Washington lawmakers take education reform ideas on the road

SEATTLE (AP) — Washington state senators from both political parties are taking education spending ideas on the road to get citizen input.

But they plan to mostly avoid the biggest issue in the debate: Where will the money come from?

Sen. Bruce Dammeier, R-Puyallup, says that the proposal being shopped around to fix the local school levy system and the statewide teacher pay system is incomplete.

But the vice chairman of both the Senate Education and Ways and Means committees says the money is a political issue that will be resolved during the legislative session.

The listening tour began this past week in Vancouver.

The Senate Education Committee listening tour is scheduled to visit Anacortes on Oct. 6, Bremerton on Oct. 8, Renton on Oct. 19, Spokane on Oct. 21, Wenatchee on Oct. 26 and Yakima on Oct. 27.