Sharp increase in gas prices will be major legislative issue in 2024

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. MacEwen’s subscribers Nov. 8, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. MacEwen’s email, click here.

Dear friends and neighbors,

For the 35^th Legislative District, the Belfair Bypass has been a long time coming. Whether we live in the immediate vicinity or merely pass through Belfair on our way from Shelton to the Kitsap Peninsula, many of us are greatly affected by the congestion on Highway 3.

The good news is that the state Department of Transportation is finally ready to begin work. On Thursday evening, your 35^th District lawmakers will host a town hall in Belfair to discuss the project. I will be joined by my seatmates, Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture, as we hear from DOT representatives about project details and timelines.

This project will reduce congestion on this vital transportation artery and improve the quality of life in the Belfair area. I am glad we were able to defeat efforts this last legislative session to delay this project. In previous years, we set aside $79 million for Bypass construction. This year we added $12 million to stave off delays and supply interruptions, and gave DOT the green light. At long last, the Belfair Bypass is finally poised to become reality.

Summertime gas-price spike highlights weaknesses in cap-and-trade legislation

Legislation for next year aims to relieve pressure on gas prices, increase transparency, fulfill promises that were never kept

Last month I appeared on TVW’s The Impact with Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-Seattle, to discuss legislation that has increased gas prices in Washington state. You can see this interview here. I am the ranking Republican member of the Senate Environment, Energy and Telecommunications Committee, and Nguyen is committee chair.

This summer’s spike in gas prices here in Washington state demonstrates that there are major problems with the state’s new cap and trade program. As the lead Republican on the committee that oversees energy legislation, I am in the thick of the debate. We can expect important legislation next session on this issue, to fulfill promises that were never kept.

This legislation was passed in 2021, with the idea that it might reduce the state’s carbon output. About all we can say so far is that it has increased gas prices. The program took effect in January, as gas prices were rising nationwide. Washington leapfrogged into the lead, and for several weeks this summer, we had the highest gas prices in the nation. Today we are number three. Experts tell us cap and trade has added about 50 cents to the cost of a gallon of gas.

This counters the promise made by Gov. Jay Inslee that the cost would be pennies a gallon. We were assured that proceeds would be spent only on projects that would reduce carbon. We were promised an exemption for agriculture and the maritime industry that never materialized. We can’t even say what effect this is having on carbon emissions, because the Department of Ecology has not released emissions data after 2019.

Next session we will be introducing legislation to address these obvious weaknesses. Our proposals would rank and categorize projects based on their ability to reduce emissions. We would require greater transparency from the Department of Ecology, and honor the exemptions granted in the original legislation. The current administration has attempted to divert attention from the high costs that this program has imposed on the people of this state. We deserve to know what we are getting for our money. These proposals are a good place to start.

Thanks for reading! It is an honor serving you,

Drew MacEwen

Senator, 35^th Legislative District

Contact me!

My most important duty is to serve you. I hope you will contact me or my legislative assistant, Rob Barnes, if you have any concerns about state government, or a problem with a state agency.

Phone: (360) 786-7668

Email: Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov

Mail: P.O. Box 40435, Olympia, Wash.  98501

Leave a message on the Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000

Sen. Drew MacEwen and Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture will be joined by representatives of the state Department of Transportation. State officials will discuss the project route and timeline and answer questions.

The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Nov. 9 at The Hub, 111 Northeast Old Belfair Highway, in Belfair.

The Bypass is moving forward as the result of legislative action this year to provide full funding for the project. The new Highway 3 Freight Corridor project will skirt Belfair, creating an alternative route for through traffic that will improve travel times and reduce traffic congestion.

The 35th District lawmakers helped defeat a proposal this year from Gov. Jay Inslee that would have delayed construction of the Belfair Bypass and other major road projects statewide. Under the Inslee plan, construction would have been postponed to the 2029-31 biennium.

