Author Archives: Erik Smith

Rep. Drew MacEwen’s Legislative Update: March 18, 2014

I am truly honored to serve as your state representative and be your voice in the Legislature. This year’s 60-day session adjourned on time, March 13. With only supplemental budgets to complete in this short timeframe, we did not expect heavy lifting of a massive transportation or general tax increase package. There was still talk about new and higher taxes, but those were shelved with the tight timeline of the session. Below is a brief update on legislation I worked on this year as well as highlights from the final state supplemental operating budget.

Legislation I worked on this year

I generally do not introduce many bills, but rather try to work on legislation requested of me or that I see as being critical to addressing core government services, like K-12 education, caring for our most vulnerable and supporting our military and veterans. Here are a few bills I worked on this year:

House Bill 2264 would offer businesses relief from the state’s business and occupation (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, the 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 have chosen whichever deduction results in a greater benefit to their tax liability. This change could have created thousands of private-sector jobs we need right now. Putting people back to work should be a top priority as we work to rebuild our state’s economy. The bill died in the House committee process. You can find more information on solutions I support to create jobs in Washington here.

House Bill 2130, which builds upon 2006 legislation establishing the Veterans’ Innovations Program (VIP), 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 will 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 legislation passed the House and Senate unanimously and is currently awaiting the governor’s signature to become law.

House Bill 2797 would have authorized the sale of $700 million in bonds backed by lottery revenue for grants dedicated to constructing classrooms for full-day kindergarten, as well as K-3 class-size reduction. Four other states sell lottery-backed bonds and continue to enjoy strong credit ratings. In the landmark McCleary decision, the state Supreme Court laid out clear goals for the Legislature to meet with regard to class size and full-day kindergarten by 2018. This bill would have ensured we began building additional classrooms and schools to accommodate smaller class sizes to meet the deadline. The bill passed the House, but died in the Senate.

Highlights from the state supplemental operating budget

Building on the strong, bipartisan budget last year, the Legislature passed a state supplemental operating budget that both sides of the aisle could support. I voted “yes” on the budget for several reasons, including:

College tuition rates remain frozen for students;
We prevented tax increases, (Democrats had proposed to increase taxes on bottled water, recycled fuel, prescription drugs, e-cigarettes, and eliminate the sales tax exemption for out-of-state shoppers);
Of the $155 million in new spending, nearly two-thirds are directed toward education funding, which is critical to meet the mandates in the McCleary order;
It increases the state’s ending-fund balance to $315 million, up from $56 million in the two-year budget passed last year; and
The Legislature’s business was completed on time without the need for a special session.

Here’s the breakdown of how the state will spend the additional $155 million:

Public education (K-12) – $56 million (36 percent)
Higher education – $41.7 million (27 percent)
Early learning – $20,000
All non-education funding (includes protecting our most vulnerable, developmentally disabled people, Medicaid health care services, etc.) – $57.2 million (37 percent)

Like any compromise, there were things in the budget I did not like. But, I did appreciate that everyone sat at the table and was able to reach a responsible and sustainable spending plan that balances over four years. Voters want to know we are spending their money wisely and working together to do what is right for our communities. The budget passed by a vote of 85-13 in the House and 48-1 in the Senate.

Please know that my door is always open and I welcome your feedback – call, e-mail and write with your comments and suggestions. My legislative aide, Kevin Shutty, is available during normal business hours to assist constituents with dealing with a state agency or locating a state service. I always make myself available to meet with constituents and speak at local civic group events. Please contact Kevin if you would like to schedule a time to meet with me.

Again, thank you for all your support and your assistance this session as we waded through many bills. I look forward to seeing you around the 35th District.

Reps. Drew MacEwen and Derek Stanford: Get back to building job-creating projects

It’s time to go to work. All across Washington, tens of thousands of people are looking for jobs. In Olympia, we have a chance to work together and foster opportunity so these people can get back to work. Through a state-and-local partnership, we can create jobs and build projects to help the health and economic development of our communities for decades to come.

We have a proven system in place to make this happen; all we need to do is get it moving again. The Public Works Assistance Account helps local governments provide clean water, working sewers and other projects that open the path for new economic development. For 30 years, our state has supported vital, local priorities with this fundamental PWAA partnership. This program offers loans to local communities — and, as the loans are repaid with interest, the money goes right back into the account. There has never been a default in the program. Our bipartisan measure, House Bill 2244, will bring this program out of a state of limbo.

One of the tough choices the Legislature made during the recession was to temporarily cut these investments in local public works. Consequently, our communities are struggling to meet their needs for reliable infrastructure. This means risks to public health as drinking water and sewer systems fail. It also means some businesses can’t add jobs or new facilities because basic utilities aren’t up to the task.

