Tag Archives: News Releases

Rep. Drew MacEwen’s bill to protect victims of crime passes House

The House has overwhelmingly passed a bill sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen that would provide protections for undocumented immigrants who come forward to report they have been a victim of crime. House Bill 2895, known as The Safety and Access for Immigrant Victims Act, builds on federal law that allows law enforcement officials to certify applications for temporary visas for nonimmigrants who are victims of criminal acts.

“Victims of crime in our state should not have to hide in the shadows because of their immigration status. Forcing them to do so only adds to their victimization,” said MacEwen, R-Union. “Many undocumented victims are women and children, and it is vitally important that we give them a voice and help them seek justice. There is plenty of work to do on the federal level to reform our immigration system and ensure our borders are secure, but this bill addresses an important issue of public safety in Washington state. I am very grateful to Rep. Eric Pettigrew, D-Seattle, for his continued work on this issue to make this a truly bipartisan effort.”

House Bill 2895 passed the House 92-4 votes and now heads to the Senate for consideration.

The 2016 legislative session is scheduled to adjourn on March 10.

State lawmakers introduce bipartisan resolution to impeach Troy Kelley

Reps. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, Sam Hunt, D-Olympia, Drew Stokesbary, R-Auburn and Chris Reykdal, D-Tumwater, filed a resolution to begin the process of impeaching Auditor Troy Kelley. The resolution finds cause to impeach Kelley for malfeasance in office.

Kelley declared a leave of absence on May 4 and delegated authority to his deputy, an unelected employee of the State Auditor’s Office, with no set return date.

“For months, leaders from both parties have called on Troy Kelley to resign his position as state auditor and he has continued to ignore those calls, placing his own interests ahead of the citizens of Washington,” said MacEwen. “Kelley has left us no other choice but to move forward with impeachment in order to restore accountability to the State Auditor’s Office. Government accountability is not a partisan issue. This is about doing what is right for the people of Washington. It is my hope that we can address this issue immediately upon returning to session in January, finally closing this unfortunate chapter in our state’s history.”

The charges include the abandonment of his office, improper delegation of the powers and duties of his office to an unelected official, failure to perform the duties of his office, the willful neglect of the duties of his office and undermining the public trust.

“This isn’t about guilt or innocence,” said Rep. Sam Hunt. “This is about living up to the high expectations of the voters that their elected state auditor fulfill the requirements of his job. Auditor Kelley has demonstrated he cannot do his job while his personal legal issues continue.”

Rep. Drew Stokesbary added his concerns for maintaining public trust and government accountability.

“By delegating the entirety of his authority to an unelected employee of the State Auditor’s Office, for an indefinite duration, Troy Kelley clearly violated his oath of office and constitutional duty,” Stokesbary said. “Kelley has irrevocably broken the public trust, and the citizens of Washington deserve an elected auditor who is able to show up for work every day focused on maintaining efficiency and transparency in government, anything other than that is simply unacceptable. Calls for his for his resignation have been unanimous, but his refusal to put the people of Washington first leaves the Legislature no choice but to exercise its constitutional responsibility to remove him from office.”

Rep. Chris Reykdal noted the high standards to which all public employees are held.

“A large portion of our state’s public employees live in my district. If any other public employee were in this situation, that person wouldn’t be able to keep their job. We hold all of our state employees to a high standard of conduct. Auditor Kelley should be held to the same standard. He should resign immediately so the people of Washington can begin the process of finding his replacement,” said Reykdal.

Article V of the state constitution outlines the authority and procedure for impeachment. A constitutional majority, or 50 votes, is required to send the articles of impeachment to the state Senate where a trial would be conducted. A two-thirds majority vote by the Senate is required for removal from office.

The Legislature is scheduled to convene on January 11, 2016.

Rep. Drew MacEwen named honorary co-chair of the USS Washington Commissioning Committee

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, has been named an honorary co-chair of the commissioning committee for the USS Washington, a Virginia-class submarine currently under construction. The Virginia-class submarine is expected to be commissioned in 2016.

“As a former submariner, I am honored to join the commissioning committee for the USS Washington, the first boat named for our state since World War II, and the first submarine in our state’s history,” said MacEwen. “As a veteran of the Navy submarine force, I know firsthand the value of the Navy’s submarine service to both our national security and our local community. Washington has a proud military tradition, and now we will have a world-class sub to represent our state across the globe. In the coming months, I look forward to working with the members of the committee to promote the USS Washington so all Washingtonians can share in this historic event.”

The commissioning committee is chaired by retired Rear Adm. Michael Sharp, and other honorary co-chairs include former Congressman Norm Dicks, former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro, Mayor Patty Lent of Bremerton, Congressman Derek Kilmer, Secretary of State Kim Wyman, state senators Jan Angel, Barbara Bailey and Tim Sheldon and retired Rear Adm. Thomas Hayward, the 21st Chief of Naval Operations.

