Following is a statement from Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon (D-Burien) regarding legislation that died in the state Senate Friday evening.
I’m disappointed partisanship got in the way of enacting two very important, bipartisan pieces of legislation today.
Our State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) was enacted over 40 years ago and desperately needs updating. My bill, HB 2253 would have brought SEPA into the 21st Century and put it in line with other environmental laws.
More importantly, it would have done two things Republicans claim to be for – streamline government and create jobs.
HB 2748 is another government efficiency bill that died today. It would have saved local governments over $1 million a year through consolidation.
Both bills received bi-partisan support in the House. I’m disappointed the Senate Republicans decided to play politics with bills that won’t see the light of day instead of working to enact legislation that would put more people to work and make government more efficient.