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Olympia Office:
413 John L. O'Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7824
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Toll-Free Legislative Hotline
1-800-562-6000
Website
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/McCune |
Committees:
General Government Appropriations (Ranking)
Capital Budget
Technology, Energy and Communications |
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Dear Friends,
On Monday,
January 12, I had the honor of being sworn in as state
representative again for the great people of the
2nd Legislative District. The trust my constituents
have put in me is humbling, and I am ready for the work
ahead.
Now that ceremonial activities are out of
the way, it is time for state lawmakers to tackle the
challenges facing families across our state. And the
2009
legislative session will be focused on two main
issues: the state budget and economy.
First, our
state budget. Our state faces a
$6 billion budget shortfall, and the number is
growing. While a sagging national economy has
contributed to this problem, the primary reason is the
majority party and governor have increased state
spending by 33 percent, more than $8 billion, the last
four years. Now is the time to commit to a limited and
more efficient state government. While cuts to state
government will not be easy, they are necessary.
The other alternative is something I will
never support: tax
increases. In fact, one state senator is proposing a
state income tax. Families, and businesses for that
matter, are not responsible for the budget problem, nor
should they be expected to pay for the budget solution.
It is time for state government to live within
its means and prioritize. Prioritizing means focusing on
the core functions of state government: education,
public safety, transportation, and protecting our most
vulnerable people. Once these core functions are fully
funded, state lawmakers should then debate about what to
do with the remaining revenue.
Second, our state
economy. It was disappointing to learn recently that our
state unemployment rate has increased to 7.1
percent. I fear this number could go up before it goes
down. This puts a priority on ensuring that all
decisions made in Olympia this year take into account
the preservation and creation of jobs.
State
lawmakers must find ways to help struggling employers
and, in turn, families. This starts by not raising taxes
or fees. Beyond this, we must maintain existing tax
incentives and remove regulatory burdens on small
businesses so they can thrive and either retain or hire
employees.
In closing, I also wanted to apprise
you of a public safety bill I am sponsoring that has
received media interest.
House Bill 1531 would require
criminal background checks for locksmiths doing
business in the state. If you would like more
information on this measure, please let me know.
If you ever have any comments or views to pass
along, please contact me. My contact information is
above. You can also send me an e-mail at
mccune.jim@leg.wa.gov or
here.
You can also stay connected to me and
state government through my
Web site – including my
newsroom,
legislation and district information. Please visit
any time.
Take care,
Jim McCune
State Representative
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For more
news and information, visit my website at
http://www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/McCune
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