WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Moeller cites House hits, Senate misses in 2014 session

House of Representatives Speaker Pro Tempore Jim Moeller offered the following review of this year’s completed session:

“Just a few hours after we started the 2014 session, the House of Representatives passed the ‘DREAM Act.’ This landmark legislation is a breakthrough in our work toward making sure all hard-working and deserving young people get a fair and equal chance to earn their dream of a college education. In fact, this legislation was the first significant ‘first-day-of-session’ bill to pass either chamber in many years. The bill went on to (finally!) win Senate approval — and then this long-sought DREAM Act received the governor’s signature.

“Unfortunately, though, this type of common sense was an uncommon occurrence in the state Senate. Our Senate colleagues, specifically the Republican so-called majority coalition, resisted a good many of our common-sense House proposals.

“A glaring example of this Senate Republican obstinacy is apparent in their refusal to accept a simple reality: We need a reasonable transportationrevenue package. Still this session, they adamantly refused to acknowledge that our state needs — and that our Southwest Washington, especially, needs — a solid revenue package for a solid future in transportation-construction projects. For the second year in a row, notwithstanding a supplemental, carry-forward transportation budget, they failed to take significant action!

“When it comes to our transportation future and much-needed transportation projects for Southwest Washington, they choked. Clearly, they have zero vision — nothing for transportation projects statewide, and nothing for transportation projects in our region.

“That said, yes, I’m glad that the Legislature at least passed a moderate supplemental budget. This new operating budget strengthens funding for a good many areas, including:

  • Early learning, in particular, and K-12 education, in general.
  • Higher education.
  • Corrections and criminal justice.
  • Long-term care, and developmentally disabled programs.”