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Welcome to the ASUW Office of Government Relations website! As the lobbying arm of our student government, the OGR advocates on behalf of 38,000 students at the city, county and state level.
Higher Education Advocacy Day
Posted by Jono on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 4:29 PM
Good Evening ASUWers,

I'd like to let you all know why Higher Education Advocacy Day is such an important event, and why you should be there.

This is your opportunity to speak with the united voice of hundreds of other students swarming over the capitol campus. This is when you can come to Olympia and let your lawmakers know what you think.

We won't be scripting what you say... in fact, the most we'll do is give you some talking points and data to help start conversations.

We were told that the reason the cuts to higher education were so deep last year is because there was no student presence there protesting those cuts. Well, this is our chance to keep the cuts from getting any deeper.

If you want to protect the study centers, the student services, the State Need Grant, or any of the eight financial aid programs slated to be suspended under the proposed budget, this is your opportunity to speak. Right now, I'm working to bring the student voice myself... but nothing is more compelling than constituents coming down to speak for themselves.

Our legislators are here in Olympia to work for the people of our state. They work for you. Tell them what is in your best interests.

It's your education, fight for it.

-Jono
Tuition bills in the legislature
Posted by Jono on Friday, January 22, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Hey there ASUW,

I just wanted to update you all on what is happening in the Legislature regarding tuition. Currently, there are four tuition bills in the Senate, and companion bills in the House. As the ASUW, we vehemently oppose Senator Jacobsen's bill that gives just the University of Washington complete local control.

We support Senator Shin's bill that requires the administrations to present tuition and budget proposals to the Higher Education Coordinating Board, and a committee of legislators, before it is approved by the legislature. This bill does allow the administrations to make a recommendation as to what they think tuition should be, but maintains legislative oversight.

Senator Kilmer has proposed a bill that we oppose in its current form. There are several key components that we cannot support. Some of the numbers in his bill are much to high for the students, the bill removes legislative oversight, and the bill grants local control until the legislature decides to take the issue back up again.

Senator Zarelli has proposed a bill that is significantly different than the other bills. It has some points that could be interesting, but it also has some significant flaws that make it impossible for the ASUW to support, so we must oppose it. Zarelli's bill creates hefty punishments for students who do not fit the traditional model that is "ideal" as far as the administration is concerned.


1. SB 6276 - Granting the University of Washington tuition-setting authority. (Jacobsen)
2. SB 6562 - Regarding tuition-setting authority at institutions of higher education. (Kilmer)
3. SB 6509 - Modifying the budget recommendations developed by the higher education coordinating board to include recommendations on tuition and fees. (Shin)
4. SB 6625 - Changing higher education tuition and financial aid provisions. (Zarelli)