January 24, 2011
Dear Neighbors,
The second week of the 2011 session has come to a close and I’d like to take this opportunity to update you on a few key issues. As always, please let me know if there are specific issues you would like to hear about.
2011 Supplemental Budget
The House Ways and Means committee passed a supplemental budget on Wednesday, and the House passed it this morning. This is the earliest the House has acted on a budget bill that anyone here can remember, which illustrates just how serious we are about solving the current fiscal problems.
The decisions about what to cut and what to save are every bit as painful as I thought they’d be. Every item in the budget has its supporters, and we’re hearing from many of them every single day. However, we must recognize that our state is facing a real problem, and we must tackle it as soon as possible.
Here is more information about the House proposal. Further changes are likely as the budget works its way through the Senate.
My Legislation: Creating Jobs, Protecting the Environment, and Safeguarding Your Money
This week, I introduced two bills aimed at putting our state back on sound financial footing:
· HB 1422 implements a Department of Natural Resources plan to convert wood waste and mill residue into jet fuel. The biomass-to-fuel plan will create green jobs in our state, reduce our dependence on foreign oil, and provide a renewable energy source for the aviation industry.
· HB 1257 prevents insurance companies from sinking the premiums you pay into risky investment schemes. These new consumer protections will help prevent some of the practices that led to the recession from which we are still recovering.
If you would like to discuss the bills I’m currently working on – or if you have ideas of your own for legislation you would like to see passed – please contact me and share your thoughts so that I can better serve as your voice in Olympia.
Help is on the way for those facing foreclosure
Our state is among many in the nation that continue to struggle in this Great Recession. One of the most unfortunate by-products of a depressed economy is that thousands of families cannot pay their mortgages and are at risk of losing their homes.
A couple of years ago the legislature passed a law that requires the lender to “meet and confer” with the homeowner before proceeding with foreclosure, but we’ve learned this is not happening in most cases. To strengthen our foreclosure laws, I have cosponsored HB 1362, which makes key improvements to the existing law. The most important change is that the lender must meet in person with the homeowner to consider other options besides foreclosure.
This approach has been tried in other states and is working well. In Nevada, for instance, nearly nine out of ten have avoided foreclosure. This system is certainly worth trying in our state.
The bill is scheduled for a public hearing before the Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, January 26 in House Hearing Room A at 8:00 AM.
Meet My Legislative Assistant: Ehsan Aleaziz
Legislative Assistants play an important role in the work that legislators do by helping with constituent casework, policy, scheduling, and correspondence. My Legislative Assistant, Ehsan Aleaziz was born and raised in the 1st District (Bothell), and attended St. Brendan School, Inglemoor High School, and the University of Washington. He has been involved with community and advocacy organizations for years, including the Seattle Children’s Playgarden, the Associated Students of the University of Washington, and several political campaigns. If you need help with a government agency or to make a scheduling request, give him a call at (360) 786-7928.
In This Issue
2011 Supplemental Budget
My Legislation
Foreclosure Mediation
Meet My LA
Contact
MAIL
MOD E 204
PO Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
PHONE
(360) 786-7928
1 (800) 562.6000 toll free
1 (800) 635-9993 TTY-TDD (hearing impaired)
EMAIL
derek.stanford@leg.wa.gov
WEBSITE
My home page