—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
Upcoming town hall: Rebalancing and modernizing our tax code
Dear friends and neighbors,
We officially entered fall this week, and it certainly feels like it. Leaves are changing colors and falling from the trees, the air more crisp, and the sun sets a little earlier each evening. Whether you love fall or hate it, it is definitely a season of change.
Preparations for the next legislative session get fully underway in the fall. In the House, we are planning for Committee Assembly Days in November, when legislative committees will meet to discuss issues likely to come before the Legislature next year. You can find out when these public meetings will happen and sign up for committee email notifications on this page.
I know many of you are wondering if the 2022 legislative session will be held in person, remotely, or in some hybrid fashion.
My preference – and I think every legislator’s preference – is that we can all be together in Olympia, in-person. If we are able to do that, it will mean that COVID-19 is under control and the capitol campus is safe for the public, staff, and lawmakers to return.
The 2021 session was an enormously productive one despite having been held remotely, with historic public engagement through remote testimony options and not a single case of COVID traced to the work of the Legislature. All along, state and local public health guidance have driven the decision making about how to conduct session, and that will continue to be the case heading into 2022.
The good news is now the infrastructure exists to have an effective, transparent legislative session even if we have to be remote or partially remote.
That said, I hope people continue to get vaccinated, mask up, and take every precaution to stop the spread of the virus in our communities. If we all do our part, we can get back to normal operations sooner and safely.
It’s too early to know for sure how things will look in January, but I will keep you informed about plans for the 2022 session in these newsletters and on my legislative Facebook page.
You are invited: A town hall on rebalancing & modernizing our state’s tax code
Over the past two years, the Tax Structure Work Group has held listening sessions and conducted robust analysis to find out how the Legislature can create a more equitable, transparent, and stable tax code.
Washington’s current tax structure places a heavier burden on working families and small businesses than those at the very top of the income bracket and relies on sales, property, and other excise taxes to fund schools, public health, and other vital services. It’s fundamentally inequitable, but there are ways to change it.
The Tax Structure Work Group is inviting taxpayers to explore several scenarios to change the state’s tax structure, and this is your opportunity to weigh in. How do you think the state can better provide vital state services like schools and public health through an improved tax code?
Virtual “Tax Town Halls” are taking place this fall. These 90-minute interactive listening and sharing sessions provide opportunities to share your thoughts and ideas with your neighbors, local businesses, elected officials, and extended community. All taxpayers are welcome – you don’t need to be an accountant or tax expert to participate! The sessions will be conducted remotely on Zoom – if you have any questions or accessibility concerns please contact info@taxworkgroup.org.
If you live or work in the 27th Legislative District, I hope you’ll join one of the two virtual Tax Town Halls on Wednesday, November 3rd for folks in our region. There’s an afternoon session from 2:30-4:00 PM, and an evening session from 6:30-8:00 PM. I’ll be listening to your comments during the evening session that day.
You can register for the town hall online here or via the South/East Puget Sound Tax Town Hall Facebook event.
Thank you, Sen. Darneille
This week, my friend and 27th District seatmate, Sen. Jeannie Darneille, announced her retirement from the Legislature.
Sen. Darneille has served our district for over two decades, first in the state House, and since 2013 in the state Senate, where she chairs the Human Services, Reentry & Rehabilitation Committee.
She has had an incredible impact during her legislative career, championing policies that have made our state safer for all people, and helping countless individuals live fulfilling lives and contribute in many positive ways to our communities. She leaves a lasting and inspiring legacy as a legislator. You can read my statement about her retirement here.
Please join me in wishing Sen. Darneille well as she transitions to her new role as Assistant Secretary — Women’s Prison Division for the Department of Corrections.
As the days get shorter and the temperatures cooler, I hope you and your loved ones have a safe and healthy fall. Please don’t hesitate to contact me with your feedback, questions, or concerns. It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Back to school
Dear friends and neighbors,
Yesterday was the first day of school for Tacoma Public Schools. I have fond memories of my son’s first day of school throughout his K-12 journey. The first day is usually an exciting one for students, families, teachers and staff. This year, families may also be feeling some uncertainty or apprehension given concerns about the spread of COVID-19 among unvaccinated children. At this time, there is not yet an approved vaccine against COVID-19 for children younger than 12 years of age.
