Author Archives: Erik Smith

MacEwen introduces five-bill tax reform package

Rep. Drew MacEwen introduced the fifth and final bill of his 2019 tax reform package Monday, a package designed to let people save more of their money, keep Washington state competitive, and spur economic growth.

House Bill 1677 would exempt a business’s first $1 million in gross sales from the state’s business and occupation (B&O) tax, a move MacEwen says would give businesses the flexibility—and time—to grow. His other B&O tax reform bill is House Bill 1420, which would lower the manufacturing B&O tax rate for all manufacturers by 40 percent.

“Our small businesses and manufacturers are the lifeblood of our economy,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “We should be doing everything in our power to incentivize them to stay here in Washington state, hire more people, and expand their operations. These bills would help achieve that goal.”

MacEwen has introduced three other tax reform bills this session.

House Bill 1090, which was heard in the House Finance Committee on Tuesday, would offer stability and predictability for Washington homeowners ages 65 years and older by capping the property tax rate on the first $250,000 of their homes’ value. Another bill, House Bill 1559, would create a three-day sales tax holiday for purchasing back-to-school clothing and supplies.

“At a time when the governor and majority party are looking to raise taxes on Washingtonians by billions of dollars, these proposals would provide significant savings for individuals and families,” said MacEwen. “We’ve experienced incredible revenue growth in recent years due to the strength of the economy. Instead of constantly asking for more from Washingtonians, we should be looking for ways to let folks keep more of their money.”

Finally, House Bill 1122 would require a portion of the sales tax from the sale of a motor vehicle to be deposited into the state’s motor vehicle fund for transportation improvements, as opposed to being put into the general fund.

“We know many of Washington’s roads and bridges need significant repairs,” the 35th District lawmaker added. “This bill would simply increase our available resources to properly maintain infrastructure and keep commuters safe.”

The 2019 legislative session began Jan. 14 and is scheduled to run 105 consecutive days.

The 2019 legislative session is under way

I am honored by the opportunity you have given me to continue serving as your state representative. The trust you have placed in me year after year means a great deal. It’s a privilege to work on your behalf, and to bring your ideas, thoughts and perspectives to the forefront in Olympia.

In a new role for me this session, I am serving as the ranking member of the House Commerce and Gaming Committee. The 11-member committee considers legislation related to the regulation of commerce in Washington’s alcohol, tobacco and cannabis industries, as well the regulation and oversight of gaming. In fiscal year 2018, liquor, cannabis and cigarette taxes generated more than $1 billion in revenue for the state. Needless to say, each of these industries is extremely important to our state’s economy.

I am also continuing to serve as the assistant ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, which considers and approves the operating budget. Since I came into office in 2013, our state’s operating budget has grown by 45 percent. The governor’s recent budget proposal called for another 22 percent increase in spending, along with $10 billion in tax increases over the next four years. I hope the majority party will take a more balanced approach to our fiscal responsibilities than the governor did, and that a sustainable budget will be passed. We will see in the coming weeks what their intent is.

In addition to my committee roles, this will be my first full session as assistant floor leader, a position my colleagues elected me to last March and reelected me to in December. I will be working closely with our floor leader, Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, to manage legislation and debate on the House floor. I will also be taking part in House Republican leadership meetings, and will be representing our caucus in negotiations with majority party floor leaders.

When it comes to legislation, I have an ambitious agenda this year. So far, I have introduced 13 bills, two of which I want to briefly touch on in this update.

House Bill 1090 would offer stability and predictability for Washington homeowners ages 65 years and older by capping the property tax rate on the first $250,000 of their homes’ value. For example, let’s say I’m 68 years old and my home is worth $240,000. If this bill becomes law, I would never pay a higher property tax rate for as long as I owned the home. Now, if my home was worth $400,000, I would be locked in at the existing rate on the home’s first $250,000 in value, while the remaining $150,000 would be taxed at whatever the future rate may be. I want to make sure more of our seniors can stay in their homes and have peace of mind about their finances as they enjoy retirement. That’s the intent of this bill, and I will be working hard to make sure it gains traction.

House Bill 1122 would require a portion of the sales tax from the sale of a motor vehicle to be deposited into the motor vehicle fund for transportation improvements, as opposed to being put into the general fund. This change would help increase our available resources to properly maintain our roads and keep drivers safe.

In addition to these two bills, I am working on a number of other tax reform proposals that I will roll out next week as part of a comprehensive tax reform package. Stay tuned for more information on that.

Weekly interview on iFIBEROne News Radio

Every Wednesday at 7:40 a.m., I will be live on iFIBEROne News Radio to talk with Jeff Slakey and give a brief legislative update to listeners. I want to thank Jeff for the opportunity to be on his program every week. To listen to these interviews, I invite you tune in live or visit my SoundCloud page. You can also watch my latest interview here:

https://youtu.be/qfYzrkVXaVk

Legislative meetings

In the interest of full transparency, I will be providing PDFs of my weekly meetings during the 2019 session. Click here for a list of meetings I held or attended during the first week of session.

Contacting me

Please feel free to contact me any time with your comments, questions or concerns. My email address is drew.macewen@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7902.