Lawmakers rejected the delays in this year’s transportation budget bill, House Bill 1125. Instead, the Legislature provided an additional $12 million to launch construction, on top of $79 million already allocated for the project.

“We know how vital this project is to those living and working in the Belfair and North Mason County region and want to provide them an opportunity to hear exactly what they can expect and get their questions answered,” said Sen. MacEwen, R-Shelton. “I hope this provides a convenient opportunity to update the community.”

“We know residents have waited a long time for this alternative route around Belfair and need to know what to expect so they can plan accordingly,” said Rep. Griffey, R-Allyn. “This town hall event provides that opportunity and a chance for them to share their thoughts and concerns about the project.”

“I am proud of the collaboration between me and my seatmates this past session that successfully fought back the effort to further delay this important project to ease traffic congestion through Belfair,” said Rep. Couture, R-Allyn. “We look forward to providing this opportunity to the community to see maps, timelines, and more from project leaders.”

35th District lawmakers Rep. Travis Couture, Sen. Drew MacEwen, and Rep. Dan Griffey.

For more than a decade, Mason County officials, community members, and leaders of the Squaxin Tribe have worked with 35th District lawmakers to secure funding for the West Oakland Bay Restoration and Conservation project.

On Sept. 15, Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, and Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, joined those longtime partners for a groundbreaking celebration. The 35th District lawmakers this year secured the final $5.3 million needed for the project in the 2023-2025 capital budget as part of the state Recreation and Conservation office’s Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration grant program.

The project will help restore the estuary’s natural habitat and significantly boost recovery efforts for coho, Chinook and chum salmon.

“Over the past 150 to 200 years, we have had to sit on the sidelines and watch the degradation of our environment, watch our salmon slowly go extinct,” said Squaxin Tribe Chair Kris Peters. “But the time is now for us to turn it back the other way. There is no reason we can’t have progress, grow our economy in a good way, have a thriving community with businesses and still protect our environment. This is a great example from our little community about how we can all work together to do the right thing for everyone.”

The funding will complete the final phase of the West Bay Conservation and Restoration Project removing nearly a quarter mile of bulkhead and enhancing 17 acres of saltmarsh to promote growth of intertidal vegetation.

“We know we can accomplish great things for the 35th District and for Mason County when we work together as a team in Olympia and here in the community,” said Sen. Drew MacEwen. “This is a great example of those partnerships and their benefits for all. I am incredibly proud of what we accomplished together.”

Rep. Dan Griffey agreed.

“If we build a culture of collaboration, we can have nice things. If we build those relationships and commit to coming together in a civil manner – even when we might disagree – there is nothing we can’t accomplish,” Griffey said. “This final piece is going to further solidify the salmon recovery we are already seeing after completion of other phases of this project and complete $35 million worth of investment in salmon recovery from Olympia to Mason County.”

Oakland Bay

Griffey and MacEwen credited Couture for securing the final funding as a member of the House Capital Budget Committee. The efforts of the 35^th District lawmakers helped ensure all requests for the Puget Sound Acquisition and Recovery were funded this year.

“I am grateful to have had the opportunity to fight for this funding during my first year in office and help score this victory for our partners, our community, and our children and their children,” Couture said. “This will enhance Mason County’s leadership on carbon reduction, spur development of aquaculture, create an estimated 80 to 100 jobs, and inspire future generations to continue our work for salmon recovery.”

The Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce expressed appreciation for the 35th district lawmakers’ commitment to the project.

“This groundbreaking ceremony is more than just the physical start of a project; it symbolizes the strength of our community bonds, the resilience of our partnerships, and the unwavering commitment of all those who believe in our shared potential,” said Chamber President Deidre Peterson.

“We are grateful to our legislators for securing the resources necessary to support this project, building on decades of progress and millions of dollars already invested in restoration work. This project enhances Oakland Bay as both an environmental asset and an economic driver in our community.”

