Statement from 40th District Legislators on the Skagit River Bridge Collapse

morris125x1502011_Lytton_0419State Representatives Jeff Morris (D-Mount Vernon) and Kristine Lytton (D-Anacortes) issued the following statement regarding the collapse of the Interstate 5 Skagit River Bridge:

“First, we would like to join all those who have commended the tremendous work of our first responders, whose actions miraculously ensured that no one lost their lives in the collapse of the Skagit River Bridge. We are grateful and thankful that we have such talented and dedicate public servants in our community.

We are also incredibly proud of the response of the Skagit County Sheriff’s department, Mount Vernon and Burlington Fire departments, and the State Troopers who serve our area. Their practice and dedication paid off in ways not measured by dollars but in lives saved.

This accident is a reminder that our transportation infrastructure requires ongoing investment in maintenance and upkeep. This bridge was not considered structurally unsound, but it was deemed outdated based on the type and volume of traffic it was carrying. It should raise red flags when a single oversized freight truck can disrupt an entire region’s transportation system. We need to be doing more as a state to prevent this type of disaster from happening again. Continue reading

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Lawmaker hailed by UW Graduate and Professional Student Senate

State Rep. Gerry Pollet has worked diligently — both to help citizens fund pursuit of appropriate graduate degrees for public-service careers, and to help improve the way Washington appropriates funding for public colleges and universities.

And for his labors, the University of Washington Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) just recently named Pollet the recipient of the organization’s “2013 Legislator of the Year” award. Pollet received the award in a UW GPSS ceremony last night, May 22.

“I’m very honored to receive this award,” he said. “And I’m looking very forward to continued work with the outstanding graduate and professional students who are such dedicated members of the GPSS legislative team.”

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Sweeping mental health care reforms approved by Governor Inslee

We’ve seen the tragedy that can occur when the mentally ill don’t get the care they need. Tuesday afternoon, Governor Inslee approved several measures to improve mental health care and make Washington a safer place.

Among the reforms is Rep. Tami Green’s bill to speed-up the implementation of changes to the involuntary treatment law – funding the updates two years ahead of schedule.

“It’s a myth that all mentally ill people are dangerous – but as a nurse who deals with the mentally ill, I know we must treat severe mental illness quickly and correctly,” said Rep. Green. “You can’t ignore the problem and hope nothing bad happens to that patient, their family or their neighborhood. This is a smart reform that will protect patients and communities.”

mental health bill signingGovernor Inslee signs SB 5480 into law earlier this week.

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Governor approves tighter control over derelict ships, boats

The widespread problem of derelict and abandoned boats and ships would be tackled with strengthened controls and more money, under a bill by Rep. Drew Hansen signed into law today by Gov. Inslee.

The measure is designed to address the kind of incidents that have generated headlines around Puget Sound lately: A 167-foot ship sinking in Tacoma’s Hylebos Waterway, dragging another ship off even keel; the state seizing a 180-foot hulk off Port Ludlow when its owner misfired on plans to tow it to Mexico; a 140-foot former fishing boat catching fire in Penn Cove, disgorging fuel into the water as it sank. Continue reading

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‘Don’t play petty games with $79 million,’ Moeller urges

The federal government isn’t kidding around at all about the Columbia River Crossing (CRC) project. In view of that very clear and present fact, Washington state Rep. Jim Moeller is calling on his fellow lawmakers to wake up and smell the huge cup of financial coffee at stake.

“We need to take very seriously the April 19th letter from federal highway officials regarding a potential demand for repayment of financial help in building a new bridge,” Moeller said. “Don’t play petty games with $79 million in federal funding already advanced to our state for this extremely important project.

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