The safety and well-being of everyone in our schools is a top concern of mine, as it is for the educators and staff who are entrusted with our students’ learning. That’s why one of the first actions the Legislature took last session was to get funding to school districts prepare for a safe return to in-person learning. Our early action bill allocated:
- $618 million for vaccine distribution, contact tracing, and testing with an emphasis on vaccinating individuals needed for school re-opening, and
- $714 million in support for school districts to address learning loss
The Washington Recovery Budget that went into effect on July 1 utilizes state revenues and federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to expand public health response to the pandemic, including:
- $1.2 billion for COVID-19 vaccines, contact tracing and testing
- $149 million for local public health districts across our state, which are on the front lines of the pandemic
- $11 million for school nurses
Our schools are taking every precaution to ensure our children’s safety, and districts will continue to communicate with families about the steps they are taking in their schools to protect students, teachers, and staff. Rather than creating “one size fits all” precautions for all of Washington’s school districts, our funding provided flexibility for communities to design the interventions that work best for them.
Tacoma Public Schools recently announced free, voluntary COVID-19 testing in schools through a partnership with the Washington State Department of Health. Results are available in 24-48 hours.
Vaccines remain best defense against COVID-19
With growing concerns around the Delta variant, current public health guidelines say it is essential to be masking up indoors and maintaining social distancing, regardless of vaccination status.
For those 12 and older who can get vaccinated, this remains the most important step we can take to protect our loved ones, neighbors, and community members who are either too young or not able to get the vaccine. To find a COVID-19 vaccination appointment, visit the state Department of Health’s vaccine locator web page.
We’re all in this together!
Helping students thrive
Every student deserves the opportunity to learn and thrive, whether we’re in a pandemic or not. That’s why I’m glad the Legislature passed the following measures last session to help students in Tacoma and across the state get that opportunity:
Eliminating school lunch co-pays
Hungry kids can’t learn. Prior to the pandemic, one in six Washington state children lived in a food insecure household. Now, it is one in four. And families of color are 1.5 times more likely to go hungry. Almost half of all Washington school children are enrolled in subsidized school meals. Reduced lunches required a family copay, and while forty cents may not seem like much, for a family struggling to make ends meet it can mean a child going to class with an empty stomach.
This year, we eliminated the copay for reduced lunches, giving students a chance to get a meal so they can focus on their school work, not hunger pangs.
Promoting consistent attendance
Going to class regularly is critical to success in school. Thanks to a bill last session, we’re giving additional support and flexibility for schools to engage their students, promote attendance, and address the root causes of absences instead of simply criminalizing truancy. By utilizing community engagement boards and wraparound services to avoid court involvement, districts and families can work together to help students show up and take part in school.
Addressing lead in school drinking water
There is no scientifically safe level of lead in drinking water. Lead can harm children – especially young children – by lowering their IQ or causing neurological issues. To ensure students have access to safe, clean drinking water in our schools, lawmakers passed a bill establishing a deadline for the state Department of Health to test all public school faucets used for drinking water or food preparation. If elevated lead levels are found, the pipes and fixtures will be repaired.
Does your student’s school have lead in its drinking water? Check test results from the Department of Health here (updated weekly).
As the school year progresses, please reach out to me with any thoughts, feedback, or concerns you may have. To all the teachers, paraeducators, school staff, bus drivers, school nurses, counselors and other folks who are part of each student’s day: thank you for all you do, especially in these uncertain and challenging times.
Sincerely,
Vaccine requirements, long-term care, and park chats
Dear friends and neighbors,
My e-newsletter was on a brief summer hiatus, but hopefully you received the 27th Legislative District Update from Sen. Darneille, Rep. Fey and me that was mailed to households last month. If not, it’s available here on my legislative website.
Together with Sen. Darneille and Rep. Fey, I’ve also held several constituent “park chats” this summer — informal, drop-in conversations in public parks throughout the district. So far we’ve met at Stewart Heights Park, Franklin Park, and Point Defiance Park. These gatherings have been a safe, outdoor, socially-distanced alternative to the indoor “coffee chats” we’ve hosted in previous years.
If you haven’t had a chance yet to drop by one of our park chats, the next one will be Tuesday, August 31st from 3:00 to 5:00 PM at Lincoln Park, at the picnic tables on the S. Thompson Ave. side of the park. Seating will be limited, so please consider bringing a chair for yourself if you’re able to do so. Hope to see you there!
