2011 Legislative Session begins
The 2011 Legislative Session began last week, and as I took the oath of office on the floor of the House, I was filled with gratitude for the privilege of representing our district but it was also abundantly clear from the opening speeches that our district is at tremendous risk! Our district’s driver industry is public service. With a $4.6 billion budget shortfall our state employees, educational institutions, and small businesses in and around Thurston County stand to lose the most.
I will be sending these e-memos regularly to help you stay up-to-the minute on the issues and actions being considered in the Legislature. I hope you find them informative. If you have questions or comments, do not hesitate to contact my office.
First order of business: the supplemental budget
Governor Gregoire sent her supplemental budget proposal to the legislature last month. The supplemental budget is how we’ll balance the budget for the current year. Her budget proposal includes eliminating our state’s Basic Health Plan for 66,000 low-income workers, funding to reduce class sizes in grades K-4, and subsidies that help seniors pay for their Medicare Part D co-payments.
The Legislature took early action in December to address some of the shortfall for the current year, but the budget remains out of balance and I expect the Legislature to take action over the next two weeks to further bring the current year’s budget into balance. Though the State Constitution states clearly that our K-12 schools are our paramount duty, current proposals would cut many K-12 programs that are not deemed “basic education” but are essential to student success. I am working hard with my colleagues to protect funds for lower class sizes at the early grades, levy equalization funds that flow to many of our area school districts, and a host of other essential education programs aimed at making a big impact for kids in schools.
This Legislative Session is going to test our true commitment to our core values. This is the session where we need to decide what kind of state we want Washington to be as we emerge from the lingering recession. We have a moral obligation to our children, our seniors, and our environment. At the end of the day, it’s not about budgets, line items, or pie charts – it’s about our people and the fiscal and natural environment we choose to leave them as a legacy.
Of interest to our district
As legislators come back to town, you will see them in our restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, and more. I hope you will sincerely thank them (both parties and both chambers) for their service. I also hope you will make very clear that a comprehensive examination of our state budget includes our spending AND our revenue. If we in the 22nd LD have one message, I hope it will be PUT EVERYTHING ON THE TABLE including our tax code – it is unfair, inadequate, and volatile and we must do better!