Dear friends and neighbors,

I hope this newsletter finds you and your loved ones well and in high spirits, and may the new year come with blessings for all of us.

If you attended our pre-session town hall on January 11, I hope it was informative, and if you were not able to make it, you can watch it in its entirety here.

As you know, this is the short session, which means we only have 60 days to get everything done, including the three supplemental budgets, so things will happen very quickly. I’ll do my best to keep you updated and please know your input is always welcome.

Addressing domestic violence

After a horrific, fatal domestic violence case in Hazel Dell just a few months ago, I, along with my seatmates and other colleagues, have been discussing legislation to prevent a tragedy like this from happening again.  Watch my first legislative update video below for information on some of the ideas we’re looking at.

Game-changer for working families

In 2017, the Legislature passed the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act, and the benefits for working families began this year! The program, funded by a small premium paid by both employers and employees, allows qualifying workers to take paid leave to care for themselves or a family member, to bond with a new child, and for military families for certain service-connected events. To find out if you qualify, how to apply and how the program works, visit the Paid Family and Medical Leave website.

Protecting consumer data privacy online

While innovative technologies have made our lives better and easier, our personal information has taken a hit in the process. We don’t know what information big corporations are collecting about us or what they are doing with it. It’s past time for big tech to answer those big questions.

As a member of the House Committee on Innovation, Technology and Economic Development, I and my colleagues are putting people first by considering legislation that strikes a balance between consumer privacy with innovation and industry. You can be sure that whatever measures we pass this year will focus on empowering consumers, not corporate profits.

What’s next for transportation after the car tabs initiative?

The passage of Initiative 976 means a loss of more than $450 million in revenue for the state transportation budget.

The initiative is being challenged in court, but that trial hasn’t started yet, and whoever loses will appeal all the way to the state Supreme Court. So by the time this short legislative session ends, we probably won’t know the initiative’s final fate. As you know, changing an initiative requires a supermajority vote, which is not likely. And it would also take a supermajority vote along with special conditions—like a recession, to tap the state rainy day fund. But that fund is also not an option, despite what you may have heard or read, because it’s for the operating budget, which pays for public schools, parks and many other non-transportation costs. Taking all this into account, we’re left with the requirement to balance the transportation budget, which means projects will have to be paused temporarily to allow for responsible evaluation and decisions. The task ahead is not pleasant and it’s not what any of us want, however, as vice-chair of the House Transportation Committee, I can assure you that those decisions will reflect the passage of the initiative, as we are committed to accomplish our mission as much as possible within the existing constraints. Our goal is to maintain services for vulnerable people, promote safety, preserve capacity and prepare for the future.

As I start my tenth session, I am honored and humbled that you continue putting your trust in me. Over this past decade I have met with many of you and read all your emails and letters, please keep them coming. I cannot thank you enough for your valuable feedback and ideas because they really make a difference and help guide my decisions.

Sincerely,