The 2015 legislative session is picking up steam as committees begin to hold public hearings on bills under consideration.  There are many issues coming before us in the Legislature, with several hundred bills already filed. Constituents from all across the 35th Legislative District have been visiting me and sharing their concerns and priorities. I am always grateful to hear from you firsthand, and hope you will continue to share your concerns and ideas with me throughout the year.

Telephone town hall

Join my telephone town hall Feb. 9. Your voice has been, and will continue to be, the most important way for me to ensure I vote in ways reflective of the diverse 35th District. This is why I am hosting an hour-long telephone town hall on Monday, Feb. 9 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. To take part in the call, just dial 360-355-3025. The phone line will open shortly before the call begins. To ask me questions directly during the call, just press star (*) on your telephone keypad.

This week, I testified before the House Transportation Committee on a reform bill I introduced to help address the high costs of projects in Washington. House Bill 1358 would end the practice of bonding sales tax obligations on transportation projects. This would directly affect the amount of money we are able to put into actual projects.  By paying the sales tax on projects upfront, we eliminate increased interest payments and costs which we incur over the life of the bond, and well after the project is complete. You can view my testimony here. This bill will be voted on in committee on Feb. 3.

Budget hearings are currently underway in the House Appropriations Committee, and we are learning more about the governor’s proposals. I have heard from many of you concerned with proposals to raise taxes by about $1.5 billion. I share your concerns and will continue to seek solutions which prioritize state spending, especially given the increase in revenue collections which are up over 8 percent for this budget cycle. It’s time for government to budget based on what tax payers are willing to provide, not simply spend as it wants.

I also heard concerns about the governor’s carbon tax proposals which would have a major impact on the price we pay at the pump. This is particularly concerning to the 35th District as many workers drive long distances for work. Transportation improvements are necessary for improved safety, congestion relief and freight mobility. Yet, we must rebuild the public trust after high-profile project delays and overruns, such as cracked pontoons of the 520 bridge and Bertha, before expecting taxpayers to simply pay more for these projects.

I would like to hear from you on an issue that is receiving some attention in Olympia this session. House Bill 1739 has been introduced to abolish the death penalty in Washington state. I have had meetings with constituents who feel strongly about this issue making arguments both for and against it. Please take a moment to fill out this brief survey to share your view on the death penalty in Washington state.

Please take a moment to fill out the survey by clicking here.

Finally, in the coming days and weeks our committee work will turn to voting on bills, to determine if they will move on for further consideration. I hope you will take the time to contact me throughout the session on issues important to you and our community. My door is always open, and I am happy to listen to your concerns and ideas. You play a critical role in the legislative process and together we can make it morning again in America.

It was a busy first week in Olympia as I and my colleagues in the House and Senate took the oath of office and began the 2015 legislative session. The opening ceremonies highlighted the rich traditions of the Legislature and Washington state and provided an opportunity to look forward to doing the people’s work over the next 105 days.

For the first several weeks of session, committee work will be spent receiving updates from state agencies and other groups, and learning more about legislative proposals. I am the ranking member on the General Government and Information Technology Committee, and serve on the Appropriation Committee. Throughout session, I will keep you informed on the issues coming before these, and other House committees.

Below are some of the issues I am focused on as session gets underway:

Fund Education First

The oath I took this week makes clear our obligation to “…uphold the Constitution and laws of the United States of America, [and] the Constitution and laws of the State of Washington….” I take this responsibility seriously and believe this pledge starts with fully funding K-12 education, which our constitution states is our paramount duty. My bill to fully fund education first, House Bill 1001, was formally introduced. House Bill 1001 would require the Legislature to send the governor a stand-alone education budget by March 31^st in biennial budget years and February 15^th in supplemental budget years. I am working with my colleagues in the House in order to get this important bill a hearing.

