Making History and Breaking Barriers
Last week, the 2020 session began with a new face at the House rostrum: Speaker Laurie Jinkins! I was proud to vote yes on the House floor last Monday for Washington’s first woman and first lesbian Speaker of the House. It is the first time in nearly two decades that a new Speaker takes the gavel.
In her opening day speech, Speaker Jinkins said that while her title may be Speaker, she sees her primary job as listening. She also made clear her commitment to equity and inclusion, and to expanding opportunity for all people in our state.
This is an exciting new chapter for the legislature and for our state. I look forward to working with Speaker Jinkins to pass good policies that put people first and help our community and communities across Washington thrive!
11th LD Top Priority: Housing and Homelessness
Thank you to those who participated in the survey I sent out in my last e-newsletter! I asked you to share your opinion on issues being considered this session, and your responses told me that the issue of greatest concern for our district is affordable housing and homelessness. Other top priorities are transportation, climate change, and K-12 education.
For more information, check out the 2020 Session Priorities Survey results.
Housing and Homelessness Survey
Since affordable housing and homelessness is the top legislative priority for the 11th District for the second year in a row, I want to get some more in-depth information from you about this issue. Although session just began, there have already been legislative proposals put forth on how Washington state can address this ever-growing issue.
While I’ve heard from some of you about this issue, I want to get a broader picture of our district’s views on housing and homelessness. Click the button to take the survey, which should take less than five minutes of your time. Thank you and I look forward to reading your responses!
Join me for a Mini Town Hall: January 25
Listening to you is important to me, and email and telephone calls can’t replace talking to someone in person. That’s why I’m hosting a mini town hall on Saturday, January 25 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Friendz Cafe (12930 E Marginal Way S) in Tukwila.
If you’ve been to a regular town hall meeting, you know it’s hard for everybody to get to ask their questions. This mini town hall is about having real conversations with you, my friends, neighbors and constituents in the 11th District. Each citizen wishing to participate is invited to sign up for a 15-minute time slot. During your time, you’ll have a chance to ask me your questions, comment on legislation, and tell me about your ideas to make Washington a better place to live and work.
How to sign up:
Please email my legislative aide, Syd Locke, at syd.locke@leg.wa.gov or call the office at 360-786-7862 and we’ll set a time that works for you.
If you have a specific issue or topic you want to talk about, please share that with my office in advance to help make our time more productive.
If you have things to say but can’t make it to the mini town hall, please feel free to email me at steve.bergquist@leg.wa.gov. I try to respond to every call, email and letter from a citizen in the 11th District.
It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as your representative, and I hope to see you this Saturday!
Affordable Child Care
Child care is more expensive than college. It’s costing our kids. It’s costing our families. And it’s costing our businesses.
That’s why I’m a co-sponsor of the Fair Start for Kids Act! This bipartisan legislation, which is prime sponsored by my colleague and Chair of the House Human Services and Early Learning Committee Rep. Tana Senn, will make child care more accessible and affordable, bolster the child care workforce and supply, and provide parents with more resources as they raise young children. Watch the video to learn more about this effort.
Click on the photo to watch the video on the Fair Start for Kids Act.
Join me in welcoming my Legislative Intern!
Please join me in welcoming my Legislative Intern Keren Ferman! Keren is a senior at UW Tacoma, majoring in Law and Policy.
Every year, the Washington State Legislative Intern Program brings about 70 college students to Olympia for a one-of-a-kind educational and professional opportunity. The interns are placed with legislator offices and work in Olympia as full-time staff while we are in session.
Keren has joined us for the 2020 session, and will work in our office as well as participate in intern programming, such as training in legislative ethics, writing and research, a budget exercise, mock committee hearings and floor debate. Learn more about the Legislative Internship Program.
As always, please feel free to reach out if you have comments, questions, or ideas.
Sincerely,
Rep. Steve Bergquist