Historically, the account has enabled communities to undertake critical public-works projects that fuel economic growth. Since the raid on the PWAA, however, no new projects are funded for this 2013-2015 budget cycle and many local governments have been forced to turn to the private bond market. But that strategy isn’t an option for some towns. Even small differences in interest rates can have a huge impact on local construction. For example, a $2.5 million project in one city grew to a cost of $4.3 million through the volatile bond market. Another city lost a $9.75 million federal transportation grant because matching PWAA dollars were cancelled. These higher bond rates and costs translate to more expensive utility rates.

The measure we’re advancing will directly address these problems — and generate thousands of jobs in the process. We believe this new direction will go a long way toward:

Rebuilding our state’s partnership with local communities;
Creating opportunity for men and women who want to work; and
Providing long-term health and economic benefits of reliable public utilities.

Our legislation has gained support from the Association of Washington Business, the Washington State Labor Council, and mayors from across the state who testified in support. We hope Senate leadership will bring this legislation to a vote. We need to take this step for jobs and healthy communities.

###

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, and Rep. Derek Stanford, D-Bothell, are the assistant Ranking Minority Member and the Vice Chair, respectively, of the House Capital Budget Committee.

Rep. Drew MacEwen’s Legislative Update: March 7, 2014

Thank you for allowing me to be your voice in the state Legislature. We’re in the final week of the 60-day session and a lot is taking shape. We voted on the three main supplemental state budgets – operating, capital and transportation – and are continuing to vote on bills that are needed to complete the budgets as well as many others. I have faith we will finish our work on time, March 13, and without new and higher taxes.

I also want to thank you for all the feedback I received on the questionnaire I mailed out earlier this session. We received more than 1,000 responses, which is great! Below are brief details on the budgets passed this week and the next steps for them as well as the results from the 35th District survey.

The budgets

The supplemental state operating budget: One of the main reasons I voted against the budget put forward by the House majority party is that it relied on $100 million in new and higher taxes to balance. The argument given for needing these tax increases is to add more money to K-12 education. I’m all for fully funding K-12 education. The 2013-15 budget that included an additional $1 billion investment in schools paved the way to meet this goal by the mandated deadline of 2018. Additionally, I believe we should fund education before any other program, not gamble on unpopular tax increases – some of which voters have repealed in a statewide ballot measure. This is the wrong time to ask more from taxpayers, many of whom have not yet recovered from the Great Recession.

The supplemental state capital budget: This is the state budget that funds our brick and mortar infrastructure projects around the state. This spending plan is critical to ensuring we support cities and counties with necessary infrastructure, such as water and sewer upgrades. These projects create jobs and help with economic development in our communities. Tied to this budget is a bipartisan measure, House Bill 2797, which I cosponsored. It would put as much as $700 million toward building schools to reduce K-3 class sizes and comply with the state Supreme Court’s Jan. 9 order in the McCleary decision to fully fund education. In the January order, the state Supreme Court reinforced the urgency for action in this area stating, “…Make no mistake enhanced funding for full-day kindergarten and class-size reduction is essential, but the State must account for the actual cost to schools of providing these components of basic education.”

House Bill 2797 also attempts to fulfill the requirements of I-728, which passed by 71.7 percent in 2000, and in all counties. It directed state lottery revenues to be dedicated to education construction for “providing improvement or additions to facilities to support class-size reductions…” We cannot promise lower class sizes without the classroom space to house our students and teachers.

The supplemental state transportation budget: This is the budget that is used solely for building transportation infrastructure and studying transportation tax policy. The budget is funded through state gas taxes and other vehicle fees. I voted against this budget because I did not support the $450,000 allocated to the State Transportation Commission to study the transition from the gas tax to a road user fee, also known as a Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) tax. Privacy concerns aside, a VMT would impact rural areas the most because folks in those areas drive more miles to get to the grocery store, work and to local schools.

Another flaw in this budget was the additional funding for the 520 Bridge cost overruns. As has been widely reported, issues with the bridge pontoons has created a situation where all of the $250 million contingency reserve set aside for cost overruns on this mega-project have already been exhausted. So, this budget included $172 million more for the 520 Bridge project. Yes, we need to finish this project, but funding more of the same without serious reforms and legislative oversight is concerning to me and, I think, the general taxpayer.

I think we can do better for the citizens of Washington by spending our gas tax dollars more wisely and enacting reforms that ensure responsible expenditures and accountability on costly mega-projects.

