• A nationwide search is under way for a temporary replacement option, including a possible “Bailey Bridge;”
• U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood has pledged a $1 million federal appropriation to assist with immediate needs;
• Designated detours are in place. Click here to visit the WSDOT Web site for detour information;
• Bridge assessment reports have also been posted on WSDOT Web site. Click here for that information;
• Local shopping and services are still intact. Constituents are encouraged to support local stores. (See the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce Web site and the Burlington Chamber of Commerce Web site for retail information);
• WSDOT Secretary Peterson also told state officials that funding is available from a highway emergency relief fund of 90 percent federal match and a 10 percent state match.
• We remain appreciative and impressed by the great inter-local initial response to this emergency involving federal, state, county and municipal agencies, as well as fire and law enforcement. All levels of government that participated in today’s conference call are willing and ready to help;
• No structural deficiencies caused this collapse. The load on the trailer simply hit in the correct place to cause the bridge’s superstructure to collapse;
• Emergency contracts are being drafted at the federal and state level to allow temporary replacement, as well as the subsequent permanent replacement;
• Repair and replacement costs are indeterminate until more details are determined; and
• Emergency streamlined permitting is available at the federal level.

CONTACT:
Amanda Webb, Information officer to Sen. Barbara Bailey – (360) 786-7869
Kurt Hammond, Information officer to Rep. Norma Smith – (509) 664-4055
John Sattgast, Information officer to Rep. Dave Hayes – (360) 786-7257

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It’s been another productive week at home. Being able to meet with community groups, local educators and the many small-business owners around the 9th District has been a much-needed opportunity to hear your thoughts on taxes, the state budget and the regulations impacting our communities.

This week, my e-mail update will focus on the economy and jobs, which remains a top concern everywhere I visit and for almost everyone with whom I speak. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns and solutions.

In service to you,

Susan Fagan

Some good news for the economy

Washington is still struggling to recover from the Great Recession, but one positive sign is that housing starts and home sales are up this month.

According to Fox Business, “Sales of new U.S. single-family homes increased 2.3% in April to a 454,000-unit annualized rate, beating expectations of the 426,000-unit rate analysts were forecasting. The median price jumped 14.9% year-over-year to $271,600 – the highest price on record since January 1963.”

This is important news for several reasons, but the biggest is that housing is a major economic driver in our state and the nation. The industry creates a lot of jobs, not just in the construction trade but in the many businesses that supply items that go into home building. The Commerce Department reported that orders for long-lasting goods climbed 3.3 percent in April, outpacing estimates of a 1.5 percent increase.

Fox Business also noted, “New claims for unemployment benefits fell to 340,000 last week from an upwardly-revised 363,000 the week prior. Claims were expected to fall to 345,000 from an initially-reported 360,000.”

This means folks are slowly finding work, and perhaps the uptick in the construction and housing markets is part of this job growth. We’re not completely out of the woods in this fragile economy – just ask anyone on Main Street – but I want to believe that we are finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel.

These positive reports reflect national trends and give us hope that better economic times lie ahead. How we approach our state budget will partly determine whether Washington will enjoy the benefits of this good news.

Proposed tax increases and how they impact job growth, residents

By now, most of you have heard about the House Democrats’ tax package proposal. Their budget relies on $1.3 billion in new and higher taxes to balance even though tax collections are expected to be up $2 billion, or 6.6 percent.

The argument for these tax increases is focused on “closing tax loopholes” on Wall Street firms and special interests – the so-called “1 percenters.” Unfortunately, the taxes in House Bill 2038 impact every sector of our economy, most of which are modest and small businesses. Here is a short list of the many business sectors that will see their tax burdens go up under the House majority party’s tax package:

• Health care services;
• Assisted living facilities and nursing care facilities;
• Employment assistance services (the exact companies helping people find jobs);
• Arts community, including performing arts companies;
• Housing programs;
• Human rights organizations;
• Building contractors and materials suppliers;
• Fruit and nut tree farming;
• Fruit and vegetable preserving and manufacturing;
• Oil seed and grain farming;
• Bakeries;
• Bee pollen collection and bee production; and
• Child day care facilities.

While some may be able to say, “that’s not my business being taxed,” the reality is the additional taxes on services, food products and the like impact every consumer. These taxes are passed on through higher costs. They also impact job creation – increased taxes mean less income to hire and expand operations and, in some cases, could lead to job losses.

Now is not the time to create more uncertainty in the business community and household budgets. As we are seeing some signs of a slow economic recovery, I fear the tax increases in the House Democrats’ plan could take our state backward at a time when we have so many people looking for work and barely making ends meet.

Speaking of economic growth . . .

Greater Spokane Incorporated hosted a briefing on port expansion this week. Specifically, we were briefed on the future expansion at Cherry Point between Bellingham and the Canadian border. This will all be done with private dollars on private land. Thanks goes to Bob Watters of Carrix, the family-owned maritime company developing the project, for his thorough explanation of the project. Bob will join me on KTW 630 AM Radio Monday, June 3, at 12:30 to talk further about it.