“It is a privilege to serve on the commissioning committee with so many distinguished public servants,” MacEwen said. “Working together, we will strengthen our national security and serve as ambassadors for our home state. The USS Washington is something that will unite all Washingtonians and be a symbol of pride for years to come.”

The keel for the USS Washington was laid in November 2014 in Newport News, Virginia. The submarine has a projected service life of more than 30 years, and it’s crew will be comprised of 120 enlisted sailors and fourteen officers. Its homeport is expected to be in Hawaii.

For more information, please visit www.usswashingtoncommissioning.org.

Rep. Drew MacEwen named legislator of the year by local educators

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, was named legislator of the year by District 3 members of the Washington Association of Agricultural Educators. The Washington Association of Agricultural Educators is an association of Career and Technical Education Teachers who teach agricultural and natural resource classes and work as advisors to Future Farmers of America groups.

“I am honored to receive this award from local educators, and equally honored to be their voice in the Legislature,” said MacEwen. “Rural districts face many challenges, and I am committed to being a vocal advocate for their needs. I proudly stand in support of improving access and opportunity for students in career and technical education. Our economy depends on students embracing their diverse skills and talents as they prepare to contribute to the workforce and it is their teachers who help them achieve their full potential. Even with the historic investments we made this year, I am committed to fighting for the best possible K-12 system for students and teachers.”

MacEwen received the award and met with students and faculty at Shelton’s Oakland Bay Junior High School.

“Without the support of representatives like Drew, we could not offer our students the wide variety of opportunities to excel and prepare them to be productive citizens who can earn a living wage,” said Roy Conover, a teacher at Oakland Bay and the award’s presenter. “Learning is just not books and paper. Learning needs to include hands-on experiences in fields that will ensure students are equipped to enter a profession when they graduate high school. The support for CTE is essential to guarantee students are truly career and college ready.”

District 3 of the Washington Association of Agricultural Educators is comprised of communities in southwestern Washington, including Shelton.

PHOTO CAPTION: Rep. Drew MacEwen receives the Legislator of the Year Award from Ray Conover, a teacher at Oakland Bay Junior High School, Shelton.

Reps. MacEwen and Griffey praise first responders, pledge support in wake of Matlock wildfire

Reps. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, and Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, are pledging support for those affected by the Deckerville Fire in the Matlock area of Mason County. The fire burned more than 150 acres in the rural area west of Shelton, and was brought under control late Sunday.

“My heart breaks for those affected by the fire, many of whom have lost everything,” said Griffey. “We are a tight-knit community, and I know we will rally around our friends and neighbors who have lost so much. I am also very grateful to the emergency responders from Mason County, neighboring counties, and the state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) who once again showed their bravery in the face of a dangerous and unpredictable fire. In the coming days and weeks, I will continue to do all I can to ensure the families affected have the resources they need to rebuild.”

MacEwen also praised the efforts of first responders and pledged support for the community.

“Like most people living and working in this community, we know someone who was affected by this fire. They are in our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” MacEwen said. “I greatly appreciate the efforts of the more than 200 first responders who battled this fire throughout the weekend. We’re in the middle of one of the more dangerous fire seasons in recent memory, and this is a reminder of how quickly a fire can spread under these conditions. Dan and I will work to help those displaced by the fire get the resources they need. We are a strong community and we are all ready to help.”

According to DNR, donations are being coordinated by the Matlock Community Church. Those who would like to make donations are asked to call 360-426-3091 to see what items are needed.

Affected residents who need information or assistance with fire recovery should contact the Mason County Emergency Operations Center at 360-427-9670 extension 806.

Capital budget funds critical local projects for Shelton, Belfair and Bremerton

Important projects for the 35th Legislative District got the nod Tuesday night as Washington lawmakers passed a $3.9 billion capital construction budget.

Those projects include a $400,000 renovation of the Shelton Senior Center, $1.5 million for sewer rehabilitation in the city of Shelton, $1.5 million for wastewater relief in the community of Belfair and $3 million for a new dormitory that will house 50 students at the Washington Youth Academy in Bremerton.

“Making sure local projects like these are funded is one of the most important tasks we have as legislators,” said state Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch. “This year’s capital budget did an outstanding job of balancing rural and urban needs, and we can see the result in this year’s spending plan. People everywhere want parks and trails, good public facilities and sewer and water systems that work. In our rural communities we are just as concerned about our quality of life as those who live in Seattle, and this is a plan that recognizes it.”

The capital budget, financed in large part by bonds, pays for durable assets like buildings, land acquisitions and improvements to public parks. Each year’s funding list reflects top-priority projects for communities across the state. The capital budget is separate from the state’s $38.2 billion operating budget, which is financed with current tax revenues.

35th district Reps. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, and Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, said the budget will reduce the high cost of sewer and wastewater projects in Shelton and Belfair.

