Tag Archives: Email Updates

2021 session ended with a new income tax on capital gains, no emergency powers reform

In my last email update, I discussed the House Republican case for emergency powers reform. All session long, we attempted to convince the majority that the Legislature should have more involvement during emergencies and that reform was necessary in this regard. About a week before the end of session, I made a motion on the House floor that would have allowed my emergency powers reform bill to receive a vote. The majority rejected the motion, signaling to the governor that he could continue ruling unilaterally.

That decision encapsulates what much of the 2021 session was like. There were some bipartisan successes, yes, but we also saw the majority steamroll through a progressive agenda that will hurt many Washington families. Not only did the majority pass an income tax on capital gains, which may lead to yet another push for a statewide income tax, but they also passed two environmental bills (HB 1091 and SB 5126) that will significantly increase the price of gasoline while doing very little to reduce the carbon in our atmosphere.

Washington voters have repeatedly rejected income tax proposals and carbon pricing schemes. That didn’t matter to the majority, which is deeply concerning as we are here to represent you, not our own interests.

2021-23 operating, transportation, and capital budgets

There are a lot of good things in the $59 billion 2021-23 operating budget, but I ultimately voted against it because it relies on revenue from the income tax on capital gains I mentioned above. Additionally, it grows spending by $7 billion, an increase of 13.6% over the 2019-21 budget.

Since the governor came into office in 2013, we have seen a 74% increase in state spending, with the operating budget exploding from $33.8 billion to $58.9 billion. I continue to be concerned that the majority’s tax-and-spend approach will eventually lead to devastating cuts or a reliance on even more burdensome new taxes. I simply don’t understand the reluctance to pass a sustainable budget that doesn’t rely on new and higher taxes. Earlier this year, House Republicans proved the Legislature could pass a such a budget. There simply must be a willingness to do so.

The 2021-23 transportation budget passed with broad bipartisan support in both chambers. The $11.8 billion budget will continue funding the basic transportation needs of our state by investing in the maintenance and preservation of current transportation systems, the Washington State Department of Transportation, the Washington State Ferry system, the Washington State Patrol, and other state transportation agencies.

I worked hard with Rep. Dan Griffey to ensure the following items were included in the budget:

  • Modified WSP-Shelton water agreement – We negotiated with the governor’s office to remove the latecomers fee that existed between the Washington State Patrol Academy and the City of Shelton. The latecomers fee has long hindered economic growth around the Port of Shelton and the WSP Academy. Its removal will make it easier for properties to use the water line infrastructure that currently exists, which will help grow the local economy.
  • Kitsap toll credit – New Kitsap toll credit language in the budget includes provisions that will improve the passenger-only ferry system in Kitsap County.
  • SR 302 corridor study – SR 302 has a history of storm-related damage that has resulted in a number of road closures. The $800,000 corridor study in the budget will attempt to set a course for what improvements need to be made in order to make the highway more resilient.

Additionally, we successfully fought to retain funding for all existing Connecting Washington transportation projects in the 35th District, including the Highway 3 freight corridor, formerly known as the Belfair Bypass project.

Other highlights of the 2021-23 transportation budget include:

  • $849 million for preservation and $520 million for maintenance.
  • $550 million for Washington State Patrol, including an additional trooper class.
  • $541 million for operating costs and $505 million for capital costs for Washington State Ferries.
  • $224 million for Transportation Improvement Board.
  • $101 million for County Road Administration Board. 

I’m proud we were able to keep the promises we made to all of you, especially when it comes to funding for the Highway 3 freight corridor. That project, and the others we were able to secure funding for, will make a meaningful difference in our district for years to come.

The 2021-23 capital budget received unanimous support in both chambers. The $6.3 billion budget will fund various construction projects throughout the state, making significant investments in water, sewer, and broadband infrastructure with the help of one-time federal funds. Working together, Rep. Griffey and I were able to secure more than $25 million in local project funding. Some of the investments include:

  • $8.8 million for improvements at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton and the Mission Creek Corrections Center in Belfair;
  • $2.05 million to rehabilitate and re-equip Well 1 and convert the water transmission main in Shelton;
  • $2.05 million for the design and construction of a 750,000-gallon in-ground storage tank at the satellite wastewater treatment plant in Shelton;
  • $1.49 million for grants for a range of land protection and outdoor recreation projects in Yelm and Rochester;
  • $1.29 million for Shelton Youth Connection for renovations and to add 12 age-appropriate housing options for young adults experiencing homelessness or at risk of experiencing homelessness;
  • $900,000 for grants to support cleanup efforts at the Shelton C Street Landfill;
  • $835,000 to provide fiber optic infrastructure to increase capacity at each cell tower in the Gold Mountain Communications Zone in Bremerton;
  • $344,000 for restoration efforts at the Sargent Oyster House in Allyn;
  • $82,000 to provide additional space at the Turning Pointe Survivor Advocacy Center in Shelton; and
  • $62,000 for improvements at Mason County Veterans Memorial Hall in Shelton.

In addition to local projects, other capital budget highlights include:

  • $733 million for the state’s four-year institutions.
  • $730.6 million for 2021-23 School Construction Assistance Program.
  • $512 million for the community and technical college system.
  • $326 million for State Broadband Office for broadband infrastructure projects, including $50 million in bonds to leverage other federal funding.
  • $200.7 million to begin construction of the behavioral health teaching hospital run by the University of Washington.
  • $129 million from the Public Works Assistance Account to issue grants and loans to local governments for infrastructure projects.
  • $95 million in behavioral health capacity grants for community mental health services.

It’s great to see the Legislature’s ongoing commitment to making mental and behavioral health care the priority it should be, especially as we continue recovering from the global pandemic. Many adults have experienced mental health challenges over the past year, but so have our children. We must continue providing the capacity and resources necessary to get Washingtonians the help they need in a timely manner. Speaking of our youth, I was very pleased we were able to secure more than $1 million in funding for Shelton Youth Connection, a vital organization in our community that serves at-risk individuals ages 12 to 24. By funding key renovations and the construction of age-appropriate housing options, we are going to see improved outcomes for those who need our help the most.

Contacting me

Although session is now over, please know I am here to serve you year-round. I encourage you to continue reaching out to me with your comments, questions and 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.

My case for emergency powers reform

During floor action on Friday, I made a motion to pass a resolution that would have waived previously established cutoff dates and allowed my emergency powers reform bill to be considered on the House floor. Unfortunately, my motion was rejected on a party-line vote, all but ending the opportunity for the Legislature to pass emergency powers reform this session.

When I sent an email out to all of you on Friday morning letting you know this was coming, some of you emailed me back questioning if I was taking the pandemic seriously enough. I want to be very clear on this. I firmly believe our executive branch needs the ability to respond quickly to pandemics, natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and other emergencies. However, I also believe there must be limits on emergency powers in order to ensure one person is not ruling by proclamation or executive order for months on end. It doesn’t matter if that person is a Republican or a Democrat. Washingtonians were never meant to be governed this way.

The bill I introduced would have simply ensured adequate legislative involvement in long-lasting states of emergency, bringing Washington in line with what other states are already doing. As it stands right now, our state ranks near the bottom in terms of governmental balance of power.

I hope you’ll take some time out of your day to watch my full remarks on the House floor and understand why I believe this is such a critical issue for our state.

https://youtu.be/J-JK5IKgdws

I always welcome your feedback, so please continue reaching out to me with your comments, questions and 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.

House Republicans will push for a vote on my emergency powers reform bill later today

As we near the end of session, which is scheduled to adjourn April 25, I have been intently focused on the issue of emergency powers reform. For more than a year now, Gov. Jay Inslee has ruled unilaterally without any input from the Legislature. That needs to change. Washingtonians were never meant to be governed by proclamation and executive order for months on end. If we do not take action before session adjourns, the governor will continue to have the ability to do whatever he wants without regard for the input from state lawmakers or you, our constituents. Your voice belongs in the legislative process, in the committee rooms and chambers of the Legislature, where it can be heard, understood, and weighed.

Last month, I introduced House Bill 1557, which is designed to ensure adequate legislative involvement in long-lasting states of emergency. Specifically, it would cause states of emergency to expire after 60 days unless renewed by the Legislature. The measure would also allow the Legislature to terminate, on its own authority, an emergency declaration. Such reforms would bring us in line with what many other states are already doing. More importantly, they would provide all 147 state lawmakers a proactive role during uncertain and unprecedented times.

