Oregon Public Broadcasting

A committee of lawmakers in Olympia passed a bill Wednesday that would allow advertisements on Washington school buses.

A state study estimates ads could bring in $175,000 for schools next year. But as Chantal Anderson reports some lawmakers view the bill as a sell-out.

Currently, some forms of public transportation in Washington, like city buses, already act as advertising vessels. But ads on public school buses would be uncharted territory in Washington.

State Democratic education Senate chair Rosemary McAuliffe points out other states have taken this path.

Rosemary McAuliffe: "I do support this bill. There have been no accidents in Colorado after 10 years of their doing this. If you see the picture of the school bus the advertisement is very, very minute and very controlled."

But, McAuliffe's Democratic colleague Eric Oemig, says school bus ads are a bad idea.

Eric Oemig: "I'm against this bill I don't understand why we're not funding schools and why we're letting corporations put their logos on busses because we can't figure out how to tax them to pay for schools."

The bill passed out of committee but it's unclear if it will make it to the floor of the Senate for a vote. The Washington House is also considering a similar bill.