Budget

This week, Gov. Inslee delivered his State of the State Address and laid out his agenda and priorities for 2015. I am disappointed to report that he offered no new ideas or solutions to address the issues we are facing in Washington. The governor simply dusted off previous speeches and proposals and called for the Legislature to raise taxes on Washingtonians by $1.5 billion, breaking a promise he made back in 2012.  I disagree with Gov. Inslee and believe we must focus our efforts on prioritizing state spending and making simple, but effective reforms to state government. Revenue collections in Washington are up over 8 percent for this budget cycle as the economy begins to stabilize. Many in the state, including in the 35^th Legislative District, are still recovering from the Great Recession and I am committed to ensuring they are not forgotten in the budget writing process.

Contact me

The most important part of my job is to be a voice for you. As bills are introduced and issues arise during the legislative session, I encourage you to contact my office to share your thoughts with me. You play a critical role in the legislative process and I am always happy to meet with you on issues important to our communities. I also encourage you to come to Olympia to testify in committee on bills important to you. My Legislative Assistant, Josiah Rowell, will also be happy to assist you with making an appointment or dealing with a state agency.

I hope this legislative update finds you well and enjoying the holiday season. As we prepare to celebrate Christmas, I want to take a minute to update you on some of the things I have been working on since my last update.

Funding Education First

As I travel across the district it is clear to me that parents, teachers and administrators are looking to the Legislature to fully fund education. We have a mandate from both our constitution and our Supreme Court to prioritize K-12 education in Washington. Earlier this month I introduced a bill that would do just that. House Bill 1001 would require a stand-alone education budget be passed and sent to the governor’s desk by March 31^st in biennial budget years and February 15^th in supplemental budget years. Additionally, House Bill 1001 requires the governor to submit a separate education budget proposal to the Legislature with K-12 appropriations based on existing revenues and without assuming new taxes.

Passing a stand-alone education budget is good for Washington and our students. Fully funding the public education of our children is a duty we must take seriously. However, for too long our kids’ needs have taken a back seat to partisan politics in Olympia. This bill prioritizes our students, and provides school districts with budget predictability which is essential to planning for the needs of their community. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this bill the hearing it deserves.

Other bills of interest

I have long believed we need to have a serious conversation about reforming the way state government operates. In addition to my Fund Education First bill, I am also working on bills that would reform important aspects of our state government. First, I am working on a bill to end the practice of the state collecting sales tax on its own transportation projects. The money collected on these projects, which are bonded out for many years, is deposited back into the general fund. Not only does this inflate the cost of projects, it also reduces our ability to fund more projects across the state, including projects like the Belfair Bypass.

A second reform bill I am working on is critical for small businesses in our state. I have been working with members of leadership, staff and stakeholders on a proposal to modernize our business and occupation tax. Changes would provide flexibility and predictability for business owners, giving them a better chance to succeed and the opportunity to grow. I look forward to releasing more details in the coming weeks.

Finally, I am working on a bill which would end a requirement on health care providers that I believe is unnecessary and restricts patient’s access to care. Currently, state law requires certain providers to obtain what is called a Certificate of Need in order to open or expand treatment centers in Washington. The state determines whether facilities can expand in a community, adding an unnecessary layer of red tape to people’s health care choices. My bill removes the requirement for kidney dialysis centers because I believe we should be providing our most vulnerable citizens with more options for treatment.

For updates on these and other bills introduced during session, visit my Bill Sponsorship page.

New Committee Assignments

Last week I received my committee assignments for the next two years. I was named as the Ranking Member on the newly formed General Government and Information Technology Committee. This committee considers issues relating to the organization and structure of state government and audits of state government programs and agencies.

Additionally, I was appointed to serve on the Appropriations Committee. This committee considers the general operating budget and fiscal issues including pension related policies. I am grateful to House Republican Caucus leaders for entrusting me with this responsibility in just my second term. I look forward to working towards a sustainable operating budget that prioritizes state spending and does not raise taxes.

District Office Closing

With the 2015 session quickly approaching, my district office in Belfair is closing down and my staff is moving back to Olympia. If you have a question, concern or idea to share with me, please contact my Olympia office. I am always pleased to be of assistance!