Inslee’s cap and trade program gives Washington the most expensive gasoline in the nation

Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, Republican lead on the Senate Environment, Energy and Technology Committee, responded Thursday to a proposal from Gov. Jay Inslee targeting what he calls ‘monster profits” by oil refiners. Inslee was the prime mover behind cap and trade legislation in the Washington Legislature. The program, which took effect in January, caused gas prices to skyrocket, and has given Washington the highest gas prices in the country. MacEwen said:

“The governor would like us to believe that Washington’s highest-in-the nation gas prices are somehow the fault of oil companies. What we are seeing today is the predictable result of legislation that was designed to drive up the price of gasoline in the first place.

“The oil refiners are merely passing along to consumers the rather substantial cost of the state’s new cap and trade program – about 45 cents a gallon. Washington gas prices shot up when the program launched. The price increases we have seen in this state match the cost of the program rather precisely. We’re not seeing this anywhere else, just in the one state of the union that launched a cap and trade program this year.

“Under this program, Washington industry will have to pay the state more than a billion dollars next year. Only the naïve would believe it would absorb costs so enormous. The governor owns this disaster. He promised us that cap and trade would cost pennies on the gallon. He ought to be looking at ways the Department of Ecology can change administrative rules, so that he can deliver on his promise.”

Urban residents seek refuge at Shelton’s Turning Pointe shelter, other rural facilities

A bill to boost funding for rural domestic violence shelters, inspired by Shelton’s Turning Pointe facility, was signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Jay Inslee.

Senate Bill 5398 is part of a multi-year effort by Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, to raise state allocations for rural shelters serving victims of domestic violence. The bill directs the Department of Social and Health Services to devise a new funding formula for shelters based on demand.

Currently shelters receive state funding based on county population – but that fails to consider the number of urban residents who seek refuge in rural areas, MacEwen said. “Shelton’s Turning Pointe shelter and others like it serve a larger client base than just Mason County,” he said. “Funding shouldn’t be based on population, but rather the number of people served.”

In 2022, MacEwen led efforts in the state House to provide an additional $750,000 to rural shelters based on bed capacity. In the Senate budget this year, MacEwen obtained an additional $1.5 million to cover them for the next two years. The new funding formula aims to make a more permanent fix.

MacEwen, left, at bill signing May 4 for SB 5323, with representatives from the state Department of Veterans Affairs and Gov. Jay Inslee.

Other MacEwen legislation signed into law by the governor includes:

• Senate Bill 5323, which requires the Washington Department of Veterans Affairs to appoint a nursing director at each of the state’s veterans’ homes, and makes other technical changes to veterans’ programs. This was priority legislation requested by the state Veterans Affairs department.
• Senate Bill 5448, which allows restaurants to continue providing alcoholic beverages for curbside service, takeout and delivery. The practice was launched during COVID-related shutdowns and was due to expire in July.
• Senate Bill 5437, which clarifies procedures by which public utility districts and other special purpose districts can fill vacancies on boards and commissions. MacEwen said, “This puts an end to the ‘good ol’ boys’ process by which board members appoint friends without public participation or adequate notice. Open government is important at all levels of government.”

No agreement on drug issue could force special session

Note: The following e-newsletter was sent to Sen. Drew MacEwen’s subscribers April 27, 2023. To subscribe to Sen. MacEwen’s e-newsletter, click here. 

See my video update on the 2023 legislative session! Click here to watch.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Our 2023 legislative session ended on schedule April 23, with promising developments and a few causes for concern. We saw bipartisan cooperation on the budget and other issues, but we witnessed major debates on public safety, and the failure to pass a drug bill could force us to return for a special session. In this e-newsletter, I want to give to give you a quick rundown on the top issues of the 2023 session for the state and 35th Legislative District.

Scene on the Senate floor Sunday night as the Washington Legislature adjourned its 2023 session.

