dems in #waleg are slashing spending for public schools, especially when schools across the state face a budget crisis. Should we urge @governorferguson.bsky.social to veto the final budget if it includes the House's levels of K-12 spending and not the Senate's?
Why are WA House Democrats so much more opposed to funding public education than the WA Senate Democrats? House Dems have spent the whole 2025 session pushing back hard against efforts to fund public education, constantly gutting K-12 spending bills sent to them by the Senate. More here:
wasa-oly.org
April 15, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Why are WA House Democrats so much more opposed to funding public education than the WA Senate Democrats? House Dems have spent the whole 2025 session pushing back hard against efforts to fund public education, constantly gutting K-12 spending bills sent to them by the Senate. More here:
Senate Dems’ wealth tax proposal, SB 5797, would fund a desperately needed $3 billion for our public schools. If @governorferguson.bsky.social doesn’t want to use a wealth tax, he needs to come up with another revenue source to provide that funding. Refusing to deliver the $3B is unacceptable.
Ferguson says he's open to a "conversation" about including a smaller-scale wealth tax that would only generate $100 million per year, in order to test the idea through the courts.
April 2, 2025 at 12:26 AM
Senate Dems’ wealth tax proposal, SB 5797, would fund a desperately needed $3 billion for our public schools. If @governorferguson.bsky.social doesn’t want to use a wealth tax, he needs to come up with another revenue source to provide that funding. Refusing to deliver the $3B is unacceptable.
Since last week we've driven in more than 600 emails to @governorferguson.bsky.social's office, and many phone calls, urging him to add billions in much needed funds for our public schools by passing a wealth tax. We are truly horrified that he would consider vetoing it.
Governor Bob Ferguson has called a press conference for 1pm this afternoon. There's a lot of speculation that he'll announce his intention to veto the wealth tax bill if the legislature sends it to his desk.
April 1, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Since last week we've driven in more than 600 emails to @governorferguson.bsky.social's office, and many phone calls, urging him to add billions in much needed funds for our public schools by passing a wealth tax. We are truly horrified that he would consider vetoing it.
It's our holy grail: $4 billion more *per year* for K-12 public schools, paid for by new taxes on WA's richest residents. It's SB 5797, and we need your help to get it passed! Click here to email your three legislators and @governorferguson.bsky.social to urge them to pass SB 5797!
Save public education in Washington State!
Our schools need $4 billion more per year, and SB 5797 will deliver it. Will you write to your legislators and Governor Ferguson to urge them to pass SB 5797?
actionnetwork.org
March 27, 2025 at 4:25 PM
It's our holy grail: $4 billion more *per year* for K-12 public schools, paid for by new taxes on WA's richest residents. It's SB 5797, and we need your help to get it passed! Click here to email your three legislators and @governorferguson.bsky.social to urge them to pass SB 5797!
State Senate Democrats' revenue proposal is *excellent*. It includes $4 billion per year for public schools, funded by a financial intangibles tax paid by about 4,300 wealthy individuals. We hope the House supports it - and that @governorferguson.bsky.social would sign it. #waleg
Senate Democrats Release 2025 Revenue Proposal - Sen. Noel Frame
Putting People First
senatedemocrats.wa.gov
March 20, 2025 at 4:45 PM
State Senate Democrats' revenue proposal is *excellent*. It includes $4 billion per year for public schools, funded by a financial intangibles tax paid by about 4,300 wealthy individuals. We hope the House supports it - and that @governorferguson.bsky.social would sign it. #waleg
Reposted by Washington's Paramount Duty
Public education in WA is in deep trouble, facing huge budget cuts (and that was before Trump and Musk got their chainsaw out). Tell @governorferguson.bsky.social to add billions more for our schools -- and to tax the rich to fund it!
Save public education in Washington State!
School districts face major cuts and closures as our state continues to deliberately and knowingly underfund public education. Now is the time to tell Governor Ferguson to act!
actionnetwork.org
February 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Public education in WA is in deep trouble, facing huge budget cuts (and that was before Trump and Musk got their chainsaw out). Tell @governorferguson.bsky.social to add billions more for our schools -- and to tax the rich to fund it!
Public education in WA is in deep trouble, facing huge budget cuts (and that was before Trump and Musk got their chainsaw out). Tell @governorferguson.bsky.social to add billions more for our schools -- and to tax the rich to fund it!
Save public education in Washington State!
School districts face major cuts and closures as our state continues to deliberately and knowingly underfund public education. Now is the time to tell Governor Ferguson to act!
actionnetwork.org
February 21, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Public education in WA is in deep trouble, facing huge budget cuts (and that was before Trump and Musk got their chainsaw out). Tell @governorferguson.bsky.social to add billions more for our schools -- and to tax the rich to fund it!
Reposted by Washington's Paramount Duty
There's a lot of (smart!) encouragement to pace ourselves and choose our advocacy priorities in the midst of fascism.
For me, it's always been public education because it is *always* something to be *for.*
Public education is a beacon for democracy and civil rights.
Fund it accordingly!
For me, it's always been public education because it is *always* something to be *for.*
Public education is a beacon for democracy and civil rights.
Fund it accordingly!
We had some great speakers at the rally. Here's @coaltownkdl.bsky.social talking about how she came to the Capitol ten years ago to advocate for fully funding public schools. How long will this take until legislators and the governor get it done?!