Merry Christmas

Finally, from my family to yours, I wish you all a very merry Christmas, and a prosperous new year. I am honored to serve you in the Washington State House of Representatives, and I look forward to hearing from you on the issues that matter most in our communities.

It is an honor to serve as your 35th District state representative. I am pleased to report that strong bipartisan work was done on many fronts again this year, most notably the supplemental state operating budget. We were able to apply additional funding for K-12 education to move us closer to compliance with the 2012 state Supreme Court’s McCleary education funding order and freeze tuition at state colleges for a second year in a row.

Personally, I enjoyed working alongside colleagues on both sides of the aisle to find solutions to matters, such as finding innovative solutions to funding school construction to accommodate the lower class sizes we are funding as part of our commitment to K-12 education, as well as legislation to better support our service men and women. While all my bills did not pass, I take heart in knowing that, regardless of political party, we can come together and work from a place of common ground.

Below is a brief update on legislation I sponsored this year, details on my new district office in Belfair, information on the state’s election-year restrictions and how we can best serve you when contacting my office for assistance.

My legislation

House Bill 2130 is a measure to streamline programs that assist current military members and veterans transition into civilian life. Building upon 2006 legislation establishing the Veterans’ Innovations Program (VIP), this legislation combines the Defenders’ Fund and Competitive Grant Program simplifying internal processes for the Washington Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Funds appropriated to VIP will still be used to increase awareness of the program to veterans and active duty service members. Funds from this program can now also be used to develop partnerships to assist members in completing the application process, along with education, training and employment assistance. Additionally, the bill expands these services to members of the National Guard. This bill was signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee on April 2.

House Bill 2797 would have put as much as $700 million toward building schools to reduce K-3 class sizes and comply with the state Supreme Court’s McCleary order to fully fund education. We will have to come up with innovative solutions like this in order to ensure our schools have the space to accommodate smaller class sizes and the additional teachers required. This bill passed with a strong bipartisan vote of 90-7 in the House, but did not make it through the Senate.

House Bill 2264 would have refined our state’s business and occupation tax (B&O) structure and help small businesses succeed. This measure would have offered businesses relief from the state’s B&O tax, which is the tax applied to businesses’ gross receipts. “Gross receipts” is defined as gross income, or total sales receipts before payroll and other business expenses. Different rates are applied at various rates based on business activity classifications, such as manufacturing, retail, or service sectors. Instead of the current structure of B&O tax and credits for certain industries, this bill would have given businesses a choice of three deductions from the B&O tax in each filing year:

• costs of goods sold;
• 30 percent of gross revenue; or
• up to $300,000 in employee compensation.

Businesses could choose whichever deduction results in a greater benefit to their tax liability. This bill did not receive a hearing in the House.

New district office address, phone number

As part of ensuring government is closest to the people it serves, I just reopened my interim 35th District legislative office in Belfair. My legislative aide, Kevin Shutty, staffs the office during regular business hours. Please feel free to stop by if you need assistance working with a state agency, finding a service or have an idea to make our district and state a better place to live and work. The new address and phone number are as follows:

Evergreen Building, Space A, Office 2
24160 N.E. State Highway 3
Belfair, WA 98528
(360) 552-2635

Election-year restrictions

We want you to know what is happening in Olympia, and how it affects you. However, this is an election year, and under the provisions of a 1991 law (created by Initiative 134) there are limits on what and when we can mail to you. After this e-mail update, the soonest we can send another is just before the 2015 legislative session.

However, the initiative does permit us to respond to your direct requests for information, and we encourage you to write or call whenever you have a question or a comment to share on legislation or other matters. Please be sure to be clear that you would like a response from our office to ensure we are not contacting you outside of the ethics provisions explained above.

As always, my door is open. I welcome your feedback and we’re happy to help you in any way we can. If you need a speaker for a community event, or would like to meet with me one-on-one, please contact my district office.