Coal, maritime terminals and railroads – industries that will use the facilities to export coal – will provide the investment for construction. Although coal companies are providing much of that investment, other industries, including agriculture and manufacturers, will benefit from it.

I support this port expansion for several reasons. We will benefit through new construction jobs, followed by permanent family-wage jobs and the added tax revenue to local and state governments. In general, the project will help balance America’s trade and grow our economy. Also, it adheres to strict state and federal environmental laws with opportunities for us to comment throughout the process. I have always believed we can have economic growth while protecting the environment. This is yet another opportunity to prove it.

In future updates, I will provide a broad array of numbers that give you a sense of the positive impacts this will have. Also, I will be visiting with supporters of the project and sharing their comments, including those of Beth Thew, secretary-treasurer of the Spokane Regional Labor Council, AFL-CIO. Beth and I had a follow-up conversation after the briefing, and we’re looking forward to working together on this important economic development opportunity.

Visits to school districts, main streets

I want to publicly compliment and thank all those who welcomed me to their schools, stores and businesses this week. These were all impromptu visits with maybe a few hours’ notice. The House is in a “rolling” special session, meaning that only members negotiating the state operating budget are in Olympia. The rest of us have to be prepared to be called to Olympia on short notice when a compromise on the budget is reached. This makes it difficult to plan ahead, so I took my chances this week driving the 9th District and found a welcome environment at every place I stopped.

Lind-Ritzville Superintendent Rob Roettger and I spent an hour discussing funding, reforms and upgrading of the track. I met with Katie Lasen, business manager at Washtucna School District, who shared concerns about implementing changes to staff health insurance and the need to seek advice on implementation. Colfax Superintendent Michael Morgan walked me through the district’s progress on teacher-principal evaluations. Eric Patton, teacher-principal at Steptoe Elementary, reminded me of how small schools can address challenges in ways larger schools can’t.

LaCrosse is enjoying a resurgence of retail activity with a new grocery story, opening of a branch bank and remodeling of the main street café. And, I got “the real scoop” from farmers Bud and Gene Aune when I had lunch at the tavern. I visited with Gordon Forgey at the Whitman County Gazette and the new grain marketer at PNW Co-op in Colfax. PNW Co-op in Colfax. I also attended the Colfax Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting where Whitman County Library Director Kristie Kirkpatrick gave an update on county-wide library activities, including the grand opening of the Endicott Library Thursday, May 30, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Next week, I’ll travel through towns and visit schools in the southern part of the district. I’m looking forward to seeing you!

State Representative Susan Fagan
9th Legislative District

E-mail: susan.fagan@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/fagan

406 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7942 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

 

Dear neighbor,

Yesterday’s I-5 bridge collapse over the Skagit River is a wakeup call. I am thankful that the lives of all involved in the collapse were spared.

The Legislature needs to invest in our roads and bridges to ensure that they are at least safe. We need to act boldly during the special session to bring down the costs of transportation planning and construction so that we can spend more of our existing tax dollars on basic maintenance and preservation.

Our state’s list of structurally deficient bridges is too long. I am very concerned about the condition of the Meridian Street Puyallup River Bridge, which is deemed structurally deficient. While this bridge is prioritized for replacement, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) does not expect to complete its work on a new bridge until late 2015. Can we afford to wait that long?

We cannot discuss new transportation funding without changing the way we do business. The high cost of our transportation projects is proving harmful to the system itself. Peripheral expenses and excessive regulations are putting public safety at risk. You can review a recent WSDOT presentation on transportation cost drivers here.

The state Senate should act quickly on my bill, House Bill 1978, to streamline the project permitting process. Additional legislation is needed to bring down costs of environmental review, project management and engineering, mitigation, lawsuits and more. At a minimum, we need to fast-track the Puyallup River Bridge replacement and the replacement of every structurally deficient bridge in Washington.

Sincerely,

Hans Zeiger

State Representative Hans Zeiger
25th Legislative District

E-mail: hans.zeiger@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/zeiger

Olympia Office (January-April)
468 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7968 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

District Office (May-December)
101 South Meridian, Suite D
Puyallup, WA 98371
(253) 840-4526

 

CONTACT:
John Handy, Communications Director – (360) 786-5758
Rep. Dan Kristiansen – (360) 786-7967

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The regular session concluded April 28, and a 30-day special session began May 13. While the operating and capital budgets are negotiated, most legislation addressing agriculture has been wrapped up.