“I am proud to stand in support of the 2015-17 Capital Budget with Sen. Sheldon and Rep. Griffey,” MacEwen said. “The capital budget we passed tonight funds important projects in our community including improvements to the Shelton Senior Center, and continued work on the Shelton sewer basin project. There is no limit to what we can accomplish by working together. I look forward to seeing these completed, along with all the projects funded in the budget.”

“The 2015-17 Capital Budget makes a number of crucial investments throughout our state and in the 35th District,” said Griffey. “The Basin 3 Sewer Rehabilitation project will alleviate inflationary pressures on sewer rates, as well as reduce pollution and contamination. Another important project is the renovation of the Shelton Senior Center. Renovations will benefit the more than 1,200 seniors that utilize the facilities there. I was proud to cast a ‘yes’ vote on this budget, and want to thank negotiators on both sides of the aisle for coming together in a spirit of compromise to help our communities and the state.”

Other projects funded by the Senate capital budget include $5.5 million for electrical and roof repairs at the Washington Corrections Center in Shelton, and $4.6 million to shift trout hatchery production from the Clarks Creek Hatchery in Puyallup to the Eells Springs Hatchery in Shelton.

The budget provides $1 million to help purchase 58 acres for Coulter Creek Park at the head of North Bay in Mason County, leveraging a $1 million local matching grant. It provides $850,000 to purchase 80 acres of salt-marsh habitat for the Kennedy Creek Natural Area Preserve, 12 miles west of Olympia in Mason County. Another $2.2 million will be used to purchase 114 acres of wetlands for the Ink Blot and Schumacher Creek Natural Area Preserves, north of Shelton on Highway 101.

Rep. Drew MacEwen votes ‘yes’ on bipartisan operating budget

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, voted in favor of the 2015-17 operating budget and released the following statement:

“After more than 160 days in session, I am pleased we were able to pass the 2015-17 operating budget. This budget is built on compromise and makes historic investments in K-12 and higher education, reduces college tuition, funds teacher and state employee COLAs, and improves mental health services, without new taxes. By passing a budget without new taxes, we have shown it is possible for state government to prioritize spending and live within our means. I have contended all along this could have been done in April during the regular session with our record economic growth, but I am still am pleased we have averted a state government shutdown.

“Passing this bipartisan budget ensures state government will remain open for business and critical services will continue across Washington. Even with this positive outcome, we must continue to work for a more efficient state government. Although we have $3.2 billion in new revenue from economic growth, we must work continue to spur growth throughout the state, especially in places like the 35th District, which are still recovering from the Great Recession. I hope we can build on this budget agreement, create a continuing culture of compromise, and restore trust in state government,” he said.

The budget will now go to the governor for his signature.

Rep. Drew MacEwen hosts Shelton High School senior at the Capitol

Incoming Shelton High School senior Alec Dodge spent a day with Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, learning about the Legislature, budget process, and what it is like to be a state representative.

“I was happy to have Alec join me at the Capitol for the day and hope he was able to learn more about the legislative process,” said MacEwen. “It’s always reassuring to see young people engaging in the process by learning more about state government. Hosting Alec was a great reminder that we are here to work toward a stronger Washington for future generations. We have a lot of issues to tackle in Olympia, but I know our future will be in good hands if we give students the tools to succeed.”

Alec, a Mason County resident, was able to watch votes on the House floor, tour the Capitol, and meet with legislative staff to learn about their job duties.

The 2015 second special session is scheduled to adjourn June 27.

Rep. Drew MacEwen concerned by second special session, lack of budget agreement

Rep. Drew MacEwen, R-Union, is concerned by the pace of the second special session and a lack of agreement on an operating budget for the 2015-17 biennium.

“I’ve heard from a lot of people in my district and across Washington who are fed up with how state government has operated in recent months, and frankly I share their frustrations,” said MacEwen. “People look to their elected officials for leadership, but when they look to Olympia they see partisan gridlock, a slow-moving budget process, an indicted auditor and a Legislature in its eleventh special session since 2010. This is not the state government Washingtonians deserve. We have a constitutional obligation to pass a balanced budget and we have a moral obligation to ensure the public trust. Right now, we’re not meeting either of those obligations.”

MacEwen cited positive economic news and a $3.2 billion increase in revenue over the next two years as reasons the Legislature should complete the budget in short order.

“Teachers, students, parents, state employees, and our most vulnerable citizens are counting on us to get the job done. With an expected $3.2 billion increase in revenue we have the resources to fully fund education, teacher COLAs, and critical services for people who need them most without raising taxes. Simply put, there are no excuses for demanding new taxes. While I remain hopeful a compromise can be struck in the coming days, I hope the work we do in Olympia will embrace the urgency felt by many people in our communities. We must fulfill our duty and finish our work as soon as possible,” he said.

The second special session of 2015 is scheduled to adjourn June 27.