Last legislative update of 2016

Due to state election year restrictions, this will be the last email update I send out in 2016. Even though I won’t be able to send these emails out to you, you can still reach out to my office if you have any questions, concerns, or ideas you want to share.

This legislative session was shorter than previous years, but we still made meaningful progress in many areas, including some of my priorities. I’m very happy to see Sheena’s Law passed, as well as a budget that increases funding for mental health throughout the state, and continues to make investments in our education system. We have a lot more to do next year and I’m looking forward to representing you and the rest of the Spokane community.

Apple a Day Grants in our community

Our kids need healthier food in their schools. I sponsored legislation to create the Apple a Day Grant, which didn’t pass but was inserted into the capital budget and moved forward to the governor. Because we were able to pass that budget, local schools including Arlington, Audobon, Bemiss, Browne, Cooper, Finch, Garfield, Grant, Linwood, Logan, Longfellow, Madison, Regal, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Westview, and Whitman Elementary schools, will receive between $1,346 and $31,686 in cafeteria and kitchen equipment upgrades.

By teaching our kids to eat right we can make a real difference in their lives. It’s also going to help with the cost of health care for our nation, so I’m very proud of all the work we’ve done to ensure healthy families and healthy communities in Washington.

There’s more to do though. As school kitchens come back online we can start introducing scratch cooking and rely on more locally sourced foods. I hope to keep working on legislation that promotes a healthier Washington.

Legislative highlights

As I mentioned earlier, I am very proud that we passed Sheena’s law this year and I was there when Governor Inslee signed the bill into law. Click here to watch the governor signing the bill into law. Keeping neighborhood kids in their neighborhood schools is important to me. When the Mead School District came to me with a problem they had that would force some kids to be sent to facilities out of their neighborhood, I took action. Read more here. Building the Central City Line is imperative to moving people around Spokane. I worked to guarantee we will get $15 million total in funding, with $3 million this year and the other $12 million later. While I was happy to see Apple a Day pass in the budget, my bill to extend physical education requirements didn’t make it to the House floor for a vote this year. Next year I will continue my work to expand healthy communities and healthy families.

New Spokane office

We have a new Spokane office! Come visit at 421 W. Riverside Ave. Suite 317, Spokane, WA 99201. Or give us a call at 509-458-3563.

As I said before, this will be my last official email for 2016. If you see me out in the community this summer and fall, please say hello.

As always, it’s an honor to represent you.

Best regards,

Representative Marcus Riccelli
3rd Legislative District – Spokane