Western Washington University students Jessica Schubert, left, Blair Kaufer and Amanda Leonti write letters to their state legislators and the governor urging them to support higher education at a rally put on by the Associated Students and the Western Votes organization at WWU Friday, Feb. 5, 2010. Students could also register to vote and make phone calls to their state legislators.

Hundreds of University of Washington students gathered at noon Friday on the Capitol steps to voice their displeasure over increased tuition and proposed cuts to financial aid and the school's budget. A state trooper estimated the crowd at 300 to 350 people. About the same time, students at Western Washington University, The Evergreen State College and Central Washington University staged walkouts. About 500 Eastern Washington University and 150 Washington State University students also held walkouts recently, media reports say.

For Madeline Corrado-Din and Trina Griffis, the debate over higher education funding in the Washington Legislature is far from academic. Madeline is the first in her family to attend college. Trina is a single mom, balancing parenthood, work and school. Both came to The Evergreen State College to earn a bachelor’s degree so they can compete for higher-paying jobs today and in the future and give something back to their state and their community. For them, access to a baccalaureate education is critical. But that access is at risk.

When University of Washington junior Janel Brown talks to younger students about college, she tells them that if they do their part in the classroom, the rest will take care of itself. The same assurances were made to Brown while she attended Franklin High School in inner-city Seattle.

Students from the University of Washington planned a noon rally Friday at the state Capitol to present petitions calling for lawmakers to protect funding for higher education.

After a bipartisan makeover, legislation to grant universities temporary tuition-setting authority appears to be making headway in the state Senate. The Senate Higher Education and Workforce Development Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 6562 on Wednesday with amendments that cap tuition increases and help safeguard students and their families from growing out-of pocket expenses. The bill applies to the University of Washington, Western Washington University and Washington State University, allowing them to set resident undergraduate tuition rates from 2011 to 2018 without the Legislat

This week, the Senate has scheduled a hearing on a bill to crack down on what some see as a big problem in higher education – students who hang around too long. Senate Bill 6358 would force students who take too long to graduate to start paying the unsubsidized tuition out-of-state students pay. It’s not that “professional” students who take space that other students could use aren’t an irritation.

They leafed through their textbooks, whispered, ate lunch, tapped on their laptops, played Sudoku. More than 500 students packed the main theater of Kane Hall at the University of Washington recently, waiting for class to begin. Nearly 200 more filled the balcony section. That's 700 students in all in this introductory biology class — more students than attended freshman Meagan Evans' entire high school last year, back in Wisconsin. "Take out your clickers and put away your cellphones, please," said the lone figure on stage, professor Toby Bradshaw. Biology 180 was under way.

The Legislature moved ahead Friday in taking some early steps to save money as lawmakers continue grappling with a $2.6 billion budget deficit. The Senate approved a measure that directs agencies to trim about $70 million in payroll costs through furloughs and other steps. The measure passed on a 27-17 vote and now heads to the House for further consideration. Under the measure, if the agencies don't present a plan on how they'll make the cuts, they will have to shut down for one day a month for 13 months starting in June.

Lawmakers can remedy the shortsighted way higher education is funded this session. Not an easy task when being steamrollered by a $2.6 billion budget shortfall. But it can be done.

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Gov. Chris Gregoire on Tuesday proposed adding $779 million in programs back into the state budget, including the state's health care plan for the needy and tuition assistance for students. Speaking before the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Gregoire said her revised budget would still cut about $433 million in human services, including class size enhancements for kindergarten through fourth grade and some funding for two- and four-year universities.

A proposal to allow the state's public universities to raise tuition without the Legislature's approval is gaining momentum in Olympia. The University of Washington and Washington State University, in particular, long have wanted to set their undergraduate tuition rates but have been rebuffed by lawmakers who've wanted to retain that power and keep the cost of college in check. However, the $2.6 billion state budget shortfall — on the heels of last year's big cuts to higher education — has prompted lawmakers to look again at the idea as a way to let the universities raise more money. In her

Washington's 147 state lawmakers returned Monday to Olympia, and the Democrat-controlled House and Senate were quickly greeted at the Capitol by conflicting messages about taxation and spending. Anti-tax crusader Tim Eyman filed another initiative – seeking to re-enact a two-thirds vote requirement for tax increases that voters last approved in 2007. Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown, have signaled they intend to temporarily suspend or alter I-960 to allow easier action on revenue increases in the face of a projected $2.6 billion budget shortfall.

As the Legislature starts work today to close a $2.6 billion budget gap, key lawmakers say tax increases may be inevitable. To clear the way, top Democrats have indicated they'll suspend or modify Initiative 960, which requires a two-thirds legislative majority or voter approval for tax increases. But which taxes would be raised and who would pay them is far from clear.

Washington state lawmakers are feeling deficit deja vu. A $2.6 billion deficit awaits them as they return to the state Capitol on Monday to convene a 60-day session, and it's the second straight year they've had to face making cuts to state programs. One thing that's on the table this year that wasn't last year: taxes. Gov.

As state legislators gather in Olympia to close the $2.6 billion budget gap, the chief concern for business owners appears to be not whether tax hikes are coming, but how big they will be. The 60-day legislative session begins Monday, Jan. 11, and lawmakers are tasked with fixing the problem by making cuts, raising more revenue or both.

Washington state government is in danger of running out of money if the Legislature fails to act quickly, state Treasurer Jim McIntire says. "With no improvement in the state's overall cash position, the entire state treasury could be depleted as soon as September 2010," McIntire said in a letter sent to the governor and legislative leaders last month. Simply put, the state is spending more money than it's taking in through tax collections because of the recession. "If they [lawmakers] don't act, we could be in some real trouble," McIntire said in an interview this week.

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Education likely will be a hot topic both nationally and in Whatcom County in 2010, due to budget constraints, new tests and potential for changes to federal education rules. Federal officials are pushing for education reform, dangling a $4 billion pot of money in front of states to urge them to reexamine their education laws.

Local legislators have had about a week to digest Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed supplemental budget, and none of them are completely happy with her plan. The supplemental budget, which would balance a $2.6 billion shortfall for the 2009-11 biennium, outlines heavy cuts in health, human services and education — and that doesn’t sit well with 26th District state Reps. Jan Angel, Larry Seaquist or Sen. Derek Kilmer. Angel, R-Port Orchard, said Gregoire’s proposed budget is setting the stage for increased taxes and fees to plug the hole.

Even though Gov. Chris Gregoire has said she will be submitting another supplemental budget with new revenue sources in January, people in higher education are worried about another round of deep funding cuts. But the Western Washington University Board of Trustees has indicated they won't take cuts without a fight.

It's possible Western Washington University will have to cut nearly $4 million from the 2010-11 operating budget under a newly proposed supplemental budget from Gov. Chris Gregoire. But that number could be reduced in the next month as Gregoire creates a new proposal. Under state law, she was required to submit a balanced budget proposal that closed the projected $2.6 billion state shortfall without adding new revenue.