New vaccination requirements for state workers, health care professionals, K-12 employees and others
The State of Washington is taking decisive action to combat the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable communities by requiring most state workers, workers in private health care/long-term care settings, and employees in K-12, child care/early learning and higher education settings to be vaccinated as a condition of employment.
On August 9, the governor announced mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements for most state employees and health care workers. Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and I released a statement in support of that decision.
On August 18, the governor announced mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements for employees working in K-12, most childcare and early learning, and higher education settings. Additionally, he announced an expansion of the statewide mask mandate to all individuals, regardless of vaccination status.
Getting vaccinated and masking up are critical to help protect those most at risk in our communities from complications or death from COVID-19 — in particular children under 12 who are not yet able to get vaccinated, and those who are immunocompromised.
The Delta variant has caused skyrocketing COVID-19 cases in our state and across the nation. Other states are struggling with an alarming rise in cases in schools, leading to closures, quarantines, and child hospitalizations. The only way to stop this from happening in Washington state is by ensuring the vast majority of us who can get vaccinated, do*.
*The vaccination requirements still allow for limited exemptions, such as for sincerely held religious beliefs or legitimate medical reasons.
WA Cares Fund: making long-term care more affordable for Washingtonians
In 2019, the Legislature passed the Long-Term Care Trust Act to address a looming crisis in our state: Most of us will need some type of long-term care services or supports as we age. But the vast majority of us don’t have the savings to pay for this care, or a long-term care insurance policy.
Legislators shared heartbreaking stories on the House floor about how this issue has touched their own families:
Rep. Nicole Macri of Seattle: “I remember talking to the administrator of the nursing home about how much private care would cost. And I remember bawling.”
Rep. Cindy Ryu of Shoreline: “By the time Dad needed help, Mom was getting frail.”
Rep. Tana Senn of Mercer Island: “This long-term care plan is about families…it’s about keeping families together, in their homes, with their loved ones, as long as possible.”
I shared my own family’s struggle to find care for my mother-in-law, Jeannette, who has since passed away.
Legislators also described how this policy makes economic sense and is a win for families and taxpayers:
Rep. Steve Tharinger: “You’ll take a benefit out that will be greater than what you put in…unless you live to be 126 years old.”
Rep. Drew MacEwen (my co-sponsor across the aisle): “Twenty years ago to buy a long-term care policy on the private market made economic sense…but that changed.”
The Long-Term Care Trust Act was a first-in-the-nation kind of policy when the governor signed it into law. Other states are grappling with long-term care accessibility and affordability too, and they are watching what we’re doing about it here in Washington.
The Tacoma News Tribune editorialized in favor of the policy in 2019, saying, “It could provide relief for older Washingtonians seeking a modest sum for long-term care in their twilight years; for sandwich-generation family members trying to make sound decisions for elderly parents; and for taxpayers to the tune of an estimated $470 million in state Medicaid savings by 2052.”
So, where are we now?
Payroll deductions for what has since been named the WA Cares Fund begin in 2022. Those who already have long-term care insurance or who purchase a plan before Nov. 1 can apply for an exemption from this program. While purchasing a private plan before Nov. 1 may makes sense for some, it’s important to make your decision based on a real analysis, not misinformation or confusion. To be clear:
- The benefits you earn can be used flexibly, including paying for things like nursing care, assisted living, home care, family caregivers, home modifications and meal delivery.
- You cannot be excluded from the plan based on any pre-existing conditions.
- Once you’ve vested into the WA Cares Fund, that money is available to you for life. If you opt out, you cannot later opt back in to access benefits.
More information about WA Cares is available in this informative blog post from the state Office of the Insurance Commissioner. You can also learn more about the Fund, how to earn and apply for benefits, and more at the WA Cares Fund website.
Bottom line: Like all new programs, it will take some time to adjust and determine where there may need to be changes. But it’s critical for Washington state to have a long term care program that will help protect taxpayers and provide families peace of mind.
If you have questions or comments about anything in this newsletter, or other legislative topics, please don’t hesitate to contact me. It’s an honor to represent you.
Sincerely,
Join us at Franklin Park on Tuesday, July 27
Dear friends and neighbors,
Throughout the summer, Sen. Jeannie Darneille, Rep. Jake Fey and I are holding a series of constituent “park chats” – an outdoor version of our “coffee chats” from previous years.
