House Speaker: 2008 session met the challengeMarch 13, 2007 OLYMPIA – Just sixty short days ago, Speaker of the House Frank Chopp gaveled open the 2008 legislative session by expressing to the members his belief that they would rise to his challenge. That challenge as he put it to them – to lead the state on issues ranging from housing and education, to transportation and environmental health, all while living within the state’s fiscal means. Today, the final gavel fell on a short session in which legislators rose to Chopp’s challenge. Landmark investments in affordable housing were funded. Increased support for our schools, from Pre-K to Higher Ed, was instituted. Groundbreaking and nation-leading strides for a greener and cleaner state were achieved. Plans were laid out for new state ferries, bridges, and roads. And nearly $835 million remained in state coffers to weather the national economic downturn. “I am extremely pleased by the policy that came out of this session,” said Chopp. “We laid a solid foundation for the future with our investments in education, housing, and transportation. And we took great strides in the public safety arena with new community protections against sex offenders, drunk drivers, and illegal gangs.” Chopp added that House, Senate, and Governor Gregoire have built an impressive record over the past four years. “We’ve led the nation in children’s health care, improved the state’s business climate, and provided record support for our agricultural industry – in general, promoted a winning agenda for One Washington.” Contact: Melinda Ellis-McCrady 360-786-7385 Versión español: Presidente de Cámara de Diputados: la sesión 2008 superó el reto House Democratic Caucus 2008 Top Legislative Accomplishments Key investments in the 2008 operating, capital, and transportation budgets Education Student achievement Teacher compensation School support Early education Higher education Health Care Small business subsidies Long-term and elder care Mental health Family planning Medical homes Jobs and the Economy Aerospace apprenticeships Aerospace tax credits Working families tax credit Skill Centers Polysilicon tax break Career and technical education Nurse career ladder Health profession loans Transportation 520 bridge agreement Ferry funding (and ferry headquarters cuts) Narrows Bridge efficiencies – holding tolls down Safety projects, including Highway 2 Family and community Foster Care improvements, including funding Braam Housing HTF to $200m, Washington Families Fund, housing counseling Building Communities Fund Family leave Washington Head Start – sets the path toward one, integrated Washington Head Start program by 2010, combining it with the successful federal Head Start program (2SHB 3168) Climate Change and Green Jobs – adopts greenhouse gas emission restrictions, emission reporting requirements for fleets and large operations, and creates a framework for tripling green economy jobs by 2020.(E2SHB 2815) Toxic Toys – groundbreaking, nation-leading legislation which limits lead, cadmium, and phthalates in toys and other children’s products in Washington. (E2SHB 2647) Local Farms, Healthy Kids – creating new relationships between the agricultural community and our schools, makes it easier to get fresh fruit and vegetables to local schools and area food banks. (2SSB 6483) Protecting consumers of health insurance – authorizes the Insurance Commissioner to review rates in the individual market and disallow them if they are unreasonable. (SB 5261) Protecting patient safety – allows better identification and removal of medical professionals for unprofessional conduct. Domestic Partnerships – expands domestic partnership rights, granting gay couples and older, unmarried heterosexual couples a range of legal protections, including authority to share bank accounts and property. (2SHB 3104) SR 520 – basic design agreement and finance plan for the SR 520 replacement bridge, expected to be completed a four years earlier than planned (HB 3096) Protecting Cell Phone Numbers – emphasizing customer consent as a precondition to disclosure of private cell-phone numbers, extending specifically to prevent third parties from sharing those numbers absent permission (2SHB 2479) Condo Conversions – requires landlords to provide tenants with relocation compensation, extends the time period tenants have to move out, and allows cities to restrict the number of condominium conversions (SHB 2014) Criminal Gang Activity – through prevention, suppression, and intervention, bill addresses criminal street gang activity, graffiti clean-up (HB 2712) Columbia River water supply – an historic government-to-government agreement with the Colville and Spokane Tribes that provides water for farmers in the Odessa aquifer while protecting fish. (SB 6874) Mortgage reform – protects consumers by regulating loans under the Consumer Loan Act and Mortgage Broker Practices Act and requiring full discloser. ( SB 6471)Protecting communities from sex offenders – requires DNA samples be taken from criminals and cracks down on sex offenders who do not register with local authorities. (HB 2713 and 2786)
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Rep. Frank Chopp
43rd Legislative District