Later this afternoon, I will make a motion on the House floor to place House Concurrent Resolution 4402 on the Second Reading Calendar. The new resolution, if passed, would waive previously established cutoff dates from an earlier resolution and allow House Bill 1557 to be considered on the floor for a full vote. When state representatives take a roll-call vote on the new resolution, it is my hope nine House Democrats will join all 41 House Republicans to pass HCR 4402 and allow House Bill 1557 to receive a full chamber vote.

Starting at noon, you can tune in live to floor action by clicking on this link.

This pandemic is serious and the need for an effective, coordinated response remains important. But this should not prevent the Legislature from examining how our state government should respond to emergencies in the future. This is too important of an issue to put off until next year. We must act now.

House Bill 1480 signed into law

My bill to help businesses in the hospitality industry mitigate the economic impact of the governor’s shutdown orders has been signed into law. House Bill 1480 will temporarily codify into law a number of curbside, takeout and delivery privileges granted to liquor licensees by the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board. Among other temporary privileges, certain licensees will be authorized to continue selling factory-sealed bottles and cans of beer, wine, and spirits to customers in combination with the sale of to-go food or by delivery with a food order.

Many of the businesses in the hospitality industry have been struggling to keep their doors open, which is why House Bill 1480 is so critical. I am grateful for the bipartisan support the bill received throughout the process, from its introduction to its approval on the House and Senate floors. For as long as the pandemic lasts, we must continue working together to pass sound legislation that will ensure our businesses can remain open and carry on as staples in our communities.

Contacting me

Please continue reaching out to me with your comments, questions and concerns. My email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7902.

I also encourage you to stay involved in the legislative process by following House Republicans on Twitter and Facebook, visiting The Ledger, and utilizing the resources listed in this document. Finally, please bookmark my legislative website, where you can find all of my public communications.

It is an honor to serve you.

Join me for a telephone town hall meeting on Thursday!

On Thursday, I will be hosting a telephone town hall meeting from 6-7 p.m. During the call, I’ll provide a short update on this year’s legislative session and then spend the rest of the hour taking questions. If you would like to participate, please call (360) 209-6593 anytime between 6-7 p.m. on Thursday.

If you’re unable to join the call, I welcome you to send me an email or give me a call at your convenience. My email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7902.

All Washington counties now in Phase 3

On March 4, House and Senate Republicans released our Open Safe, Open Now plan, which proposed immediately moving all Washington counties to Phase 3. We also proposed the following:

  • All children in grades K-12 would immediately return to the classroom for in-person instruction.
  • School districts would implement safety protocols provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  • Hospitality businesses and public venues statewide, such as restaurants, bars, gyms, movie theaters, museums, libraries, and other entertainment venues, would open to 50% capacity.
  • Bars and restaurants would stop serving alcohol and close at midnight.
  • State parks and other state agencies whose function is tourism/recreation would resume bookings for day-use and overnight facilities at 50% capacity.
  • Indoor weddings and indoor religious services would open to 50% capacity.
  • Professional services would open to 50% capacity.

The plan generated a lot of attention from the press, as well as from the governor, who derided it as “not a serious proposal.” Just one week later, however, he announced a statewide move to Phase 3.

It serves as another example as to why so many people are fed up with politics. The governor could’ve chosen to work with us, but instead chose divisiveness. All to come back a week later and implement many of the things we proposed.

As of yesterday, all Washington counties are now in Phase 3. Guidelines have been posted on the state’s official coronavirus website. Click here for details.

Latest revenue forecast should end any talk of new taxes

Last week, the Economic and Revenue Forecast Council released its latest state revenue forecast. While the pandemic has wreaked havoc on families and businesses here in the 35th and all across Washington, state tax collections have continued to increase. Tax revenue for the 2021-23 biennium is now projected to be $56.6 billion, an increase of 8.2% over the current biennium. Furthermore, our state is projected to have a $3 billion budget surplus by the middle of this year. It is my hope those of us in the minority can convince our friends in the majority that there is absolutely no reason to raise taxes this session. These latest revenue numbers prove we can fund our state’s needs and priorities without asking for more from you and your family.

As lawmakers, we need to be doing everything we can to ensure Washington’s economic recovery continues. That means keeping tax burdens low and ensuring our state remains an attractive place to raise a family, start a business, or retire. If we pass an income tax on capital gains this session, not only will we be hurting small business owners and those planning for retirement, but we will also be eliminating one of our state’s biggest competitive advantages. Worst of all, we will be paving the way for a statewide income tax.

