(Olympia, WA) -- A Washington lawmaker says he recently voted against the supplemental budget because it contains a provision for free college education for prison inmates. Republican Senator Mike Padden of Spokane Valley says the item provides that the state will support post-secondary education programs for inmates while they're in prison. Padden told KHQ-TV that it sends a message that if you commit a crime, you may have more of an opportunity to get a college education than somebody who's low income or can't receive financial aid. The provision is slated to continue for the duration of the supplemental budget, which is two years.