We had a great turnout at our first event on July 17 at Stewart Heights Park. The next scheduled park chat is on Tuesday, July 27 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Franklin Park, under the covered structure.
We hope you can join us for this informal, drop-in conversation about the recent legislative session and the issues important to the people and families in our district.
Sincerely,
Washington Recovery Budget kicks in, meet me for drop-in “park hours” this month
Dear friends and neighbors,
“Welcome back, Tacoma!”
That was the theme of yesterday’s celebration in Wright Park, marking the reopening of our state and the end of most COVID restrictions. It was great to be there along with Governor Inslee, Mayor Woodards, and others, turning a page on one of the most challenging times our community and our state have faced, and moving forward together in recovering from this pandemic.
Back on January 11, I delivered opening remarks to a mostly-empty House chamber on the first day of a historic, unprecedented remote legislative session. At the time I said, “ Our job for every minute of the next 105 days is to not just keep hope alive for the people of our great state, but to make hope a reality.”
Standing on the stage in Wright Park yesterday, it felt like that hopeful reality has arrived. As the new state budget goes into effect today, hope will continue spreading across our state, promoting an equitable and inclusive recovery.
*** Just yesterday, the state Department of Commerce launched a new loan fund to help small businesses and non-profits (those with fewer than 50 employees and less than $3 million in revenue) affected by the pandemic reopen and rebuild. For more information about the Small Business Flex Fund and how to apply, click here.***
Washington Recovery Budget starts today
July 1 marks the beginning of the fiscal year for state government. Today is also the first day of the new two-year budget lawmakers passed during the 2021 session.
We call it the Washington Recovery Budget because we all stuck out this pandemic together, and
now it is time we recover together.
That’s why we focused our work during the legislative session on centering and prioritizing the people and communities that have suffered the most health, economic, and education impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic, and that face the most barriers to recovery.
The Washington Recovery Budget addresses these impacts and barriers by:
- Boosting public health – with $1.2 billion for COVID-19 vaccines, contact tracing, and testing
- Ensuring people have stable housing – with $1 billion in rental assistance, plus hundreds of millions more for mortgage assistance, homelessness response, and permanent housing supports
- Providing unemployment insurance tax relief to small businesses and small business
grants to help keep doors open – with $700 million in small business supports - Expanding food assistance programs so kids don’t go hungry – with $124 million in food assistance
- Investing in our early learning and child care system so that families can go back to work – with $827 million for child care provider grants, child care assistance for families, expanded child care slots, and more
Meet me in the park: Constituent “park hours” are set
As mentioned in my previous e-newsletter, the informal drop-in “coffee hours” I’ve held in the past are moving outdoors this year. We are so fortunate to have many wonderful public parks in our community, so I’ve scheduled several of these “park hours” in July and August at locations around the district.
Rep. Jake Fey and Sen. Jeannie Darneille may be joining me for some of these events. If you’re able, drop by and join us for a conversation about the issues that are important to our community:
Stewart Heights Park – 5715 Reginald Gutierrez Ln, Tacoma
Saturday, July 17
3-5 PM
(location: covered structure)
Franklin Park – 1201 S. Puget Sound Ave, Tacoma
Tuesday, July 27
3-5 PM
(location: covered structure)
Point Defiance Park – 5400 N Pearl St, Tacoma
Tuesday, August 3
3-5 PM
(location: covered structure near entrance/playground)
Lincoln Park – 801 S 37th St, Tacoma
Tuesday, August 31
3-5 PM
(location: covered structure)
Reminder: Monday, July 5 is a state holiday
Because the 4th of July falls on a Sunday this year, most state and federal agencies, as well as most financial institutions, will be closed on Monday, July 5th, in observance of the Independence Day holiday.
If you celebrate this weekend, please stay safe and observe local fireworks regulations. Personal fireworks use is prohibited with the City of Tacoma. More information can be found on the city’s website.
I wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy holiday weekend. It’s an honor representing you in our state legislature.
Sincerely,
$6.3 billion for housing, broadband, and other essential infrastructure
Dear friends and neighbors,
In my last e-newsletter, I shared details about some of the key operating budget and policy wins of the 2021 legislative session. By focusing our work on four priority areas – COVID-19 response, economic recovery, racial equity and justice, and climate action – we met the challenge of these historic and unprecedented times, delivering on our promise to prioritize the health and well-being of those most impacted and disproportionally harmed by the pandemic.