Here’s a synopsis of some of the major legislation affecting agriculture that passed during the regular session and its status with the governor’s office:

• House Bill 1112, sponsored by Rep. Shelly Short, requires the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to identify the sources of information reviewed and relied upon before taking significant agency action. The bill passed the House and Senate unanimously and was signed by the governor April 25.
• House Bill 1200 will address mislabeling of commercially caught fish and shellfish by establishing a system for correctly identifying food for consumers. This passed both chambers unanimously and is scheduled to be signed into law May 20.
• House Bill 1209, sponsored by Rep. Drew MacEwen, extends the license program for state Christmas tree growers and protects their harvests in the case of infestation. The governor signed the bill into law April 25.
• House Bill 1764, which I sponsored, increases the efficiency within our state geoduck industry by preserving resources and increasing safety in the diving community. The bill was signed by the governor May 10.
• House Bill 1886, which I sponsored, will improve disease traceability by providing cost recovery to the Department of Agriculture. It passed both the House and Senate unanimously and was signed into law April 23.
• Senate Bill 5139 will streamline and simplify milk sampling procedures for producers and processors. It passed unanimously through the House and Senate, and was signed into law April 17.
• Senate Bill 5337 extends the contract harvesting limits on timber lands owned by the Department of Natural Resources at their current levels through 2019. It passed both chambers unanimously and was signed by the governor May 15.
• Senate Bill 5767 will help fill the gap of livestock traceability by providing identification of certain dairy cows (bull calves and free-martins less than 30 days old) and provide incentives for dairies to participate. It is scheduled to be signed by the governor May 20.

Fish and Wildlife Commission establishes emergency rule to address wolf threat

Though Senate Bill 5187 did not pass during the session, the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission recently established an emergency rule to allow property owners to kill a wolf that is in the act of attacking livestock or a pet. After it appeared the bill would not move forward, a bipartisan group of lawmakers requested action by the Commission to protect livestock and pets.

The new Washington Administrative Code (WAC) rule can be read here, on page 3. It requires a property owner who kills a wolf in the act of killing livestock or a domestic animal to:

• report the incident within 24 hours;

• surrender the wolf carcass to the Department of Fish and Wildlife; and,

• provide access to the property where the wolf was killed so the case can be thoroughly investigated.

Any property owner who was found to have wrongly killed a wolf could be prosecuted for killing endangered wildlife.

The emergency rule, which was adopted in a special meeting via conference call, lasts 120 days. Afterward, the director of the Department of Fish and Wildlife has discretion to extend the rule. Public comment can be provided now, and a permanent rule will be considered later this year.

Capital budget negotiations affecting agriculture

The Yakima Basin Integrated Water Management Plan, comprised of seven elements that must move forward together, remains part of the ongoing capital budget negotiations. This is an important next step in meeting the municipal, environmental and residential water needs for future generations. I am optimistic that in the end we will be able to move forward with the plan and make a significant investment in the infrastructure needed. All parties, including the governor, recognize the importance of this plan to future water needs.

There has also been funding proposed in the capital budget to establish a more comprehensive animal disease traceability system. This will allow our state to be at the forefront of food safety, potentially preempting federal regulations.

I’ll provide an update on the capital budget when the special session concludes.

Agriculture in the News:

• State Veterinarian urges owners to vaccinate horses against West Nile virus (Department of Agriculture)
• Western Washington growers build a grain economy (Capital Press)
• Irrigation district gears up for Odessa project (Capital Press)
• A growing need in record year for Washington apples (Yakima Herald Republic)
• Ag still the engine that drives the Valley’s economy (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• Longtime state agriculture inspection chief to retire (Yakima Herald-Republic)
• Upcoming seminar: Immigration Reform: The Impact of Current Legislation on Washington Employers (Puget Sound Business Journal)
• EDITORIAL: Fruit industry needs to speak now about food safety changes (Yakima Herald-Republic)

Please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns or suggestions.

Sincerely,

Bruce Chandler

State Representative Bruce Chandler
15th Legislative District

E-mail: bruce.chandler@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/chandler

427B Legislative Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7960 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Special Session Update

As you may know after adjournment of the 2013 regular legislative session, the legislature was called back into special session beginning on May 13. Since the start of the special session, primarily leadership and budget negotiators have been working in Olympia, but this week I came back to the Capitol to attend the signing of my first piece of legislation.

Transparency in Government Spending

Gov. Jay Inslee signed House Bill 2058, which I sponsored, into law on Tuesday. The legislation will promote more transparency in government spending by leveraging existing government data to create a user-friendly online map which will display capital and transportation spending by legislative district and county. The statewide capital and transportation budget expenditures are over $12 billion per biennium. I believe this information should be more accessible to taxpayers.  

The bill is a joint venture by myself and fellow freshman legislator Marcus Riccelli, D-Spokane, and was a crash course in the way legislation is developed, amended and finally approved.

Bipartisan Teamwork

Representative Riccelli and I worked hard on this idea all session. We learned plenty together about the twists and turns of the legislative process along the way. This common sense idea became law because of hard work, bipartisan cooperation and freshmen optimism.

The bill goes into effect on July 28, 2013. Upon signing the bill into law, Gov. Inslee said “I appreciate the great bipartisan work that got this bill to my desk by Representatives Hawkins and Riccelli and others.”

This was a very special moment for me as your legislator. I want to help make your government more accessible to you. This bill reminded me of just how honored I am to serve as your Representative. I will continue to keep you updated on the special session and budget negotiations in future email updates.

Sincerely,

Brad Hawkins

State Representative Brad Hawkins
12th Legislative District

E-mail: brad.hawkins@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.houserepublicans.wa.gov/hawkins

Olympia Office (January-April)
122G Legislative Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7832 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

District Office (May-December)
11 Spokane Street, Suite 205A | Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 662-5733