Ready to get to work
It is with profound gratitude and humility that I begin my first term in the Washington state House of Representatives. I do so at an exciting and challenging time for our state. Last year, the state Supreme Court made clear what many of us had long argued: The state is failing to meet its constitutional duty to make ample provision for basic education. (Read More)
Public Safety
Keeping my constituents in the 48th Legislative District safe is a priority for me. That is why I sponsored House Bill 1758 and co-sponsored House Bill 1151. House Bill 1758 protects boaters on Lake Washington, Lake Sammamish and other popular boating locations around the Puget Sound by establishing stricter punishments for boating under the influence.
Along with Representative Goodman, I co-sponsored House Bill 1151. This bill protects families of victims of vehicular homicide by subjecting persons convicted of a homicide to pay out child support to the victim’s children. This bill helps alleviate the financial burden on families already dealing with a painful situation.
Recent mass violence has also reignited the national debate about gun control, and while federal measures seek to address some of the factors that lead to gun violence, there is a significant role for the states to play as well. My focus will be on how to protect people from the many tragedies we’ve seen across our nation and ensure guns are in the hands only of responsible, law abiding citizens. Part of the solution goes back to cuts in mental health and other public services, and we need to take a hard look at how we’ve been forced to slash our safety net.
Consumer Protection
I recently sponsored a bill that prevents businesses from imposing a surcharge on consumers who elect to use a credit card in lieu of another payment. House Bill 1870 protects customers who are prepared to pay an advertised amount, and are then told they need to pay a surcharge, simply because they opted to pay with a credit or debit card.
Similar “check-out fees” have been prohibited in a number of states, including California, New York, Texas and Florida, by both Democratic and Republican legislatures. Consumers should not be charged an additional, undisclosed fee for using a credit card and I hope you will join me in supporting this bill.
Economic Development
In coordination with Governor Jay Inslee’s Working Washington Agenda, I am developing a final draft of House Bill 1693. This bill is intended to target specific start-up businesses in Washington which have the potential for economic growth and job creation. These start-ups, which include industries in aerospace, software, life sciences and others, could apply for deductions of up to $2 million in business-and-occupation taxes each calendar year.
Targeted support for specific industries where Washington state excels will give our state and region an economic bang for the buck. This comes through the income gains generated by innovation, productivity and participation in a global marketplace, and also from the local jobs that are supported by income generation.
Healthcare Access
As we prepare for Medicaid expansion, we need to think about we can best serve citizens in the 48th Legislative District, as well as the State of Washington. Two groups in our district are doing just that.
Last month, I had the pleasure of meeting with 32, senior-year Northwest University nursing students in Olympia who were there advocating public health policy. One of their ideas inspired me to sponsor House Bill 1628, which allows medical professionals to satisfy up to 25 percent of their continuing medical education credits by providing medical services to individuals enrolled in Medicaid or to individuals who are uninsured. This bill is receiving a hearing on Tuesday and I look forward to testifying with doctors and nurses who are coming out in support of the bill.
Another 48th Legislative District Constituent, Jeff Schwartz, testified in the Health Care and Wellness Committee on House Bill 1216, along with his son Jacob.
Jacob was born with an extremely rare disorder called eosinophilic gastritis. The treatment for this disorder includes a special medicine called elemental formula, which is extremely expensive and out-of-reach for many families. The treatment is also not covered by many healthcare plans. House Bill 1216 will require the Department of Health to perform a review on the proposal to require health carriers to cover the formulas necessary for the treatment of eosinophilia gastrointestinal associated disorders.
Along with Jacob’s allergist, Dr. Kevin Dooms, and other families affected by this legislation, Jeff shared his story with the committee. The bill was met with support by committee members on both sides of the aisle, and is set to be voted on in the House of Representatives.