For this newsletter, I’m focusing on our capital construction budget. This is what pays for the construction and upkeep of our state’s public buildings, like schools, hospitals, and housing. It also funds grants and loans to local governments and non-profit organizations for construction and other infrastructure projects.
As with the Washington Recovery Budget, the capital construction budget threaded racial equity through the entire budget development process, applying an equity lens to make decisions on shovel-ready projects and providing resources to underserved and under-resourced communities with a $10 million appropriation for technical assistance and predevelopment grants.
The 2021-23 capital construction budget passed the House and Senate unanimously this year. I’m pleased to provide you some overall highlights of this two-year budget, as well as some specific projects funded here in the 27th District.
A record $6.3 billion investment in projects across the state
Our state’s infrastructure is the foundation for our economy and our quality of life. That’s why every member of the House and Senate voted to approve this new, record $6.3 billion budget that invests in construction projects to strengthen infrastructure all across our state.
One thing we’ve learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is that broadband is as crucial a utility as water and electricity. Reliable internet service allows people in every corner of the state to access employment, education, medical care, banking, shopping, and more. So we included a massive $411 million push for broadband access in this two-year budget – the single largest capital budget broadband investment in our state’s history.
We’re also investing big in housing, education, and behavioral health. Some of the highlights are:
Early learning, education and higher education ($1.55 billion)
- $48 million for early learning and childcare investments (COVID related)
- $970 million for public school construction
- $314 million for public universities (not including UW teaching hospital)
- $233 million for community and technical colleges
Behavioral health ($428 million)
- $201 million for a new, 150-bed teaching hospital at UW
- $95 million for competitive grants to community behavioral health providers
- $51 million to design a new 350-bed forensic hospital at Western State
Affordable housing and emergency shelters ($350 million)
- $175 million for the Housing Trust Fund
- $120 million for acquisition of property and buildings that can be rapidly converted to housing
- $42 million for utility and infrastructure costs related to affordable housing
- $10 million for preservation of existing affordable housing
Essential public infrastructure ($724 million)
- $411 million for broadband infrastructure
- $129 million in public works grants and loans
- $113 million for federal stimulus-funded infrastructure
- $40 million for Community Economic Revitalization Board projects
Local projects receive capital budget funding
You may have seen this article in the News Tribune about the “Home at Last” project at S. Fourth St. and Broadway in Tacoma. These 54 housing units were constructed to rent to people and families in our community who are experiencing homelessness or otherwise face barriers to housing. This project received capital budget funding in the previous budget cycle and has now opened its doors to provide much-needed affordable housing. (For more 2019-21 capital budget projects in our community, see this newsletter from June of 2019.)
I want to also give a shout-out to my 27th District seatmates, Sen. Jeannie Darneille and Rep. Jake Fey, who also advocated for the projects below to be included in the 2021-23 capital construction budget. This truly was a team effort. It will be exciting to see the following projects take shape and come to fruition:
- $5 million for the Tacoma Housing Authority to purchase property that can be quickly turned into affordable housing
- $2.1 million for 60 units of affordable housing in the Hilltop neighborhood through a partnership between Shiloh Baptist Church and the Tacoma Housing Authority. One building of 40 units would house individuals and families with low incomes, and the second building of 20 units would house individuals in recovery or in community re-entry who are at risk of homelessness
- $1.54 million for demolition, site preparation, and materials for the Forterra Hilltop project, which will address the community need for home and business ownership, as well as community-oriented rental space in the Hilltop
- $2 million for the “Links to Opportunity” project in the Hilltop Business District, which includes infrastructure improvements like enhanced pedestrian and bicycle access, complementing Sound Transit’s Hilltop Tacoma Link Extension
- $919,000 to acquire and renovate the historic Nettie Asberry House in the Hilltop neighborhood, helping to preserve an important piece of Tacoma’s rich Black history
- $46 million for UW Tacoma’s Milgard Hall building, which is scheduled to open in 2022. It will house parts of the Business School, have lab space for the School of Engineering and Technology, and space for the Global Innovation and Design Lab
- $16,000 for the Next Chapter Shelter at the former Morgan Motel, which provides shelter and support for homeless pregnant women and single mothers
Courtesy: UW Tacoma
The following funded projects are not located in the 27th District, but are important to the greater Tacoma/Pierce County community, and I’m thrilled they were able to get capital budget funding:
- $1.54 million for the Asia Pacific Cultural Center
- $246,000 for master planning of 29 undeveloped acres that Amara – one of the oldest and most prominent providers of services and resources for foster youth and their families in our area – envisions for co-locating its critical services
If you have questions about any of these projects, the capital budget, or other legislative matters, please don’t hesitate to reach out. It’s an honor to serve you and our community as your state representative.
