Teachers, trapping foes heave sigh of relief

Teacher pay raises and animal-trapping restrictions, both mandated by popular ballot measures, will not be repealed after all, key lawmakers said yesterday.

The electorate voted overwhelmingly in 2000 for Initiative 732, guaranteeing teachers an annual raise. Last week, in response to the state's deepening budget crisis, Gov. Gary Locke suggested freezing salaries for teachers and state workers to avoid harsher cuts in education and other services.

But House Speaker Frank Chopp said freezing or even reducing teacher pay raises is not practical because, in order to amend or repeal initiatives within two years of voter approval, legislators need a two-thirds majority.

"I don't see us getting a two-thirds vote to change the teacher salaries -- even if we wanted to, which most of us obviously do not," said Chopp, a Seattle Democrat. "I'm just talking about practical reality."

Lifting the trapping ban also lacks the necessary House votes, Chopp said, adding: "The voters voted, and we need to respect their desires."

Initiative 713 banned the use of body-gripping traps to catch mammals for recreation or commerce. Backers, including the Humane Society of the United States, argued that such traps are cruel.

But the state Senate voted to repeal the measure. Advocates of repeal said wildlife complaints have soared -- with moles tearing up lawns and soccer fields, beavers swamping reforested timber lands, and coyotes snatching lambs and calves from ranchers' fields.

It was the first time either house had voted for complete repeal of a voter initiative.

Lisa Wathne, director of the Humane Society's Pacific Northwest regional office, said, "We're very happy to hear that the House of Representatives has more respect for the will of the voters than the state Senate does."

Chopp said he operates with the understanding that he won't send something for a floor vote if there's not enough support to pass it.

And schools have always been a top priority for Democrats, he said.

"We strongly support our public schools," Chopp said. "Our teachers deserve to get paid better."

The teacher raises will cost $90 million over the next year.

Last week, the state learned its operating budget deficit has grown from $1.25 billion to $1.6 billion. Under the pressure of an increasingly dismal revenue forecast and mounting needs for service, Locke immediately froze state hiring and said the state may need to raise taxes, make sweeping program cuts and stall pay raises for state workers.

For fairness' sake, Locke said blocking voter-mandated teacher raises should also be on the table.

The governor knew last week that it would not be easy, said his spokesman, Pearse Edwards.

"If the Legislature has a better idea, then we are more than willing to look at their options," Edwards said yesterday. "But with the revenue outlook, we need to look at deeper budget cuts."

And schools won't automatically be spared from cuts. "Other things in education are being looked at," Chopp said. Rep. Barry Sehlin of Oak Harbor, ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee, supports freezing state employee wages and hiring. But he aligns with Chopp about teacher raises.

"It was passed by initiative and that puts it in a whole different realm for consideration," Sehlin said.

Chopp said he could not predict the outcome of efforts to freeze wages for state employees.

That may put him in a difficult position between two of the Democrats' most powerful allies: labor and the state's largest teacher's union.

Washington State Labor Council President Rick Bender said his members are frustrated by an apparent willingness to cut benefits for state workers.

State workers are "getting hit twice because they are not getting their (cost-of-living raises) and are being asked to pay more out of their own paychecks for health care," Bender said.

Debra Carnes, spokeswoman for the Washington Education Association representing teachers, isn't happy either.

"We are still hearing $100 million is still on the table for (education) cuts," Carnes said.

Rep. Dave Quall, D-Mount Vernon, chairman of the House Education Committee, agreed the House lacks the votes to repeal teacher raises.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. P-I reporter Chris McGann can be reached at 360-943-8311 or chrismcgann@seattlepi.com

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