If there's one thing I learned from Rob McKenna during the 2012 gubernatorial campaign, it's that if I want to maintain my access to key Olympia insiders, I need to learn to play nicer with Republicans. And so in the new spirit of bipartisanship that has been sweeping our state capitol, I would like to take a few moments to help House Republican Caucus (HRC) members work more efficiently with their leaders.

For example, when you receive an email from leadership that contains a paragraph like this...

Because the issue of education funding has a long history and will be a main discussion in the 2013 legislative session, we thought it was best to prepare the attached document for caucus members, which is for internal use only. Please do not forward, copy or re-distribute this document to anyone outside of the House Republican Caucus. We want to ensure this document is used solely for your understanding and as a guide for communications with the press or constituents.

... You might want to read the fucking instructions. Especially the important looking part that has been both bolded and underlined. Am I member of the HRC? No. So I probably shouldn't have been forwarded a copy of this email.

Clearly, some of you didn't read the email carefully, so I'll sum it up for you: Today, your caucus will be sending out a press release outlining your alternative K-12 funding solution, and you are supposed to talk about it with constituents and members of the media using "messaging points" provided in the attached document. You know, the one that's "for internal use only."

If you are a member of the HRC, and you can't find your copy of the internal messaging points document, I've conveniently uploaded a PDF of it here. You're welcome. If you are not a member of the HRC, then please do not download a copy. It is for internal use only. So reading it would be wrong... as would be reading my summary in the next couple paragraphs.

Essentially, the main messaging point is this: Always use the catch phrase "Fund Education First," which means "fully funded, in a separate budget, before any other appropriations, and with existing revenues."

If Democrats want to argue for new tax increases, let it be for programs that fall below our state’s number one priority: education.

In other words, the HRC intends to support fully funding K-12 education—which is popular with voters—as a means toward dramatically slashing the rest of budget. Clever! Remember: Don't let those sneaky Democrats use the K-12 funding crisis as an opportunity to ask voters to act responsibly and pay for the services they like!

Okay, you non-HRC members can start reading again. Just don't click on the "Continue reading" link, because I've appended the email that I never should have been forwarded, after the jump:

——- Forwarded Message ——-
From: "Dahlquist, Rep. Cathy"
To: "@HRC Members"
Cc: "@HRC LA's"; "@HRC Communications"; "@HRC Research Services"
Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2012 3:45 PM
Subject: Fund Education First messaging points

Dear HRC Members and Members-Elect:

Yesterday was the final meeting of the Joint Task Force on Education Funding, to which Reps. Gary Alexander and Susan Fagan were appointed. I served as an alternate member. As this task force progressed over the past months, it became clear that if we wanted a true solution to prioritizing K-12 education funding in the state operating budget, the solution had to be put forward by our caucus. As such, we are authoring a House Republican alternative solution in the form of a Minority Report to be submitted to the Legislature by Dec. 31, 2012, along with a policy bill that will be introduced at the beginning of the legislative session. We will be sending out a press release outlining our alternative solution tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 19.

Because the issue of education funding has a long history and will be a main discussion in the 2013 legislative session, we thought it was best to prepare the attached document for caucus members, which is for internal use only. Please do not forward, copy or re-distribute this document to anyone outside of the House Republican Caucus. We want to ensure this document is used solely for your understanding and as a guide for communications with the press or constituents.

The two-page document includes:

  • A brief history of education reform and McCleary v. State court ruling;
  • An update on what occurred at the final task force meeting;
  • Bullet points on the House Republican’s alternative solution for education funding, Fund Education First;
  • Messaging points for speaking with constituents and the media; and
  • Bullet points on the content of education reform bills referenced in the McCleary ruling, House Bills 2261 and 2776


We firmly believe our caucus is the leader in education, both when it comes to standards and accountability as well as funding schools without new and higher taxes. We hope you find the attached information helpful. We welcome your thoughts and questions.

Thank you and, again, please do not pass along the attached document to anyone outside the House Republican Caucus.

Sincerely,

Cathy Dahlquist
Representative, 31st Legislative District
Ranking Member, House Education Committee