Your responses to 35th District survey

I appreciate all the feedback you offered on the mailed survey earlier this year. Your feedback helps me represent you to the best of my ability. As we vote on crucial measures, my goal is to share your voice and do what is best for the 35th District. Here are the questions and your responses:

1. Some lawmakers want to raise the state gas tax by as much as 10.5 cents per gallon. Would you be willing to pay 10.5 cents more per gallon to help pay for transportation projects in the state?

2. If you could pick one issue that is most important to you, what issue would that be?

3. The state Supreme Court recently sent an order to the Legislature saying lawmakers need to put more money into K-12 education and teacher salaries right away despite the fact that we spend an additional $1.6 billion in K-12 education in last year’s budget. Do you agree with the state Supreme Court’s order?

As we quickly approach interim, please remember my door is always open and I welcome your calls and e-mails. I also make myself available to speak to local civic groups and meet with constituents throughout the year. Please contact my office anytime if you would like to schedule a time to meet with me or a speaking opportunity.

Again, thank you for the privilege of serving you.

House approves bipartisan plan to build classrooms

On a strong bipartisan vote, the House of Representatives approved a plan to put as much as $700 million toward building schools to reduce K-3 class sizes and comply with the state Supreme Court’s order to fully fund education.

“This isn’t the Republican solution or the Democratic solution – it’s the right thing to do,” said Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, assistant ranking member on the Capital Budget Committee. “We cannot continue to advocate for smaller class sizes in K-3 classrooms without funding the construction that allows for the required reductions.”

House Bill 2797 passed with a 90-7 vote after members from both parties spoke in favor of the legislation, which focuses on building classrooms for the youngest students: kindergarten through third grade, where research suggests smaller class sizes are critical.

“Kids need classrooms,” said Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish, chair of the Capital Budget Committee. “We’re creating 7,000 jobs from Aberdeen to Walla Walla while building good classrooms for our youngest students, and we did it by working together, across party lines.”

Rep. Monica Stonier, D-Vancouver, a teacher, said she works in a school built decades ago that basically has regular student access to two working bathrooms for 1100 students. Students need basics like schools with enough bathrooms and class sizes small enough for one-on-one time.

“As a mother and a teacher, I see that moment when the light goes on in a child’s eyes, when they’re full of the wonder and delight of learning, and you have to capture that moment,” Stonier said. “But you can’t do that in an overcrowded classroom. Kids need that one-on-one time.”

School districts across the state are in need of additional classrooms to offer their students smaller class sizes, including 346 additional classrooms needed in Seattle alone, 150 in Spokane, 120 in Vancouver and 57 in Snohomish. A list of school districts and their reported classroom needs can be found here.

The House also passed a supplemental capital budget, Senate Bill 6020, which could create as many as 2,500 jobs while cleaning the environment, building mental health facilities and helping schools, including nutrition equipment to move school lunchrooms away from deep fried food and instead chop fresh fruits and vegetables.

“It’s great for kids, it’s great for parents trying to get their kids to healthier foods and it’s great for our local farmers,” said Rep. Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane. “This is also a small step in the fight to reduce childhood obesity and diabetes.”

Senate Bill 6020 passed on a vote of 92-4.

Both bills are now in the Senate for further consideration.

Bipartisan school construction initiative introduced in House

In the landmark McCleary decision, the state Supreme Court laid out clear goals for the Legislature to meet with regard to class size and full-day kindergarten by 2018. This afternoon, legislative leaders from both parties introduced a plan to give school districts the space they need to meet these goals.

“I’m glad the court agrees that what we want to do is both urgent and important,” said Capital Budget Chair Rep. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish. “Reduced class sizes and all-day kindergarten play a critical role in a child’s success. In order to accomplish these goals, new classrooms must be in place before teachers can show-up for work. Across the state, east and west, schools struggle to find the space. This plan gives them the classrooms they need and creates 7,000 jobs at the same time”

Last year, Mukilteo School District turned down state funding to expand access to full-day kindergarten simply because they did not have the space. School districts from across the state have said that they do not have the necessary classroom space to meet the goals outlined in McCleary.

House Bill 2797 would authorize the sale of $700 million in bonds backed by lottery revenue for grants dedicated to constructing classrooms for full-day kindergarten, as well as K-3 class size reduction. Four other states sell lottery-backed bonds and continue to enjoy strong credit ratings.

“The bottom line is voters have spoken on this issue when they overwhelmingly passed Initiative 728 in 2000. They agreed that lottery funds should be leveraged to ensure school districts have the space to accommodate the class-size reduction model they have been aiming for,” said Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union and assistant ranking Republican on the House Capital Budget Committee. “This plan continues the good work we did on our current two-year budget by making capital investments that will put us in compliance with the McCleary ruling and our state constitution.”

