The third week of the legislative session is wrapping up and I wanted to share a few updates with you on the work happening in Olympia. We’re one-third of the way through session and we are making progress on a supplemental operating budget, meaning we are on track to adjourn on time.

In addition to voting on bills, I have been responding to scores of emails from concerned constituents. It’s clear many of you are frustrated with the direction our state government is heading. I take my obligation to hold state agencies accountable seriously and have been disappointed by the responses I have received from some agency heads who have come before me in the House General Government and Information Technology Committee.

This lack of accountability and transparency was on full display last week as the executive director of the Human Rights Commission came before my committee to ask for more funding. Many of you have written to me, sharing your concerns with the commission’s recent bathroom rules change made by its board members, who are appointed by the governor. The ruling, which took effect last month, has raised many concerns, including the safety of women and children in public locker rooms. The safety of everyone, from children in schools to members of the transgender community, should always be a priority. We must also be concerned about government overreach and the lack of accountability coming from the executive branch of state government when it doesn’t respect the public enough to seriously consider their input.

Unfortunately, I and my colleague Rep. Michelle Caldier were given less than four minutes to ask the director questions about the rule-change process on your behalf. Between our two offices, we have received more than 1,000 constituent emails, calls and letters – but we were only given four minutes to share those concerns, both for and against the ruling.

When I asked why the rules weren’t posted on their website in accordance with the RCWs, they claimed they were locked out of their website. How can the Human Rights Commission, which employs two in-house IT specialists, be locked out of their website and unable to post rules for the public to review? This is unacceptable.

Earlier this week, more than 300 people showed up to a Senate hearing on a bill to repeal the rule. In the House, however, the majority party is refusing to hear bills on this issue altogether. Shutting the public out of the process, like the commission and House majority party did, is not good government and is not in line with our values as Washingtonians.

Watch the video of the testimony here.

Last week, a King County Superior Court judge ruled I-1366, which would require the Legislature to enact a two-thirds majority vote to raise taxes, unconstitutional. When I-1366 was passed last November, it was the sixth time since 1993 Washingtonians have told the Legislature it should be harder to raise taxes than it currently is.

The ruling was appealed and will now go before the state Supreme Court. As the court challenges continue, we were able to advocate for tax payers when we introduced House Joint Resolution 4215, a constitutional amendment to require a two-thirds majority vote to raise taxes. Given the court challenges to I-1366, a constitutional amendment is our best option to ensure the will of the voters is implemented, and not ignored.

Unfortunately, the majority party voted down the proposed amendment 49-48, and we must now wait for a ruling on I-1366 from the state Supreme Court, slated for March 15.

Thanks for reading this update. Throughout this legislative session, I hope you will take time to call, email or visit me in Olympia. I welcome your thoughts and concerns on issues before the Legislature and look forward to working with you to make Washington a better place for all.

Happy New Year!

This week, the Legislature convened for the 2016 session. Scheduled to last just 60 days, we have hit the ground running to address the important issues facing our state. Since the Legislature adjourned in July, I have been working in our district, meeting with constituents, and visiting schools, businesses and community groups. I will be keeping your thoughts and concerns in mind throughout the session.

Last year, we accomplished big things for education. We funded the voter-approved teacher COLAs for the first time in years, and increased K-12 spending to record levels, including funding for class-size reduction in grades K-3.

Additionally, we cut tuition at state colleges and universities – the first such cut in our nation’s history – making it easier for students to continue their education beyond high school.

Yet, in light of recent Supreme Court rulings on education and continuing issues with state government efficiency, much work remains to be done – especially on charter schools and developing a plan to address our over-reliance on local levies.

This week, Governor Inslee addressed the Legislature and laid out his agenda for 2016. I share some of his priorities, including wildfire recovery, mental health improvements and taking the next steps to fully fund K-12 education. But, as is often the case in Olympia it’s easy to agree on the problems and much harder to agree on the solutions.

The governor proposed a $700 million supplemental budget which includes nearly $200 million in spending on new policy proposals. This spending would create a more than $800 million shortfall in the 2017-19 budget. Further, his budget relies on increased taxes and tapping reserve accounts in order to balance. This isn’t responsible leadership. I’ll be working with my colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee to ensure we pass a budget that meets our state’s needs, respects taxpayers and balances over the next four years as required by law.

Last year, the state Supreme Court ruled against voter-approved public charter schools in Washington. This ruling had major implications for the future of alternative public education options in our state, including schools for the deaf, schools for the blind, skill centers and tribal schools that fall outside of the overview of local elected school boards. Public charter schools serve students who live in predominantly minority and low-income communities. The majority of students are enrolled in free and reduced lunch programs. It’s a matter of fairness, and I don’t believe it’s fair to take opportunities away from students who are in schools that aren’t meeting their needs.

