Oregon Public Broadcasting

A $3 billion bond measure to fix up schools and make them more energy efficient. That’s the proposal from a key Democrat in the Washington legislature. But the State Treasurer is wary. Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins has details.

State Representative Hans Dunshee, chair of the House capital construction committee, calls it a 21st Century version of the 1930s Works Progress Administration.

He wants voters to approve a massive bond measure this November. It would pump $3 billion into health and safety upgrades as well as energy efficiency projects in public schools, community colleges and universities.

Dunshee says that level of spending could create nearly a hundred thousand jobs in Washington.

Hans Dunshee: “I think most people out there really care about the economy and about jobs right now and I think they’re worried about their own jobs. So that led me to think what can we do? Well, let’s do what the WPA did. Let’s put people to work.”

Dunshee would like voters to approve a tax to help pay for the bond measure. But he doesn’t yet have specifics.

State Treasurer Jim McIntire, a fellow Democrat, calls the $3 billion proposal too big and says it could jeopardize Washington’s bond rating.