Public safety is Olympia’s top issue in 2023 session

Bipartisan cooperation on budget and housing, sharp divides on drugs and Second Amendment rights

Police pursuit – Two years ago, our colleagues responded to the riots in Seattle and national unrest with a series of bills weakening the hand of law enforcement. The biggest was a restriction on most police pursuits when suspects flee the scene of a crime. The result? The crime rate skyrocketed. Car theft increased 50 percent and criminal “driveaways” tripled. Police couldn’t stop stolen cars and reckless drivers, and people were killed.

Most lawmakers were ready to restore the old law – yet we encountered great resistance. The final compromise gets us partway there, but does not allow police pursuits for stolen cars, reckless drivers, robbery, theft and other non-violent crimes. I supported this year’s legislation, Senate Bill 5352, as a step toward progress, but efforts will need to continue in future sessions.

Drug policy – The Legislature’s deadliest failure this year came on our laws against hard drugs. Overdose deaths have become an epidemic – nearly 2,500 last year — yet political disagreements in this year’s Legislature could leave Washington with no laws against possession of drugs like heroin and fentanyl. This issue could force us back for a special legislative session.

The problem started two years ago, when our state Supreme Court overturned our old felony laws against possession of hard drugs like heroin and fentanyl, in a case called State v. Blake. Our colleagues chose not to fix our old laws, and instead made possession a barely enforceable misdemeanor. The state Department of Health tells us overdoses are now the leading case of death among men under age 60, bigger even than cancer.

Fixing this law proved one of the most difficult issues of the session. In the Senate, Republicans and Democrats worked together to pass Senate Bill 5536 — a compassionate response restoring gross misdemeanor penalties, giving police and prosecutors the tools they need to get addicts into treatment. I voted for the Senate version of this bill. Unfortunately, this became a partisan issue in the House. The proposal was weakened, and in an unusual vote on the Legislature’s final day, the bill was defeated, 55-43.

Our majority colleagues will need to move quickly to find the votes for an effective drug law, because our current law expires June 30.

The budget – There was a hopeful sign of cooperation on the operating budget this year. Republicans and Democrats worked together in the Senate on a $70 billion proposal. While not a bipartisan budget, the result reflected responsible budgeting principles, stayed even with inflation, left a sizeable reserve for downturns, and avoided new taxes.

Affordable housing – Here lawmakers demonstrated they can work together in a non-partisan way. As a housing shortage drives up home prices statewide, new laws passed this year will streamline permit processes, increase high density development, and make it easier to develop an accessory dwelling unit on your property. Unfortunately, other laws this session work against affordability, including a bill requiring state and local land-use policies to be designed around climate change. Costs imposed by state and local government already add $128,000 to the cost of typical new home construction. We’ll need to keep working to keep housing costs under control.

Second Amendment rights – There were sharp differences on gun rights issues. Our colleagues passed three bills offering an emotional response to recent tragedies, rather than addressing the root causes of violence. House Bill 1240 bans certain types of high capacity firearms. House Bill 1143 requires firearms purchasers to complete state-approved gun-safety courses. Senate Bill 5078 allows the attorney general to sue gun manufacturers when firearms are used in crimes.

These measures were signed into law Tuesday by Gov. Jay Inslee, and legal challenges are already being filed on constitutional grounds. I was opposed to all three. Heavy-handed solutions like these will not prevent violence. We need to address underlying issues of mental health, behavioral health and our responsibility to address problems when we see them. Only when we are willing to deal with more difficult issues like these will we make a difference.

Affordability a growing problem – Washington’s tax burden now ranks 13th nationally, according to the state Department of Revenue. There weren’t any new tax increases this year, but taxes approved in previous sessions started taking a bite. These included a new state income tax on capital gains and cap and trade policies that increase the price of fuel. A new payroll tax for long-term care insurance launches in July. New tax proposals for next session include a wealth tax, an expansion of the income tax, a higher estate excise tax, and a tripling of the annual growth rate the property tax. The last two proposals would be especially damaging to our efforts to increase affordable housing. We need to reverse this trend, and make affordability in Washington a priority.

