Dear neighbors,
We are nearing the end of the 2024 Legislative Session. I’m pleased to report that things are nothing like the partisan gridlock found in the other Washington.
State lawmakers in Olympia actually agree far more than we disagree. Of the 270 House bills we passed by the recent cutoff, 76 percent received strong bipartisan support—and 54 percent passed with unanimous support.
Those agreements just don’t make TV news or the front page of the paper.
I’m a big proponent of bipartisanship—and I believe that when we listen to each other with respect and work together, we can accomplish more for the people of Washington state.
Building a better Washington
Our state’s transportation budget and construction budgets are bipartisan efforts, drafted with both parties at the table.
The transportation budget passed out of committee unanimously, and it passed off the House Floor over the weekend with only two votes in opposition.
These two budgets are really about building a better Washington—and improving our state’s highways, ferries, colleges, schools, and other infrastructure.
There’s also good news on ferries in the House transportation budget. I pushed to restore $49 million in cuts to ferry preservation contained in the governor’s budget, and the House budget fully restores those funds to keep our ferries going.
Once we reach an agreement with the Senate to pass compromise transportation and construction budgets, I’ll update you on local projects here in the 10th District.
A budget that puts people first
I’m especially happy with the House operating budget’s investments in education, childcare, and behavioral health. The budget includes:
- $151 million to boost access to treatment for opioid addiction
- $13 million to improve childcare, which is essential because working parents can’t work without a safe place for their infants and toddlers
- $35 million to strengthen special education funding
- $210 million to increase inpatient behavioral health capacity
There’s so much more to the budget, and I’ll keep you updated as we complete budget negotiations with the Senate.
Hearing from you
I look forward to seeing you at an upcoming coffee chat or town hall meeting—and if you can’t make one of those, please contact me by e-mail, phone, or the toll-free Hotline!