It is an honor to serve you.

Radio interview: Rep. MacEwen discusses his bills

Rep. Drew MacEwen joins iFiberOne NewsRadio to discuss his bills to provide property tax relief to seniors, lower the manufacturing B&O tax rate for all manufacturers, and implement a sales tax holiday for back-to-school supplies. Additional topics include the governor’s proposed capital gains tax, and gun legislation currently under consideration.

MacEwen sworn into office for fourth term, will serve in leadership role on two House committees

Rep. Drew MacEwen was sworn into office Monday, marking the beginning of his fourth term in the Washington State House of Representatives.

The 35th District lawmaker will serve in a leadership role on two House committees.

Prior to the beginning of the 2019 session, he was appointed ranking Republican of the House Commerce and Gaming Committee. The 11-member committee considers legislation related to the regulation of commerce in the alcohol, tobacco and cannabis industries in Washington state, as well the regulation and oversight of gaming. In fiscal year 2018, liquor, cannabis and cigarette taxes generated more than $1 billion in revenue for the state.

“Each of these industries is extremely important to our state’s economy,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “Our job on the committee is largely to let the free market work, but we may also be required to implement certain regulations when necessary to protect the citizens of Washington state. It’s all about finding a proper balance.”

MacEwen will also continue in his role as assistant ranking Republican of the House Appropriations Committee, which considers and approves the operating budget.

“Our state’s operating budget has grown by more than 75 percent in less than a decade,” he said. “It is my hope committee members on both sides of the aisle can work together this session to demonstrate some semblance of fiscal discipline.”

In addition to his committee assignments, MacEwen serves as an assistant floor leader for the House Republican Caucus — a position he has held since 2018.

The 2019 legislative session began Jan. 14, and is scheduled to run 105 consecutive days.

35th District representatives elected to leadership positions by Washington House Republican Caucus

Following a vote by their peers Monday afternoon, 35th District Reps. Dan Griffey and Drew MacEwen were elected to leadership roles for the Washington House Republican Caucus.

Griffey will serve as the caucus’ Whip, a role in which he will count votes and help maintain decorum during floor action and caucus meetings. Griffey previously held an Assistant Whip position.

“I am humbled by the vote of confidence from my fellow caucus members to serve as their Whip for the upcoming legislative session” said Griffey, R-Allyn. “Serving as Whip is similar to being a fire lieutenant. In both roles, it’s imperative you support and motivate your team in order to advance common goals. I am confident our new leadership will do just that as we prepare for the 2019 session.”

MacEwen, R-Union, who was first elected assistant floor leader in March, was re-elected to the post.

As assistant floor leader, MacEwen will help manage legislation and debate on the House floor, as well as provide input in House Republican leadership meetings. He will also represent the caucus in negotiations with majority party floor leaders.

“I am honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me to once again serve our caucus in a leadership role,” said MacEwen. “We have a strong leadership team and a dedicated caucus of individuals eager to continue fighting for lower taxes, better educational outcomes, and budgets that are both balanced and sustainable. We are committed to serving all Washingtonians, and you will see that reflected through our policy proposals and our actions when the 2019 session gets underway in just seven short weeks.”

The 2019 legislative session will begin Monday, Jan. 14.

Washington State House Republicans select new leadership

Rep. J.T. Wilcox has been re-elected by his legislative colleagues as leader of the Washington State House Republicans. Wilcox was chosen for his leadership post during the group’s reorganizational meeting today.

“I’m looking forward to session and the work ahead,” said Wilcox, R-Yelm. “Our caucus is focused on standing up for the hard-working taxpayer and the people left behind in our state. We’re also going to fight for effective state government oversight – something that is critical when power rests with only one party in Olympia.”

The Washington State House Republicans also selected the rest of their leadership team:

  • Rep. Joel Kretz, 7th Legislative District (Wauconda) | Deputy Leader
  • Rep. Paul Harris, 17th Legislative District (Vancouver) | Caucus Chair
  • Rep. Gina Mosbrucker, 14th District (Goldendale) | Vice-Caucus Chair
  • Rep. Drew Stokesbary, 31st Legislative District (Auburn) | Floor Leader
  • Rep. Jacquelin Maycumber, 7th Legislative District (Republic) | Assistant Floor Leader
  • Rep. Drew MacEwen, 35th Legislative District (Union) | Assistant Floor Leader
  • Rep. Dan Griffey, 35th Legislative District (Allyn) | Whip

Additional leadership positions will be appointed in the upcoming weeks.

The legislative session will begin Jan. 14 and is scheduled to run 105 days.

Rep. MacEwen’s Legislative Update: May 11, 2018

Since this is an election year, legislative ethics rules prohibit direct or indirect use of public resources beginning on Monday, May 14. That means I will no longer be able to send out legislative email updates until December. However, I am still able to respond to constituents, so please feel free to email or call me anytime if you would like to share your perspective, ideas or concerns. My email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov, and my number is (360) 786-7902.

I also wanted to provide you with a link to my 2018 legislative report, which will be hitting mailboxes soon. You can read it by clicking on the image below.

It is an honor to serve as your state representative.