Sincerely,
Last week of session and telephone town hall announcement
Dear friends and neighbors,
With just a few days left in the 2021 legislative session (April 25 is the last day), lawmakers are focused on finishing our work and passing a new two-year budget for our state.
For many folks, the activity at this point in the session can seem a bit confusing. Some bills that have passed both chambers are headed to the governor’s desk to be signed into law, but others may need some additional work.
If a bill that passed one chamber is amended (changed) in the other chamber, it needs to go back to the original chamber for what’s called concurrence. This means the other chamber has to vote on it again. If they pass it again, it means they concur, or accept the changes, and the bill continues to the governor’s desk.
But what happens if one chamber doesn’t want to concur with amendments to a bill?
I recently made a short video about how bills go back and forth between the House and Senate, and the various detours they can take on the path to becoming law. My hope is that this takes some of the mystery out of the process:
In addition to concurrences, House and Senate negotiators are working on the final versions of our state operating, transportation, and capital construction budgets. All of these will be public soon and will be voted on before the legislature adjourns on April 25.
When the session began back in January, I said House Democrats would focus our work in four areas: COVID-19 response, economic recovery, advancing racial justice and equity, and addressing climate change. When we unveiled our budget proposal last month, these priorities were threaded throughout our investments. I expect the final version of the budget will continue to center these priorities.
Duty to intervene, independent investigation bills clear Legislature
The conviction of ex-law enforcement officer Derek Chauvin this week for the murder of George Floyd was a step forward for police accountability. Read the statement from our Black Members Caucus on the verdict here.
But there is still much work to be done to stop unnecessary police violence and create clear pathways to justice when someone is shot or killed by police.
Preserving and protecting people and communities must be law enforcement’s highest value.
Law enforcement must build trust with communities through accountability and transparency.
That’s why House Democrats prioritized a package of policing reform bills this session that came out of the work of the Policing Policy Leadership Team.
Two important bills from this package are now on their way to the governor’s desk:
House Bill 1267 creates a statewide Office of Independent Investigations to ensure effective, accurate and truly independent investigations into police uses of deadly force.
Senate Bill 5066, known as the “duty to intervene bill,” requires officers to report unnecessary uses of force to their superior.
Meanwhile, the governor has already signed Senate Bill 5055 into law, which ensures that arbitration processes are not used as a shield against police accountability.
Save the date! Next 27th District telephone town hall is May 4th
After the legislative session ends, my seatmates and I will be holding a telephone town hall to answer your questions and hear your thoughts.
We will be calling households in the district at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 4.
To ensure you receive a call, sign up at the following link at least one hour before the start of the town hall:
Click on the “sign up” link for the May 4 event, fill out your name and phone number, and you’ll be all set.
Audio from previous 27th District telephone town halls is also available at the above link, if you want to get a sense of what past events were like. I hope you’ll join us May 4th, and I look forward to answering your questions.
It’s an honor to represent the 27th District. If you have questions or comments about anything in this e-newsletter, or any other legislative topics, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Sincerely,
Vaccine eligibility expands, bills head to governor’s desk
Dear friends and neighbors,
We are in the final weeks of the 2021 legislative session. The end of this week marks another important cutoff date in the legislative calendar: Opposite House Cutoff.
By Sunday, any House bills under consideration in the Senate must pass that chamber in order to continue moving forward. Likewise, any Senate bills under consideration in the House must pass off the House floor by Sunday’s cutoff. The exception is any bill necessary to implement the budget.
Meanwhile, the House and Senate each passed their budget proposals last week. Highlights of the House budget were featured in my previous e-newsletter.
This week, House and Senate budget negotiators have begun working through the differences between the two budgets in order to come to a final agreement. While the two budgets have many similarities, there are differences in spending amounts for various areas.
You can view the House budget as passed here.
You can view the Senate budget as passed here.
