Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, is inviting 35th District residents to join him for a telephone town hall meeting on Thursday, March 25, from 6-7 p.m.
During the meeting, MacEwen will provide a brief update on this year’s legislative session and take questions from constituents. Participants will also have the opportunity to answer a number of survey questions. Those who would like to join the call may dial (360) 209-6593 anytime between 6-7 p.m. on March 25th.
“I wanted to host this meeting to bring our community together and answer the pressing questions that are on people’s minds as we head into the final month of session,” said MacEwen. “I look forward to discussing a wide range of issues and learning how I can best partner with my constituents to bring about positive results for our district now and in the future.”
For more information, 35th District residents are encouraged to contact MacEwen at (360) 786-7902 or Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov.
Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, joins IFiberOneNews Radio KMAS to discuss bills that are coming over to the House from the Senate, transportation projects, and the capital budget.
Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, joins IFiberOneNews KMAS Radio to discuss public safety issues, protecting private property rights, his opposition to the majority’s capital gains income tax proposal, and needed transportation reforms.
Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, joins KMAS to discuss a transportation budget request he’s submitted that would help improve safety and reduce congestion in the south Kitsap area. The 35th District lawmaker also discusses his opposition to the Democrats’ low-carbon fuel standard proposal, as well as police reform and public safety.
Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, has submitted a $414 million transportation budget request to improve safety and address congestion and capacity issues along the SR 3/SR 16 Gorst corridor.
The Gorst corridor is the gateway from Kitsap County to Mason, Jefferson and Clallam counties. Critically, it provides the only roadway link to strategic Naval facilities in Kitsap County. These facilities are not only vital for military readiness and national security purposes, but also for regional economic interests.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency classifies the Gorst area as a chokepoint that “becomes impassable with any minor or major impact, including high-winds, floods, and car accidents.” Even without these impacts, tens of thousands of commuters, as well as commercial truck drivers and military personnel, are getting stuck on the corridor daily.
If MacEwen’s budget request is included in the 2021-23 transportation budget, the Department of Transportation would have the green light to begin investing in projects to fix issues that have worsened over the decades.
“While I have the privilege of bringing this budget request forward, there is a broad coalition behind this effort that has been waiting a long time for a solution,” said MacEwen. “If we fail to address the issues and deficiencies in this critical transportation corridor, our local communities, the Kitsap economy, and significant U.S. strategic military missions will continue to be at risk. With lives and livelihoods at stake, we can’t afford to wait any longer for these investments to be made.”
Projects that would be funded by MacEwen’s budget request include:
Near-term (5-year plan)
Implement peak-use shoulder lanes along SR 3 between railroad trestle north of Gorst and SR 304 ($20 million)
SR 3/Loxie Eagans interchange – Ramp terminal rechannelization and improvements at National Avenue ($250,000)
SR 3/Kitsap Way interchange – Intersection rechannelization and improvements at southbound ramp terminal ($200,000)
Implement operational improvements along SR 304 at Charleston Beach Road ($200,000)
Mid-term (10-year plan)
Construct roundabout at Sam Christopherson Avenue and SR 3/SR 16 ($3 million)
Implement peak-use shoulder lanes along SR 3 between railroad trestle and SR 3/SR 16 interchange ($3 million)
SR 3/Loxie Eagans interchange – Make intersection capacity improvements at southbound ramp terminal (signal or roundabout) ($750,000)
SR 304 – Enhance vanpool/transit options by converting 2+ HOV lane to 3+ HOV lane ($250,000)
Implement operational improvements along SR 304 at Farragut Avenue ($200,000)
Long-term (20-year plan)
Construct an elevated roadway or structure through Gorst to address resiliency and redundancy ($30-$300 million)
Add mainline capacity along SR 3 between SR 3/SR 16 interchange at Gorst and SR 304 ($160-$200 million)
Reconstruct all or portions of the SR 16/SR 3 interchange and/or intersection of Sam Christopherson Avenue W/SR 3 ($30 million)
Selected approach widenings at SR 304 and Farragut Avenue ($500,000)
The 2021 legislative session is scheduled to run through April 25.
On Tuesday, I took part in a House Republican press conference to unveil our 2021-23 operating budget proposal. Contrary to the governor’s proposal, which would unnecessarily grow government and raise taxes, the House Republican plan would fund our state’s needs and priorities while cutting taxes.
We would fund the working families tax credit for the first time in its 12-year history, provide sales tax exemptions for basic necessities, help low-income families defray the cost of remote learning, safely reopen our schools, take bold steps to actually solve the homelessness crisis, make critical investments in behavioral health, provide B&O tax relief for our small businesses, and more.
At the same time, we would reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, fix inefficiencies in government, eliminate programs that aren’t working (yes, they exist), and replace bad policies with better ones.
It’s a budget that aligns perfectly with our priorities as a caucus to safely reopen schools and businesses, oppose new taxes and fees, hold the governor and state agencies accountable, and protect our communities.
House passes two COVID relief bills; two of my bills advance out of committee
Since my last update, the House has passed two COVID relief bills.