The vehicle for the income tax on capital gains is Senate Bill 5096. It was approved 25-24 in the Senate and is now in the House Finance Committee. I’ll keep you posted on its progress.

House approves HB 1480

Late last month, the House overwhelmingly approved a bill I’ve sponsored to extend a number of curbside, takeout and delivery privileges that have been granted to liquor licensees in order to help them stay in business. The extension in House Bill 1480, which would last through July 1, 2023, would provide much-needed support and flexibility for licensees struggling with cash flow as a result of the pandemic. I’m grateful for the bipartisan support the bill has received and look forward to seeing it advance to the Senate floor in the coming days.

Reining in the governor’s unilateral emergency powers

Many of you have contacted me this session to ask what can be done to limit the governor’s ability to rule unilaterally when Washington is under a state of emergency. Last week, I introduced bipartisan legislation that would give the Legislature more direct involvement in future emergencies.

House Bill 1557 is currently in the State Government and Tribal Relations Committee.

Gorst corridor improvements must become a priority for the Legislature

I recently 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 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 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.

For a list of projects that would be funded through my budget request, click here.

Weekly interviews on iFIBER One News Radio KMAS

Every week, I join iFIBER One News Radio KMAS to provide an update on the legislative session. You can listen to those interviews on my SoundCloud page, which you can navigate to by clicking on the image below.

Contacting me and staying involved in the legislative process

Please continue reaching out to me with your comments, questions and concerns. My email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7902.

I also encourage you to stay involved in the legislative process by following House Republicans on Twitter and Facebook, visiting The Ledger, and utilizing the resources listed in this document. Finally, please bookmark my legislative website, where you can find all of my public communications.

It is an honor to serve you. I hope to chat with you on Thursday!

House Republican budget would fund state’s needs without raising taxes or cutting vital services

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.

Working to safely reopen our state and rebuild our economy

The 2021 legislative session is under way. Legislators convened at the Capitol last Monday to pass temporary rules that allow us to meet remotely for the next several months. While a virtual session is far from ideal, I am making every effort to be as accessible to you as possible. I encourage you to reach out to me any time so we can work together on the issues most important to you and your family. My email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7902. I look forward to hearing from you!

Working to safely reopen our state and rebuild our economy

Our top priority as House Republicans this session is advancing solutions to safely get Washingtonians back to work, school, and a more normal life.

Earlier this week, I sponsored House Bill 1321, which would immediately move the entire state to Phase 2 of the governor’s “Healthy Washington – Roadmap to Recovery” plan. HB 1321 is the companion to Senate Bill 5114, which was heard Wednesday in the Senate State Government and Elections Committee. A record number of people signed in to the hearing to offer their support for the bill.

Washington’s small business owners have done everything that has been asked of them, and somehow still find themselves in Phase 1 ten months later. Fitness centers and indoor entertainment venues are operating at extremely limited capacity, and restaurants are prohibited from offering indoor dining to patrons.

Meanwhile, casinos and restaurants on tribal lands have remained open, implementing their own safety measures. They have seen no major outbreaks, and have proven they can operate safely during the pandemic. Washington’s small business owners have proven the same, so we need to give them a fighting chance. Moving immediately to Phase 2 would mean fitness centers, indoor entertainment venues, and restaurants could return to 25% indoor capacity. While that would certainly help, it’s not the only relief I’m proposing for small businesses.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-QO1tXlhgI

Another major bill that would provide relief is House Bill 1334, the REAL Recovery for Washington Act. Sponsored by Rep. Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn, the $4 billion plan would utilize the state’s rainy-day fund and federal assistance dollars to provide immediate financial support to struggling families and businesses, and accelerate the safe reopening of schools. You can learn more about the bill here.

If you have any ideas for legislation to safely reopen our economy, please don’t hesitate to send me an email.

We need to fix mismanagement at all levels of state government

A few hours ago, news broke that state Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine will be leaving her post at the end of the month to take a job in the Biden administration.

Last year, LeVine oversaw the payment of $600 million in unemployment benefits to an international fraud ring. That catastrophic failure affected many of you and your loved ones. When State Auditor Pat McCarthy attempted to discover what went wrong, LeVine hindered her investigation.