House bills heading to governor’s desk
Several House bills that will help people, families, and communities across our state are heading to the governor’s desk or have already been signed:
Easing cost barriers for childcare and early learning facilities
House Bill 1331 gives cities and counties the ability to reduce impact fees for building and expanding childcare and early learning facilities. This is a big win for working families and for communities struggling with access to affordable childcare. The measure allows childcare and early learning facilities to be excluded from impact fees up to 80 percent and higher. For a full 100 percent exemption, a developer would have to indicate that 25 percent or more of the children and families using the facilities qualify for state-subsidized childcare. Headed to governor’s desk.
Banning private prisons
House Bill 1090 bans for-profit, private prison companies from operating detention facilities in our state. Many of you have written to me about your concerns with Tacoma’s Northwest Detention Center, where hunger strikes, attempted suicides, and suicides have occurred with alarming frequency. This bill means that facility will close in 2025. Headed to governor’s desk.
Expanding help for struggling families during these difficult times
House Bill 1151 expands cash and food assistance to families that need it most in our state – help that is desperately needed at a time when many are struggling due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. With food insecurity on the rise in our state, this bill allows for five additional months of food assistance to families who qualify, and updates existing programs to help ensure families have options beyond food banks. It passed with strong bipartisan support. Signed by governor.
Great news: all adults over 16 eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine starting April 15
Thanks to the heroic work of healthcare professionals and expanded vaccine supply from the federal government, the governor recently announced that all adults over 16 will be eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 15th.
This accelerated timeline comes, in part, as a response to a recent increase in COVID cases. New variants are highly transmissible, and we must continue to wear masks, social distance, and wash our hands, even once fully vaccinated.
I know it’s hard to keep this up. We’ve all been living under these restrictions since this time last year. But now is not the time to give up.
Many, many people in our community and across our state have made sacrifices to help protect the health and safety of others. And since the “Stay Home, Stay Healthy” order first came down, we’ve saved countless lives. In the meantime, multiple vaccines have been developed, and millions of doses of these vaccines have been given.
To find a vaccination appointment, use the Vaccine Locator, now available in multiple languages. And if you can’t get online, call the state COVID-19 Assistance Hotline at 1-800-525-0127.
It’s an honor to serve you. Please reach out to me if you have any questions, comments, or concerns.
Sincerely,
House rolls out “Washington Recovery Budget”
Dear friends and neighbors,
Today, House Democrats rolled out our state operating budget proposal, the Washington Recovery Budget (en Español). I am so excited to share this budget with you, which uses state and federal funds from the American Rescue Plan to support the people and families who have been hit hardest during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It has been a rough year for so many of us, and we can build back a better, more inclusive Washington that is even stronger than we were before. In the past, the legislature made harmful cuts when budgets were tight that resulted in some Washingtonians being left behind when the state once again prospered. Black, Brown, and Indigenous families and communities were among those most negatively impacted by these previous austerity budgets.
That’s why the House budget team worked intentionally to thread racial equity throughout the entire budget development process. The result is not just line items we can point to, but values that are reflected in every single decision.
Click here or on the video below to see why we can only recover if we recover together. And read on to learn more details about our Washington Recovery Budget.
COVID-19 response and economic recovery
Two of the top priorities I have been talking about since the beginning of the legislative session are COVID-19 response and economic recovery. Here are some of the ways the Washington Recovery Budget addresses these priorities:
- Over $1 billion toward paying the back rent accrued during the governor’s eviction moratorium so families can stay in their homes and landlords can recoup losses
- $250 million in small business grants to help get cash out to those businesses who kept their doors closed to protect others, as well as $600 million for unemployment insurance tax rate cuts to lessen the burden on businesses
- Over $140 million in food assistance programs so that families will not go hungry and our food security network is maintained
- Investing $400 million in child care grants and $90 million to reduce co-pays for families in the Working Connections Child Care program, which provides quality child care for families with low incomes – by investing in our early learning and child care system, families can go back to work when it is safe, knowing their children are safe too
- Nearly $38 million to increase temporary cash grants to our state’s lowest income families, and $26 million to extend these grants during these times that struggling families need them the most
- Nearly $1.2 billion for COVID vaccines, contact tracing and testing, as well as other major boosts to our public health system, plus $35 million help people who are uninsured or underinsured access the health care they need through qualified health centers, rural health centers, and free clinics
Racial equity threaded throughout
House Democrats infused equity into every part of the Washington Recovery Budget and are committed to uplifting all communities, especially Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities that face the most barriers while recovering from the pandemic.
