The Student Success Act, House Bill 3427 originally scheduled to be voted off the Senate floor Tuesday, May 7 in advance of the teacher walkout, has been delayed.
Senate Republicans denied quorum on the education spending package Tuesday, as a negotiation tactic. This is one of the only procedural options available to a superminority. To reach quorum, 20 Senators must be present. The current split in the Senate is 18-12.
Senate Republicans continued their protest – with the exception of Senator Tim Knopp on Wednesday and Thursday – flagging a need for meaningful Public Employee Benefits Retirement System (PERS) reform as a reason, and have provided media and leadership a list of other demands.
What is unclear is when Senate Republicans will provide quorum. What is clear is that PERS discussions will proceed. On Friday, May 10, the Joint Ways and Means Subcommittee on Capital Construction unveiled conceptual PERS reforms after several weeks work delving into possible PERS solutions.
Contributed by: Megan Chuinard | Public Affairs Associate