Helen Sommers: An Oral History

pg. 236 Newsletter
State Representative Helen Sommers
Focus on K-12
improvements
We made
record investments
in
education in
the 2007-09
biennium:
• Online
Math Curriculum
– to ensure students have access
to a curriculum aligned with
statewide math standards.
• Improving the statewide Washington
Assessment of Student
Learning. The Superintendent of
Public Instruction will redesign
student tests to focus on skills
needed in today’s world.
• Arts in Education – the arts
make an important impact on
the development of every child.
The arts will be part of a core
curriculum.
Proposals
to Protect
Our State’s
Health
Higher Education: Prepares Our
Students for the Future
The 2007-09 operating budget provided record enrollment
for our state’s public universities and colleges. This supplemental
budget makes a number of investments to further
strengthen our higher education system, including:
• Funding for “Entrepreneurial Stars” – leaders in advanced
research.
• e-Science Institute at UW – capable of storing and
analyzing huge amounts of data, such as the Neptune
research project studying the floor of the Pacific Ocean.
• Funding for training students to do the high-tech jobs
that are so important to our new economy.
Graduate and Professional Student Senate
The GPSS is the official government for these
students at the University of Washington,
providing representation on campus and to
the Legislature. Two student lobbyists attend
committee meetings (Higher Education and Appropriations)
and frequently testify on higher ed
issues. Their platform supports an increase in
funding for graduate and professional enrollments,
stable and predictable tuition, more
research opportunities, and a greater state
commitment to capital projects.
The cost of health care continues to challenge our resources. A citizens’
work group was established to consider health care reform proposals.
Other steps taken to improve health include:
• A prohibition on toxic toys
• A program to provide farm-fresh produce for
school lunches
• Increased adult dental access
• Additional support for family planning
• Authority for the Insurance Commissioner to deny
excessive price increases of health insurance policies
for individuals