To this day, problems persist at ESD. LeVine has apparently chosen to leave them for someone else to clean up. Meanwhile, the governor issued a statement today praising her leadership, saying she “led the Employment Security Department through an extremely challenging time.”

That’s certainly one way to put it.

While LeVine is on her way out, another problem continues to negatively impact Washingtonians. Our state has fallen to 37th in the nation in terms of COVID vaccine doses administered. Whether you choose to get vaccinated or not is up to you, but we must do a better job of getting the vaccine to those who want it.

I believe ESD’s failures and the state’s slow vaccine rollout could have been prevented if we had smarter oversight, increased transparency, and stronger accountability measures in place. The majority has a responsibility to work with us to advance reforms to improve outcomes for all Washingtonians. That’s what we’ll be pushing for this session.

House Democrats propose massive gas tax increase to fund transportation projects

In my December email update, I discussed a bill I’ve introduced (HB 1010) that would phase in a shift of the state sales tax on motor vehicles to pay for cash-based preservation and maintenance projects. I believe this would be a better way to add revenue to the transportation budget than imposing new taxes. A number of my House Republican colleagues have also offered fiscally responsible solutions to fund transportation without raising taxes.

Well, it seems the majority has other ideas. They’re looking to massively increase the state’s gas tax and other fees to fund a $27 billion transportation package. If approved by the Legislature and signed into law, the proposal could cost Washingtonians more than $1 per gallon in taxes and fees paid at the pump. This includes a proposed 18-cents per gallon state gas tax increase over the next two years, which means we’d have the highest gas tax in the nation.

Unfortunately, this is just more of the same from the governor and majority Democrats. The plan is always to tax-and-spend, even in the middle of a pandemic when families are struggling to make ends meet. Washingtonians do not want, and cannot afford, new and higher taxes. The majority should recognize this fact and look at other options.

Staying involved this session

I encourage you to stay engaged in the legislative process this session by following House Republicans on Twitter and Facebook, visiting The Ledger, and utilizing the resources listed in this document. Finally, please bookmark my legislative website, where you can find my latest press releases, video updates, interviews, and more.

It is an honor to serve you. Until next time, stay safe and take care.

Looking ahead to the 2021 legislative session

In this very difficult year, I hope the holidays have been a source of joy for you and your loved ones. As we head into the new year, I wanted to send a quick email update to fill you in on the economic relief bills I recently introduced in advance of the upcoming 105-day legislative session. Before I do, however, I first want to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to continue serving you in the Legislature. It is an honor and a privilege to represent you in Olympia.

2021 legislative session begins Jan. 11

While I’m glad we’re finally nearing the start of the 2021 legislative session, I’m also disappointed we weren’t called into a special session earlier this year by Gov. Inslee. For months, House Republicans implored the governor to call a special session so we could provide relief for Washington families and businesses. We were hoping to work collaboratively with him and the majority party on a number of proposals—each with public health as a priority—we believe would have made a real difference. Unfortunately, the governor decided to act unilaterally, dismissing any and all calls for legislative participation. As a result, families across the state have continued to suffer while thousands of businesses have shuttered—many permanently. 

To make matters worse, the governor recently proposed new and higher taxes on Washington families, including an income tax on capital gains. I struggle to understand how he and the majority party can continue advocating for a tax-and-spend approach that has been nothing short of disastrous.

In March 2019, I said the following on the House floor:

“I hope we still have some good economic growth ahead of us and that in future budgets, including next year’s supplemental, we can increase that ending fund balance so that we can weather this storm that is coming. It’s the natural economic cycle, you have booms and you have busts, and no president, no governor can stop that. Those things are going to happen, and we need to be able to put ourselves in a position where we can we can weather those storms.

[…]

As we go forward, as we go to conference with the other body, let’s see what we can do to put ourselves in a better financial shape. But for these reasons tonight, I am voting no. And it is my word of caution, as it was a year ago, we have to be ready for what’s coming that we cannot control.”

One year later, COVID-19 was at our doorstep.

In advance of the upcoming legislative session, I’ve introduced a package of economic relief bills I’m hoping will be approved quickly by the Legislature. Last month, I spoke with KING-5 News about my proposals:

In short:

House Bill 1011 would delay the payment date for liquor license renewals in order to help restaurants with existing cash flow.

House Bill 1012 would provide a $5,000 B&O tax credit for businesses. I’m also working on a second B&O tax relief proposal that I hope to unveil soon.

