A weekly column from the AS Legislative Liaison in Olympia
By Rosa Rice-Pelepko
2017 was a year that left a lot of people feeling politically disempowered. As students, we face unique challenges balancing issues like ever-increasing student debt and difficulties with mental health. There can be a sense of powerlessness that students experience when they struggle through problems like these.
Yet, there are many ways that students are creatively and compassionately pushing back and fighting for their rights here at WWU. One often underutilized method of making change is to engage with our local legislative process.
I know, I know, just the word legislative makes your eyes start to glaze over. But the reality of getting involved with politics is more exciting than you might think. I serve as the Legislative Liaison in the Associated Students, meaning I lobby in Olympia on your behalf.
I work in tandem with the Washington Student Association (WSA), a statewide coalition which includes four-year public institutions of higher education who work together to advocate for legislation that will aid all students. These past several weeks I have attended meetings with representatives, listened to committees, and shared testimony on issues relating to students like you.
What issues does the AS decide to lobby on? The ASWWU Legislative Affairs Council, a student-run committee, sets a statewide lobby agenda during fall quarter. I also work to support the WSA Legislative Agenda, which is voted on by school representatives from around the state.
Some top priorities this year include fully funding the State Need Grant, expanding aid opportunities for undocumented students, and decoupling Services and Activities Fees from tuition which will allow for the sustained success of certain student services. We’re also working
to pass several voting rights related bills such as Same Day and Automatic Voter Registration, and supporting steps towards free college in Washington State.
Last month, students from Western came down to the capitol on MLK Day and lobbied our legislators on these issues and more! Other key priorities for the WSA include establishing a Student Loan Bill of Rights, providing funding for Open Educational Resources, and increased mental health care, especially for veteran students.
There has been a lot of positive traction so far this session related to student issues.
Automatic Voter Registration, which will implement electronic voter registration at certain agencies to increase the number of registered voters and overall turnout, is doing well in both the House and Senate. Same Day Voter registration bills are having success in the House and the Senate.
A bill to decouple services and activities from tuition has made it to Rules in both chambers, already making it farther than it did last session. A bill to expand the financial aid opportunities to undocumented students and certain visa status immigrants has survived fiscal cutoff and is heading to the House floor this week, while the Senate version passed the floor a few weeks into the year.
Currently, we have just passed the house of origin fiscal cutoff, meaning all bills that didn’t make it out of Appropriations, Ways and Means, of Transportation committees have died. We are fast approaching the next cutoff this coming Wednesday, which is the last day for bills to be considered on the floor of their house of origin.
Looking ahead in session: Next week we’ll cover key bills that made it through the house of origin cutoff on Wednesday. Make sure to check out this column weekly to hear about the important issues being debated in your state’s capital. Also keep an eye out for Legislative Affairs Council Members who are out on campus spreading the word on our legislative work!
Having students come together from across the state to lobby on certain issues is powerful, and there other ways to get involved as well. Find out who your state legislators are at app.leg.wa.gov/districtfinder, and stay up to date on the issues that matter to you. Contacting your legislators’ offices through phone or email is a simple way to make sure the legislature is accountable to Western students.
Remember, your elected officials work for you; though it might feel intimidating, it is your right to let them know what policy you do or don’t want passed. Also, sign up for action alerts at tinyurl.com/WWUaction if you’d like to be alerted on how to help advance our priorities.