Speaking on Senate floor.

Local projects are funded, Belfair Bypass remains on track

Capital budget launches construction projects, Turning Pointe shelter gets boost

Final budgets approved by the Legislature will finance projects across the 35th Legislative District. I worked closely with my House seatmates in the 35th Legislative District in delivering key projects for our area, and want to credit the hard work done in the House by Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture. By working together, we were able to score important wins for our district.

The Belfair Bypass remains on track, with construction due this year. Lawmakers rejected a proposal from Gov. Jay Inslee that would have delayed many road projects five years or more. The final transportation budget provides $12 million for the project, on top of $79 million already allocated.

Shelton’s Turning Pointe shelter and others get $1.5 million to offset higher demands on domestic violence facilities in rural counties. I have led efforts to improve funding for rural shelters. This year I sponsored and passed Senate Bill 5398, which establishes a task force to develop a new domestic violence shelter funding formula based on demand.
The state capital budget provides funding for local infrastructure projects. Allocations for the 35th District this year included:

• $3 million for repairs to water tank storage at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton;
• $2.131 million for small district public school construction districtwide;
• $1.85 million for Angleside reservoir capacity upgrades in Shelton; $1.2 million for young adult transitional housing in Shelton;
• $1.03 million for the design of a new Mason County jail in Shelton;
• $1 million for Mason Public Utility District water infrastructure in Matlock;
• $618,000 for Mason Public Utility District 1 Vuecrest water system storage project in Union;
• $618,000 for Camp Thunderbird wastewater treatment facility in Olympia;
• $571,000 for replacement of the water system at Millersylvania State Park in Thurston County;
• $515,000 for Port of Allyn public pier repair in Allyn;
• $412,000 for Kitsap Humane Society Veterinary Lifesaving Center in Silverdale;
• $350,000 for Sandhill Park;
• $350,000 for Yelm Highway Community Park;
• $250,000 for regional water and sewer upgrades in Rochester;
• $250,000 for security and access improvements in Shelton;
• $215,000 for Shelton daycare and building project;
• $198,000 for the Swede Hall renovation project in Rochester;
• $103,000 for emergency shelter capital improvements in Shelton; and
• $70,000 for library improvements in Shelton.

Thanks for reading! It is an honor serving you,

Drew MacEwen
Senator, 35th Legislative District

Contact me!

My most important duty is to serve you. I hope you will contact me or my legislative assistant, Rob Barnes, if you have any concerns about state government, or a problem with a state agency.

Phone: (360) 786-7668
Email: Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov
Mail: P.O. Box 40435, Olympia, Wash. 98501
Leave a message on the Legislative Hotline: 1-800-562-6000

Lawmakers adjourn 2023 session after passing transportation, capital and operating budgets

OLYMPIA – Final budgets approved by Washington lawmakers before adjourning their 2023 legislative session keep the Belfair Bypass on track, ensure adequate funding for rural domestic violence shelters like Shelton’s Turning Pointe, promote early learning programs in the Shelton School District and finance $36 million in public works projects across the 35th Legislative District.

Washington lawmakers ended their 2023 legislative session Sunday night after passing transportation, capital and operating budgets. The budgets provide money for local projects statewide.

In the 35th Legislative District, public works projects winning funding include Department of Corrections facilities, water systems, parks and ports. The allocations were championed by 35th District lawmakers Sen. Drew MacEwen and Reps. Dan Griffey and Travis Couture.

The Belfair Bypass proved the single biggest allocation for the district. The long-awaited Belfair project was among a number of major road projects proposed for delay by Gov. Jay Inslee. Under the Inslee proposal, bypass construction, set to begin this year, would have been delayed until the 2029-31 biennium.

