Lawmakers in Olympia are in a special session to finalize the Washington state budget. Some teachers’ unions have decided to walk out for a day to appeal for more money in the K-12 budget.
There’s a difference in how Democrats and Republicans respond to teacher walkouts.
Democrats are careful about how they talk about these and react. A couple of weeks ago the governor said that while he doesn’t necessarily approve of these one-day walkouts he understands teacher frustration.
Republicans are more likely to bring up a bill introduced by Sen. Tim Sheldon—he’s actually a Democrat who caucuses with Republicans—that would basically prohibit teachers from being paid on walk-out days.
Teachers’ unions are major backers of Democratic party politics in Washington state.