Members of the Capital Budget Committee, Democrats and Republicans alike, have worked together over the course of several months to craft this legislation.

In January, the state Supreme Court reinforced the urgency for action in this area stating, “…Make no mistake enhances funding for full-day kindergarten and class-size reduction is essential, but the State must account for the actual cost to schools of providing these components of basic education.”

You can learn more about the other state selling lottery-backed bonds here and here.

Rep. Drew MacEwen’s Legislative Update: Feb. 20, 2014

Thank you for allowing me to serve as your state representative in the 35th Legislative District. It’s truly an honor.

The legislative session is just past the halfway point and we have three short weeks to go until we adjourn on March 13. This week, we passed more than 100 bills out of the House to meet our deadline to move bills over to the Senate for consideration. The House is now considering Senate bills and our House bills that are necessary to implement the supplemental budget.

Join me for a town hall meeting Feb. 22

It’s the perfect time in the session to update constituents on what is happening in the Legislature. There are still some issues that are being discussed, such as new and higher taxes, that could impact our friends, neighbors and family members. The details of the meeting are as follows:

Saturday, Feb. 22 town hall meeting
Belfair
2 – 3 p.m.
Theler Community Center, Evergreen Room
22871 N.E. State Route 3
No RSVP is required

If you are unable to attend the event, please feel free to contact my office with your questions, comments and suggestions. I look forward to seeing you Saturday.

It’s an honor to serve you.

MacEwen’s bill to streamline military, veteran transition assistance programs passes House

A measure to streamline programs that assist current military members and veterans transition into civilian life received unanimous support in the state House of Representatives today. House Bill 2130 was sponsored by 35th District state Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union.

Building upon 2006 legislation establishing the Veterans’ Innovations Program (VIP), House Bill 2130 would combine the Defenders’ Fund and Competitive Grant Program simplifying internal processes for the Washington Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Funds appropriated to VIP would still be used to increase awareness of the program to veterans and active duty service members. Funds from this program would 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.

“I was happy to sponsor the Veterans Innovations Program legislation,” said MacEwen, a veteran of the United States Navy. “This program began to assist veterans facing hardship in employment, training and transitioning to civilian life. It has proven to be a crucial tool to assist our veterans who have returned home after facing long and arduous combat tours in a post 9/11 world. My bill would streamline the various programs and make them more efficient and accessible by our military community.”

House Bill 2130 will be transmitted to the Senate for further consideration. The 2014 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn March 13.

Rep. Drew MacEwen to host Belfair town hall event Feb. 22

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, invites 35th District residents to attend an upcoming town hall meeting in Belfair on Saturday, Feb. 22.

Citizens who attend will receive a brief update on the 2014 legislative session, then ask MacEwen questions and share comments or concerns about legislation, state government and issues affecting the 35th District.

The meeting time and location is as follows:

Belfair
2 – 3 p.m.
Theler Community Center, Evergreen Room
22871 N.E. State Route 3

Residents unable to attend the in-person town hall meeting can e-mail MacEwen with ideas, solutions and concerns at Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov or (360) 786-7902.

Shelton High School teacher to be honored for civics education work

Joshua Parker, a Social Studies teacher at Shelton High School since 2008, was nominated for the Legislature’s Civic Educator of the Year Award by 35th District state Rep. Drew MacEwen. Parker will be honored for his nomination at the state Capitol in Olympia on Feb. 17.

The Civic Educator of the Year Award is sponsored by the Washington State Legislature to honor one outstanding civic educator in the state.

“Joshua has routinely brought his Advanced Placement students to the Capitol as an opportunity to engage them in the legislative process and interact with elected officials,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “Ensuring students understand the legislative process and how government impacts their lives is one of the most important things teachers like Joshua can do.”

In 2013, Josh was nominated for the Promising Young Educator of the Year Award in the Shelton School District. He serves as the moderator of the Climber Crew, a group of seniors that help sophomores transition into the high school setting. Additionally, Josh is the acting union representative for his building.

“I have had the opportunity to spend time with Joshua and his students throughout the past year, and have been greatly impressed by his abilities,” MacEwen said. “It is clear from talking with his students that he is enthusiastic about education and passionate about showing how they can give back to their communities. As a father of two boys, teachers like Joshua are great reminders that we have some of the best and brightest teaching in our classrooms.”

Parker has a Master’s Degree in Education from The Evergreen State College and is currently working on his National Board Certification.