Lawmakers rejected the delays in the transportation budget bill, House Bill 1125, and provided an additional $12 million for the project to stave off delays and supply interruptions. The money comes in addition to $79 million already allocated for the project.

“I am very pleased with the combined efforts of the 35th District delegation in delivering key projects for our district,” said MacEwen, R-Shelton. “These are all much needed infrastructure projects that help our region with transportation, development, safety, drinking water, and helping those in need. I am proud to serve with Reps Griffey and Couture as we have locked arms on doing the very best for the people of our district.”

“I am thrilled the hard work of our 35th delegation paid off in so many areas. We got some great victories for the 35th District in the budgets,” said Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn. “The funding for special education that was included in the final version of the operating budget is great news for our K-12 students and long overdue. There is also potential for funding for the much-needed 23-hour crisis receiving centers through a grant program. The transportation budget includes funding for many important projects for our district, including the Highway 3 Freight Corridor, formerly known as the Belfair Bypass, and the capital budget has vital funding for the Shelton Domestic Violence center. Securing this funding was a team effort and I thank my seatmates for their collaboration and hard work.”

“Our team worked hard to secure important investments in education, including special education, mental health, childcare, housing, and access to broadband,” said Couture, R-Allyn, who serves on both the House Appropriations Committee and the House Capital Budget Committee. “Oftentimes, rural districts like ours are left out of the conversation. That’s not the case this year. I am especially proud of reprioritizing over $5 million in funding for the final phase of the Oakland Bay Restoration project, which will greatly benefit Shelton and provide upwards to 80 new jobs. I am also very excited to have secured $1 million in design funding to build a new Mason County jail that we envision will have additional bed capacity and mental health receiving facilities – the top need of our local law enforcement. These critical investments in our district are only possible because of the close partnership and hard work of our entire delegation.”

The 35th District lawmakers obtained significant appropriations for the district in the state’s roughly $70 billion operating budget, Senate Bill 5187.

Funding for rural domestic violence shelters got a boost in the state operating budget due to the efforts of MacEwen. The budget stipulates that $1.5 million will be allocated to domestic violence shelters over the next two years based on bed capacity. The additional funding aims to compensate rural domestic violence shelters like Shelton’s Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center for an influx of urban clients seeking refuge in rural areas.

Rural shelter funding is an ongoing concern for MacEwen, who won a similar appropriation in 2022. This year he sponsored Senate Bill 5398, launching a task force to study permanent changes to domestic violence shelter funding formulas. The bill has passed the Legislature and awaits the governor’s signature, while the budget provides an additional $117,000 for the work of the task force.
Couture secured $360,000 for the Shelton School District to contract with an organization that provides free early learning and childhood music education. This is a one-time investment that will continue with title funding.

The freshman lawmaker also was able to get $100,000 to jumpstart an equine therapy program for military veterans and active members of the military, which will leverage federal funds. Equine therapy is a proven alternative therapy method that can help veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other trauma-related problems.

Public works projects were funded by the state’s $8.3 billion capital budget, Senate Bill 5200, which uses bonds and other sources of funding to pay for long-lasting public infrastructure.
Projects in the 35th District that won funding include:

• $3 million for repairs to water tank storage at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton;
• $2.131 million for small district public school construction districtwide;
• $1.85 million for Angleside reservoir capacity upgrades in Shelton;
• $1.2 million for young adult transitional housing in Shelton;
• $1.03 million for the design of a new Mason County jail in Shelton;
• $1 million for Mason Public Utility District water infrastructure in Matlock;
• $618,000 for Mason Public Utility District 1 Vuecrest water system storage project in Union;
• $618,000 for Camp Thunderbird wastewater treatment facility in Olympia;
• $571,000 for replacement of the water system at Millersylvania State Park in Thurston County,
• $515,000 for Port of Allyn public pier repair in Allyn;
• $412,000 for Kitsap Humane Society Veterinary Lifesaving Center in Silverdale;
• $350,000 for Sandhill Park;
• $350,000 for Yelm Highway Community Park;
• $250,000 for regional water and sewer upgrades in Rochester;
• $250,000 for security and access improvements in Shelton;
• $215,000 for Shelton daycare and building project;
• $198,000 for the Swede Hall renovation project in Rochester;
• $103,000 for emergency shelter capital improvements in Shelton; and
• $70,000 for library improvements in Shelton.