House Bill 1021 would prohibit increases to unemployment insurance rates. I recently spoke with a number of business owners who are already seeing 400-500% UI rate increases for 2021. It is critical we stop that from happening.

In addition to these bills, I’ve introduced another proposal that would phase in a shift of state sales tax on motor vehicles to pay for cash-based preservation and maintenance projects. I believe this would be a better way to add revenue to the transportation budget than implementing a new tax on miles driven.

As I told The Olympian, anything we can do to provide immediate relief for businesses must be done quickly. Too many businesses have already had to shut their doors. We must help our job creators stay afloat so they can keep Washingtonians employed and continue providing the goods and services we have all come to rely on. I have every confidence we can get this done while minimizing the financial impact to the operating budget. It needs to be among our top priorities when session begins Jan. 11.

If you have ideas for legislation that could help Washington families and businesses, please reach out to me. My email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov, and my phone number is (360) 786-7902.

I’ll be back with another update in the new year. Until then, take care.

We must prioritize both public health and economic revitalization

I want to begin this email update by thanking those who have been and continue to be on the front lines of this ongoing public health and economic crisis. Our first responders, doctors, nurses, farmers, truckers, grocery store workers, and so many others have been heroic. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

I also want to acknowledge those who have been afflicted by the coronavirus, as well as the hundreds of thousands of Washingtonians who are currently facing the challenges of unemployment due to the ongoing economic shutdown. According to The Seattle Times, “the total number of workers in the state who have filed for unemployment insurance since the start of the coronavirus crisis could top 800,000, which would be nearly three times the peak during the Great Recession.” That’s enough people to fill CenturyLink Field 11 times over.

Our state has now been under Gov. Jay Inslee’s “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order for more than six weeks. Earlier this week, the governor announced he would be extending his order to May 31 and possibly beyond. He also announced a long-overdue plan to reopen our state in four phases.

However, his plan simply does not make sense for many counties in Washington. That’s why I recently signed on to a letter advocating for a different plan focused on decentralization and recovery.

From the letter:

“Each of the 39 counties in Washington are represented by elected officials and supported by staff capable of waging the tactical fight against the virus and its impact on their communities. They have an in-depth, detailed understanding of the resources and response methods that will best suit their county. They also have the ability to be more directly receptive to citizens’ needs on a local level and are in a better position to determine which restrictions to impose or modify, which to remove, and the proper timeframe in which to do so. Empowering county-level leaders will have a number of positive effects. It will encourage creative solutions and the development and sharing of good ideas and best-practices, allow our economy to recover faster while still maintaining safety protocols, and it will enable you and your staff to focus on the larger strategy such as acquiring and appropriately allocating state resources and conducting interstate collaboration.“

Much has been said about the need to balance public health with economic growth, and I agree that should be the goal. But the governor has done very little to prioritize economic growth. With our state having already flattened the coronavirus curve, it’s time to safely start getting people back to work. Don’t get me wrong. It is absolutely critical we do everything we can to avoid a recurrence of this virus. However, I do not believe that involves keeping people shut in at home. Instead, the governor should trust Washingtonians to continue social distancing while allowing them to provide for their families in safe workplaces that follow recommended health and safety guidelines.

I also believe the governor should begin allowing people of faith to gather in their preferred place of worship. Unfortunately, that option appears to be weeks away according to his four-phase timeline.

The bottom line is people need hope and the opportunity to reclaim some sense of normalcy in their lives, especially when it comes to their finances. I continue to believe the governor took appropriate action at the onset of this pandemic, but his lack of urgency about remedying the economic destruction we’re seeing will have ramifications for years to come. He can and should be doing better for the people of Washington state.

Special session likely later this year

On April 17, Republicans in the state House and Senate released a comprehensive plan that would enable the safe restart of Washington’s economy and promote its continued recovery over the long term.

The plan includes three sets of actions:

  • Immediate action to be taken right now
  • Legislative action to be taken in a special session
  • Actions to be taken within 6-12 months of all businesses being able to reopen

Regarding the second bullet point, it appears likely we will be called into a special session at some point in the next few months. If that happens, our job will be finding a way to fill the $7 billion hole our state budget now faces as a result of our economy being shut down. Of course, we never should have been in this position to begin with. For years, House and Senate Republicans urged the majority party to avoid spending every dime taxpayers provided us.