January 31, 2025 at 4:35 AM
There's a lot of (smart!) encouragement to pace ourselves and choose our advocacy priorities in the midst of fascism.
For me, it's always been public education because it is *always* something to be *for.*
Public education is a beacon for democracy and civil rights.
Fund it accordingly!
For me, it's always been public education because it is *always* something to be *for.*
Public education is a beacon for democracy and civil rights.
Fund it accordingly!
Washington’s Paramount Duty was proud to co-sponsor today’s Billion Dollar Bake Sale at the State Capitol! Hundreds of people showed up to demand “no more crumbs: fund our schools!”
January 31, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Washington’s Paramount Duty was proud to co-sponsor today’s Billion Dollar Bake Sale at the State Capitol! Hundreds of people showed up to demand “no more crumbs: fund our schools!”
Excellent thread from Study Up Washington. The testimony is very powerful. From across the state, in districts large and small, urban and rural, east and west, the message is loud and it's clear: WA is badly underfunding our schools. Legislators must act now by providing ample funding!
Larry Delaney from Washington Education Association shares a story about a funding town hall and the superintendent from Mount Baker was there. MB is in binding conditions right now, because of special education funding gap.
January 22, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Excellent thread from Study Up Washington. The testimony is very powerful. From across the state, in districts large and small, urban and rural, east and west, the message is loud and it's clear: WA is badly underfunding our schools. Legislators must act now by providing ample funding!
Excellent testimony from our board member Emily Carmichael!
Emily Carmichael from Seattle says that her student has had an IEP for 5 years, over 4 different schools. They've received a range of support. The problem is that there's not enough funding in the student. 3/4 of the deficit in Seattle last year was the special education funding gap.
January 22, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Excellent testimony from our board member Emily Carmichael!
We're proud to be part of the Billion Dollar Bake Sale. Join us on January 30 in Olympia to show the governor and the legislature that we need them to step up with billions of dollars for our students and our public schools! www.billiondollarbakesalewa.com
Parents launch lobbying effort to press for more money for schools
In a tongue-in-cheek campaign, parents are hosting bake sales to raise billions for public schools. The real goal is to highlight state funding shortfalls.
www.seattletimes.com
January 13, 2025 at 5:51 PM
We're proud to be part of the Billion Dollar Bake Sale. Join us on January 30 in Olympia to show the governor and the legislature that we need them to step up with billions of dollars for our students and our public schools! www.billiondollarbakesalewa.com
The governor-elect needs to go back to the drawing board, because these priorities will fail our students.
Washington’s Paramount Duty rejects Governor-Elect Bob Ferguson’s budget priorities
Proposal adds no new money to solve serious budget crises at our K-12 public schools
SEATTLE – Washington’s Paramount Duty President Robert Cruickshank issued the following statement rejecting Governo...
paramountduty.org
January 10, 2025 at 1:13 AM
The governor-elect needs to go back to the drawing board, because these priorities will fail our students.
Washington Education Association President Larry Delaney has strong words about Governor Inslee's budget that cuts education funding -- and we agree! We hope Bob Ferguson does better. www.facebook.com/WEAAdvocacy/...
December 18, 2024 at 12:32 AM
Washington Education Association President Larry Delaney has strong words about Governor Inslee's budget that cuts education funding -- and we agree! We hope Bob Ferguson does better. www.facebook.com/WEAAdvocacy/...
Governor Jay Inslee's final budget proposal continues his neglect of our public schools. $1.3B for salaries and operations is a fraction of the $4B that's needed. And it comes with $347M in cuts, which is simply not defensible given the crisis facing schools. We hope and expect better from Ferguson.
December 17, 2024 at 9:41 PM
Governor Jay Inslee's final budget proposal continues his neglect of our public schools. $1.3B for salaries and operations is a fraction of the $4B that's needed. And it comes with $347M in cuts, which is simply not defensible given the crisis facing schools. We hope and expect better from Ferguson.
After 12 years of Jay Inslee's neglect of public education, we hope Bob Ferguson will make education funding a priority. This interview is not promising. Schools need $4 billion more a year in funding. Voters did not give him a mandate to cut spending.
What Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson says about taxes, police and deportations
In his first extensive sit-down since winning the gubernatorial race, Ferguson said he’s scouring state government looking for ways to cut spending before considering taxes.
www.seattletimes.com
December 8, 2024 at 7:02 PM
After 12 years of Jay Inslee's neglect of public education, we hope Bob Ferguson will make education funding a priority. This interview is not promising. Schools need $4 billion more a year in funding. Voters did not give him a mandate to cut spending.
What does Trump's victory mean for public education? Nothing good. And much that is bad: starting with the likelihood that WA's already severe failure to fund public schools will get much worse. Stay tuned though: we're about to share options for how you can fight back!
Trump won the presidency. What does that mean for education? • Washington State Standard
Donald Trump’s return to the presidency could set the stage for sweeping changes in U.S. education policy.
washingtonstatestandard.com
November 12, 2024 at 6:27 PM
What does Trump's victory mean for public education? Nothing good. And much that is bad: starting with the likelihood that WA's already severe failure to fund public schools will get much worse. Stay tuned though: we're about to share options for how you can fight back!