My colleague and the Ranking Member on the House Education Committee, Rep. Chad Magendanz, has introduced a solution to keep these schools open and operating. Take a minute to watch him explain the bill in this short video.

In addition to our work on education and the budget, we must continue to improve the way government operates and interacts with the people who pay for it. As a small-business owner in our community, I know firsthand the burden of over-regulation, over-taxation, and under-performance many experience when dealing with state government.

This is especially true in rural parts of Washington, many of which are still recovering from the recession.

We can, and must, do better.

Improving accountability in state government remains a top priority this session. We must make difficult decisions and continue to move away from the tired, partisan ideas that have dominated Olympia for most of the past 30 years.

One step we can take immediately is impeaching Troy Kelley for abandoning his office and delegating authority to an unelected state employee for more than seven months in 2015. His refusal to resign hangs like a dark cloud over the Office of State Auditor and we need to act to restore public trust to this important state agency.

As the ranking member on the House General Government and Information Technology Committee, I am committed to asking hard questions and demanding honest answers from the 68 state agencies my committee oversees.

One of those agencies is the Department of Corrections (DOC). Leaders from the DOC must provide a full account of how thousands of felons were improperly released and the steps they are taking to prevent it from happening again.

This is not merely a political scandal. This is a serious public safety issue.
I have toured several state correctional facilities, including in Shelton, and am proud to represent hundreds of DOC employees. They have a difficult job and I am grateful for all they do to provide justice for victims and rehabilitation for offenders. That is why I believe they deserve strong leadership at the top of the agency, not a tired bureaucracy willing to kick the can down the road.

The 2016 session is a short, 60-day sprint. Though we will be limited by time, we should not be limited by effort or perseverance.

It is an honor to serve you in the House of Representatives. I hope you will take time this year to call, email or visit me in Olympia. My door is always open!

And, of course, GO HAWKS!

This week, we pause to gather with friends and family to give thanks for the many blessings in our lives. I am particularly grateful to my family for their love and support. I am also grateful for the opportunity to serve you in the state House of Representatives. While we may be divided on some issues in the House, I believe we are all working toward the same goal: A bright and prosperous future for all Washingtonians. With that in mind, here is brief update on some recent happenings in Olympia.

Each November, the Legislature convenes for two days so members can meet with their respective committees. I serve as the ranking member on the House General Government and Information Technology Committee, which is responsible for the budgets of nearly 70 state agencies. During our recent meeting, we received updates from some of those agencies and began to look ahead to the 2016 legislative session.

I also serve on the House Appropriations Committee, which is responsible for writing the state’s general operating budget. We received positive economic news indicating state revenue collections are steadily, but slowly, increasing. While that is good news, we must also be cautious as state agency caseloads for services such as mental health care and Medicaid are on the rise. In January, I’ll be working with both committees to ensure we meet the needs of our state’s most vulnerable, while being good stewards of our tax dollars.

As the 2016 legislative session nears, I am working with House staff to put the finishing touches on bills I intend to introduce. Earlier this fall, I visited with staff and residents at McNeil Island – a state-run rehabilitation center for sexually violent predators – to discuss ways to improve work conditions and resident outcomes. McNeil Island struggles to retain employees and is exceptionally expensive to operate. I will be introducing legislation in the coming weeks that will begin to address both issues. I look forward to sharing more information with you as we get closer to session.

If you have been following the news lately, you are probably aware of the rising threat of terrorist attacks across the world. The attacks in Paris earlier this month are a reminder that we are still vulnerable at home and need to remain vigilant. The ongoing crisis in Syria and much of the Middle East, has many concerned about the U.S. taking in thousands of refugees, many of whom cannot be properly vetted. I certainly sympathize with those who are victims of ISIS, but we must balance our desire to help with our obligation to protect Americans here at home. That is why I joined with my colleagues in the House in sending a letter to Gov. Inslee asking him to put the safety of Washingtonians first. Nationally, leaders from both parties in Congress have called for a pause as we determine the safest path forward, and I hope our governor follows that lead.

Last week, I was asked to make a few remarks at the Shelton High School National Honor Society induction ceremony. I was very impressed with the group of students selected for this honor and it is clear their teachers are doing an outstanding job preparing future leaders for our state and nation. Way to go, High Climbers!

Please take a moment to share your questions and comments with me regarding this update or other issues important to you. I hope you have a safe and relaxing holiday season.

From my family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!