Gov. Inslee says education is the focus this session

(AP) — Gov. Jay Inslee told a joint session of the Legislature Wednesday that lawmakers must fulfill their top priority of fully paying for the state's basic education system this year.

Inslee said that while lawmakers must address several other issues before them, such as the mental health system, homelessness and higher education, "none of these issues is more important than fully funding the K-12 education our kids deserve."

Lawmakers, who began their 105-day legislative session on Monday, are working to comply with a 2012 state Supreme Court ruling that they must fully fund the state's basic education system.

Before meeting for the joint session, the Republican-led Senate on Wednesday approved a rule change that would make it harder for that chamber to take action on new taxes, similar to a move they made two years ago.

Republicans in the Senate are set to release their budget proposal — which would include the education solution — in the coming weeks, followed by Democrats in the House.