Here’s what I said on the House floor in March 2019:

“I hope we still have some good economic growth ahead of us and that in future budgets, including next year’s supplemental, we can increase that ending fund balance so that we can weather this storm that is coming. It’s the natural economic cycle, you have booms and you have busts, and no president, no governor can stop that. Those things are going to happen, and we need to be able to put ourselves in a position where we can we can weather those storms.”

[…]

As we go forward, as we go to conference with the other body, let’s see what we can do to put ourselves in a better financial shape. But for these reasons tonight, I am voting no. And it is my word of caution, as it was a year ago, we have to be ready for what’s coming that we cannot control.”

Earlier this year, the majority party passed yet another budget that spent almost all of our revenue. The governor would have signed it as passed, but once the coronavirus hit, he had no choice but to veto $445 million in spending.

Too little, too late.

We’re now in a position where the majority party is going to have to cut programs or raise taxes. As House Republicans, we’re not going to let you and your family bear the brunt of their fiscal irresponsibility. Should they propose new or higher taxes, we’re going to fight using every tool at our disposal.

Contacting me and election-year restrictions

I am so proud to represent all of you. Your resiliency throughout this crisis has been incredible. Please continue to stay safe, stay strong, and take care of one another.

NOTE: Due to election-year restrictions that begin on Monday, May 11, this will be my last email update to you until after the November election results are certified. The exception is if we go into a special session. However, I am able to respond year-round to constituents who contact me, so please keep your emails, calls and letters coming. My email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov, and my district office number is (360) 462-0514.

It is an honor to serve you.

Please share: Information and resources on COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

The 2020 legislative session adjourned last Thursday. While it was certainly divisive at times, we ended on a note of bipartisanship, unanimously approving a bill to appropriate $175 million from the state’s rainy-day fund to assist with COVID-19 (Coronavirus) response efforts. Governor Inslee signed that bill into law yesterday.

The Coronavirus has done a lot of damage, both to people’s health and to the economy. But I know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, we’re going to overcome this. That’s what we do as Americans. I’ve been heartened to see the cooperation between state and local government agencies over the past several weeks. It’s all hands on deck at the moment, and everyone’s working hard to keep Washingtonians safe, healthy and financially stable.

If there’s anything you need, or if there are any needs in our community you’re seeing that are not yet being met, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me day or night. My phone number is (360) 786-7902, and my email address is Drew.MacEwen@leg.wa.gov. I also wanted to provide you with links to critical information, resources and guidance on COVID-19. If you are looking for information that isn’t listed below, please get in touch with me.

It is an honor to serve you. We will get through this together, one day at a time.

Sincerely,
Drew

Information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Recent announcements and news releases from the Governor’s Office and Department of Health:

Information for parents from the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction

Information for employers and employees

Governor’s Office | Partial list of resources to support economic retention and recovery related to COVID-19:

Employment Security Department:

U.S. Small Business Administration:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

Department of Labor:

Department of Financial Institutions:

  • Financial Resources for Washington Residents Impacted by COVID-19
    • Accessing Your Financial Institution.
    • Unemployment Help.
    • Trouble Paying Credit Cards.
    • Trouble Paying Your Mortgage.
    • Trouble Paying Rent.
    • Student Loans Deferment.
    • Short Term and Emergency Loans.
    • Paying Utilities.
    • Insurance Issues.
    • Avoiding Scams.
    • At Home Financial Education Resources for Students.
    • Additional Resources.

Department of Labor & Industries:

  • Workers’ Compensation Coverage and Coronavirus (COVID-19) Common Questions
    • Can COVID-19 ever be allowed as a work-related condition?
    • When to file a claim.
    • When will a claim likely be denied?
    • How can I file a COVID-19 claim?
    • Filing a worker’s compensation claim: Exposure vs. contraction of COVID-19
    • Quarantine.
    • Covered treatment and post-exposure care.
    • Additional information on COVID-19.

Office of the Insurance Commissioner:

  • Coronavirus
    • Health insurance.
    • For insurers and medical providers.
    • Travel insurance.
    • Other types of insurance

Agriculture

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA):

Veterans

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs:

Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs:

Global Perspective

Johns Hopkins University & Medicine:

If you are looking for information that’s not listed above, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

It is an honor to serve you.