Shelton’s Turning Pointe, other rural shelters would get boost under new formula

OLYMPIA – Washington lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that aims to improve funding for rural domestic violence shelters, inspired by the case of Shelton’s Turning Pointe shelter.

Senate Bill 5398, sponsored by Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, directs the Department of Social and Health Services to devise a new funding formula suited to current demands on shelters in rural counties. The Senate voted 48-0 to concur with House amendments and send the bill to the governor for final consideration.

MacEwen said the bill was inspired by Turning Pointe’s not-so-unique situation. The shelter serves not just Mason County, but also victims from urban areas who seek refuge in Shelton to avoid detection. In addition, many agencies are adopting new models of rapid housing deployment in addition to communal shelters.

“Our funding formula really isn’t suited for the needs domestic violence shelters must deal with today,” MacEwen said. “Funding right now is based on county populations, and we should be looking at the number of people served.”

As a member of the state House of Representatives in 2022, MacEwen led efforts to allocate an additional $750,000 to domestic violence shelters based on bed capacity. MacEwen’s bill directs DSHS to create a task force to make recommendations about a new funding formula, and to make final decisions by July 1, 2024.

Illustrates management failure, disturbing trends in Washington state government

Sen. Drew MacEwen, R-Shelton, released this statement following the last-minute introduction of a bill in the state Senate by majority Senate Democrats that would allow annual property tax increases to triple. Senate Bill 5770, introduced Tuesday, is sponsored by 20 of 29 Senate Democrats. The bill would allow property taxes, currently capped at 1 percent annual growth, to increase by as much as 3 percent. MacEwen said:

“A few weeks ago, when our Democratic colleagues released their operating budget proposal for the next two years, we heard considerable crowing about the fact that it contained no new taxes. Now that we’ve gotten a look at their latest proposal to raise taxes, the celebration seems a bit empty.

“This new proposal would allow property taxes to increase three times as fast as they already do — a hit to taxpayers of about $3 billion by 2027-2029.

“We’ve been talking about affordable housing all session long – and now this? At a time when seniors worry about being priced out of their own homes and the young worry they will never be able to buy one, this is one of the most tone-deaf proposals I can imagine.

“The timing of this bill introduction ought to tell us this is a serious proposal. If our majority colleagues had introduced this bill a couple of days later, our state constitution would have required a two-thirds vote of the Legislature, because we would be within 10 days of adjournment. That would have set an impossible bar. But this bill was introduced just under the wire, and because our colleagues hold the majority in the House and the Senate, they have all the votes they need to pass it.

“This bill should be taken as a symbol of a legislative leadership incapable of self-reflection. State spending has doubled in the last decade. Our problems as a state appear to have doubled, too. Now our colleagues propose to address them by doubling down on taxes.

“This isn’t the only tax proposal under consideration in the Legislature’s final days. Other bills would expand the new state income tax and raise estate and real estate taxes. Meanwhile –

• Opioid deaths increased 35 percent in 2020 and 2021.
• Violent crimes are at a 15-year high.
• Murder rates are at an all-time high.
• Our homeless population has increased 10 percent since 2020 despite massive spending
• Washington has fewer law enforcement officers per resident than any other state in nation.

“These are indicators of failure. There are many more. And now, in the midst of an affordable housing crisis, our colleagues are talking about raising property taxes and making housing more unaffordable. I hope the people of Washington will contact our majority colleagues and let them know what they think of this proposal. More than that, I hope can reverse these trends and restore sensible leadership to our state.”