Senate Bill 5061, which was signed into law by the governor earlier this month, will limit the massive unemployment insurance tax increases businesses are facing. That’s a very good thing, but we had an opportunity to do even more to support our job creators through three amendments House Republicans proposed:
Amendment 20, sponsored by Rep. Brandon Vick, would have suspended all unemployment insurance tax increases until the governor’s termination of the current state of emergency.
Amendment 21, sponsored by Rep. Larry Hoff, would have allowed business owners to defer unemployment insurance tax payments for two quarters.
Amendment 22, which I sponsored, would have authorized a one-time $500 million transfer from the state’s rainy-day fund to the unemployment trust fund, which has been depleted as a result of the pandemic and last year’s $600 million theft by foreign fraudsters. It simply does not make sense that our small business owners should be on the hook to replenish that fund.
While all three amendments were rejected, I still voted in favor of the bill because it will help more of our businesses stay afloat as the pandemic continues.
Unfortunately, I could not support the other COVID relief bill that came to the House floor. While Rep. Drew Stokesbary’s REAL Recovery for Washington Act would have provided $4 billion in relief, the majority’s House Bill 1368 is set to provide roughly half that amount. You can review a comparison of the proposals here.
Frustratingly, nearly all House Republican amendments to the bill were rejected. These amendments would have taken bold steps to safely reopen schools, assist students who have fallen behind, provide rental and utility assistance, ease financial burdens on working families, help child care providers, and support small businesses.
If we truly want to rebuild our economy and reopen our state, we’re going to have to reject half measures in favor of bold action and a willingness to utilize every resource at our disposal. We’re also going to have to ensure our small businesses can keep their doors open. I’ve sponsored a number of bills to help in that effort, two of which were recently approved by the House Commerce and Gaming Committee.
House Bill 1011 would extend the expiration date of certain liquor licenses. Renewal fees for these licenses, which can range into the thousands of dollars, would not be due until May 31, 2022.
House Bill 1480 would extend through July 1, 2023 a number of curbside, takeout and delivery privileges granted to liquor licensees as a way to mitigate the impact of the ongoing pandemic.
The governor’s shutdown orders have created tremendous financial hardship for thousands of leisure and hospitality businesses across our state. While I’m glad every region is now finally in Phase 2, bills like HB 1011 and HB 1480 are needed to provide longer-term support and flexibility for licensees struggling with cash flow. I’m hoping we can get both bills to the governor’s desk in the next couple of weeks.
Contacting me
Please continue contacting me with your comments, questions and concerns. My email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7902.
Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, joins IFiberOneNewsRadio KMAS to discuss the House Republican operating budget proposal for the 2021-23 biennium. The plan would fund the state’s existing needs and priorities without raising taxes or cutting vital services.
Washington State House Republicans discuss key components of their 2021-23 proposed operating budget, led by Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Drew Stokesbary. Legislators highlight how their budget would benefit working families, students, small businesses and the state’s most vulnerable citizens — all without raising taxes. Joining Stokesbary are Reps. Drew MacEwen, Kelly Chambers and Chris Corry.
Washington House Republicans released their 2021-23 operating budget framework at a news conference today. Ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Drew Stokesbary, says it is not necessary for state lawmakers to raise taxes or cut any vital services as they craft a two-year operating budget this legislative session.
“This budget framework demonstrates that it is indeed possible to fund the state’s existing needs and emergency priorities without raising taxes or cutting vital services,” said Stokesbary, R-Auburn. “This isn’t a budget that will grow government or serve special interests, it’s a proposal that will help people – working families, growing students, vulnerable people, small businesses, and all Washingtonians.”
Stokesbary began developing the proposal last summer when Republicans were asking and preparing for a special session that was never called by Governor Jay Inslee.
Rep. Kelly Chambers, assistant ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee and ranking member on the House College and Workforce Development Committee, believes the budget framework prioritizes vulnerable populations.
“We offer hope and more resources for vulnerable Washingtonians, including those who are struggling with mental health issues and homelessness,” said Chambers, R-Puyallup. “We also help students who have fallen behind academically and assist low-income families with the costs of remote learning.”
Rep. Chris Corry, assistant ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee and assistant floor leader, says the proposal is designed to help communities that are struggling as result of extended shutdown orders.
“This proposal offers a hand to families in need, including child care options and sales tax exemptions. It also does not raise taxes on anyone or anything,” said Corry, R-Yakima. “We also invest more in public health without raising taxes on health care plans like the governor has proposed.”
Rep. Drew MacEwen, assistant ranking member on the House Appropriations Committee and assistant floor leader, highlights that the plan assists small businesses in need of relief and provides certainty for the future.
“Small businesses should not be punished for the state’s failure to prevent unemployment insurance fraud. It’s fundamentally unfair,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “Our plan replenishes the state’s unemployment insurance trust fund and offers temporary B&O tax relief for businesses hit hardest by the pandemic.”
Stokesbary says the proposal reveals Washington House Republicans’ priorities, including funding the working families tax credit.
“This budget treats working families as a priority, not a talking point,” said Stokesbary, who also sits on the House Finance Committee. “By funding the working families tax credit, reducing sales taxes, reopening schools, addressing the homelessness crisis, and improving our environment, Republicans have shown what our values are.”
The 105-legislative session is scheduled to run through April 25.
