OLYMPIA – As a freshman legislator, Rep. Christine Kilduff (D—University Place) has established herself as a persistent advocate for the 28th legislative district, fighting for veterans and improving transportation in the region. This year, she worked on a bipartisan amendment to the transportation budget that would stop tolls from going up on the Narrows Bridge.
The bipartisan bridge amendment would provide $2.5 million toward the debt service on the Narrows Bridge, eliminating the need for harmful toll increases this year. Because there are no viable alternate routes for many commuters, toll increases are a burden to working and middle class families in the area.
“The deck is stacked against our working and middle class families already,” said Kilduff after passage of the amendment. “We need to do better by our community and I hope that by keeping tolls from going up, we are giving them a fighting chance to move ahead.”
We need to do better by our community and I hope that by keeping tolls from going up, we are giving them a fighting chance to move ahead.
In addition, Kilduff pushed for capital budget funding for the Lakewood Water District to replace an existing water treatment plant to protect the drinking water for 61,000 people served by Ponders Wellfield, which was contaminated by dry cleaner solvents over 30 years ago. $2 million from the supplemental capital budget will go to replacing the water treatment plant, protecting the water supply of local residents.
“Clean drinking water is a right for everyone. The water treatment plant in the Lakewood Water District is near end of life, so we need to fund a replacement today. I’m very happy that my request was approved by the Capital Budget committee and hope the Senate agrees this is a priority,” said Kilduff.
Rep. Kilduff also requested $1.5 million in the capital budget for Fort Steilacoom Park improvements to fill potholes, paving a gravel parking lot, updating the water system and hydrants for proper fire suppression, and historic structure restoration. The capital budget allocated $257,000 to pave and stripe the gravel parking lot.
Kilduff passed priority legislation through the House to provide pro-bono legal help for veterans, ensuring services are available to veterans in small towns and rural areas, allow families to save money for education and care for people with disabilities, and reforming the court system to modernize and make improvements to how defendants are jailed. All of these bills have been funded in the House supplemental operating budget and, if agreed to by the state Senate, would be big wins for families in the 28th district and across the state.
“My goal as an elected representative of the people is to make sure the state is working for them, not standing in their way. Serving our veterans better whether they’re here at home or abroad, making sure people have a chance at an education and a good life, keeping tolls and taxes low, and correcting flaws in our justice system are just a few of my priorities this year. I hope to continue working on these and more in the coming years so our community continues to be a great place to live and work,” said Kilduff.
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