We also recognize that our undocumented neighbors have been left out of some past federal assistance during the pandemic. These are the neighbors we rely on to keep our economy moving, from providing food from farm to shelf, to serving in other essential and frontline positions. Rather than leaving these hardworking Washingtonians behind, our budget invests $340 million in immigrant relief funds, specifically providing unemployment-related assistance to our undocumented neighbors.
A sustainable, equitable budget
In order to make these investments to get our recovery on track, our budget proposal uses some temporary and one-time funds that are available, including those from the federal American Rescue Plan Act and the state’s “rainy day” fund.
Other investments are long-term and require permanent funding sources. That’s why we are proposing a Capital Gains Excise Tax, which asks some of the wealthiest among us – those who have thrived and profited despite the pandemic’s impacts – to pay their fair share.
Our proposal pairs the Capital Gains Excise Tax with the Working Families Tax Exemption, which will provide greater financial stability for over 400,000 Washington taxpayers, and improve the lives of 1 in 4 children in our state.
Next steps
There will be a virtual public hearing on the Washington Recovery Budget tomorrow, March 27. You can watch it online here.
Everyone deserves a shot at opportunity, and that’s why I am proud to support the Washington Recovery Budget. Your comments, questions, and feedback are important to me. Please don’t hesitate to contact me, and I will continue to keep you posted on the budget as it moves forward through the legislative process.
We’re all in this together.
Sincerely,
Black History Month, Lunar New Year, and a COVID-19 relief package
Dear friends and neighbors,
February is Black History Month, a time for honoring the many achievements of Black and African Americans throughout history. It’s also a time for reflecting on how we as a nation must do much more to uplift our Black and African American communities by dismantling systemic racism and promoting equity and inclusion in policymaking.
In the state House, we’re celebrating the largest Black Members Caucus in our legislature’s history. These eight new and returning members are working to make our state a better place, bringing their communities’ voices and their own lived experiences to the conversations around our state’s COVID-19 response, economic recovery, tax reform, police accountability, climate change, and more.
As Speaker of the House, I’m committed to intentionally centering equity in the work we do. Ms. Amanda Gorman’s words are an inspiration to me and many of my colleagues as we strive to be the light for all our state’s communities during these challenging times.
Legislature recognizes Lunar New Year
Across our state and around the world, people are preparing to celebrate the Lunar New Year, a holiday of great significance in many Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
Three years ago, state Rep. My-Linh Thai – who is also the first refugee legislator to serve in the House – started the tradition of bringing a Lunar New Year resolution forward for adoption at the House rostrum.
By entering this resolution into the legislative record, the House is saying to our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities that we see you, we celebrate with you, and we honor your many contributions to our state.
This year’s resolution includes a special shout-out to the many frontline health care workers, essential workers, and small business owners who are helping our state meet the challenges of this pandemic.
You can join the virtual Lunar New Year Celebration this Friday, February 12 at noon. The event is open to all. Come celebrate the Year of the Ox!
COVID-19 relief bill heads to governor’s desk
In my last e-newsletter, I shared details of the Step One plan, a $2.2 billion package to help families and businesses most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
I’m pleased to report that both the House and Senate have passed this package, and it is on its way to be signed by the governor.
This money will go to help people struggling to pay rent, to small restaurants and other neighborhood businesses hit hard by the ongoing pandemic, to school districts, to uninsured and underinsured individuals, and to Black and Brown communities, which have been disproportionally harmed.
There is also $618 million in funding to boost our state’s public health efforts to address the pandemic – for distributing vaccines, contact tracing and testing, and epidemiology.
While this is a giant first step, stay tuned for the work we’ll continue to do this session. Our focus will be on advancing COVID-19 response, economic recovery, equity and addressing climate change.
Save the Date – 27th LD Virtual Town Hall
This year, the 27th Legislative District’s annual legislative town hall will be a virtual event. It will be held on Wednesday, March 10th, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. I’ll be hosting it along with Rep. Jake Fey and Sen. Jeannie Darneille. More details and a link to the event will be shared as the date gets closer.
As always, it’s an honor to serve you. If you have questions, comments, or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Sincerely,