Author Archives: Laudan

Short e-newsletter: Jan 27, 2011 – Budget Update

 

Short

Dear friends and neighbors,

Here is a quick budget update on floor action that happened this week.  I’ll continue to send these snapshots in an effort to keep you informed about the process, contents and outcomes of the various budget proposals and ideas being considered in the Legislature.  I hope these periodic updates help you better understand the budget decisions being made in Olympia – decisions that will have an impact on you, your family, your job and your communities.

As usual, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact my office.  It is a pleasure serving you in Olympia.

 

Rep. Shelly Short

7th Legislative District

 

 

Substitute House Bill 1086 – not “early action” but “delayed reaction”

House Democrats passed a budget proposal Monday that includes $222 million in reductions and $58.6 million in fund transfers.  In total, the budget bill reduces the nearly $600 million shortfall for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year by about $346 million.  Not one House Republican voted for the bill.  Here’s why:

 

The Democrat proposal is not transparent and continues to fuel public mistrust:

  • The public expects straightforward budgeting with no gimmicks and no backroom deals to raise fees.
    • The proposal put forth by the majority party includes reauthorization language for 10 different fee increases.  We believe the voters have spoken on the matter of fee increases.  If budget writers want to raise fees, separate legislation should be introduced for each fee and the appropriate policy committees should add their input with public comment.
  • An honest, transparent budget does not push spending into the next biennium while claiming it as “savings” today.
    • There is a special education safety net award that usually comes onto the books in the spring.  SHB 1086 includes language to push the accounting for that allocation past the June 30 biennial line, thus creating fictional “savings” in the current budget.
  • Their proposal is unsustainable and fails to prioritize and reform state government.
    • We need to eliminate entire programs in the next two-year operating budget.  Why not do it now and capture those savings?  Why pay for programs today that we can’t afford tomorrow?
    • We must use this as an opportunity to reduce the size of government rather than simply chipping away at programs until they become completely ineffective.
  • Education is bearing the unnecessary brunt of “business as usual” because sacred cows continue to graze.
    • Their proposal retroactively takes money away from schools ($42 million), removes teachers from classrooms, punishes school districts for budgeting responsibly, and continues a theme of broken promises the majority party has perpetuated in past budgets.

 

The chart below shows that over 27 percent of the House Democrat budget proposal is taken from public schools.  This is not protecting our state constitutional mandate.  We can do better.

Charts

 HRC Solution

House Republicans offered a striking amendment on the House floor that included $253 million in non-gimmick reductions and fewer fund transfers.  Our proposal would have reduced the current budget shortfall by about $363 million.

The House Republican budget solution protects education and promotes long-term solutions by eliminating entire programs like General Assistance Unemployable (GAU), recently rebranded as Disability Lifeline, and the Basic Health Plan.  It also lessens the impacts to long-term care facilities.

  • Our proposal does not touch the K-4 teacher enhancement dollars that are taken by the majority party’s proposal.  We don’t believe you take back funds that have already been budgeted and used to hire new teachers.  Where are school districts supposed to get this money?  And how can they budget in the future if they have to continue looking over their shoulders at the Legislature to see if promised funds are scheduled to be “recalled?”

 

  • GAU is a state-funded program designed to provide temporary assistance to those deemed unemployable as they transition onto Social Security.  However, there is currently a federal program (General Assistance Expedited) that does this.  Taxpayers expect the Legislature to end duplicitous programs and streamline the delivery of services.

 

Simply put, the HRC solution begins the process of sustainable, accountable and transparent budgeting.  We are willing to make the necessary decisions to eliminate entire programs because we understand it puts us in a much better position heading into the next two-year operating budget.

Short e-newsletter: Jan. 21, 2011

Short

Dear friends and neighbors,

We are two weeks into the 2011 session and things are moving fast and frantic.  I have once again been chosen by my colleagues to serve as the ranking Republican on the House Environment Committee.  I’m also the assistant ranking Republican on the Technology, Energy and Communications Committee and I serve on the Education Appropriations Committee and the Rules Committee.  (The Rules Committee determines which bills come to the House floors for consideration by the full house.")

The main issue again this year is the nearly-$5 billion budget shortfall for the 2011-13 biennium.  Previous budget deficits were solved with one-time bailout money from the federal government, a smattering of tax increases, fund transfers and delayed payments.  Many of my colleagues and I disagreed with these short-sighted, unsustainable tactics and warned that we would continue to have budget problems unless we come up with long-term, sustainable solutions.  And here we are again – only this year, there is no federal bailout money and the taxpayers have once again (and rightly so) said ‘no’ to new taxes.

While some are shrinking away from the very difficult decisions that need to be made in Olympia, I believe this is an incredible opportunity to reset government. This session can’t just be about the numbers on a calculator; if we fail to fundamentally change the way government does business we’ll be right down this road again in the very near future.

 7thTeleforum (4)

 Getting families working again

To me, one of the highest priorities this session must be getting people back to work.

The budget, and getting government spending under control, will take a huge amount of our time and efforts.  But we must not forget the people that have been impacted these last few years by the recession.  We need to keep them at the forefront of our decisions in Olympia and implement policies that remove barriers for entrepreneurs.  We need to give employers a chance to lead us out of our economic malaise and enable you to go back to work.

I hope you’ll contact me with your thoughts and ideas throughout the session on how we can balance our budget and help get people back to work.  It is an honor to represent your voice in Olympia.

Sincerely,

 

Rep. Shelly Short

7th Legislative District

Local company testifies before state House committee on turning waste into energy

Barr-Tech goes to Olympia

A local company located in Sprague, Washington testified before the state House Technology, Energy and Communications Committee during a work session this week on its efforts to turn common yard waste, food waste and other bio-solids into compost, fertilizer and green energy.

Barr-Tech, LLC, which was founded by Ted and Larry Condon, and Jack Gillingham, told committee members about the work that’s been done up to this point in creating the compost facility and the anaerobic digester that will allow the company to generate up to 2 megawatts of power, which is enough to supply energy for about 2,000 homes.

Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy and assistant ranking Republican on the committee, said she was pleased that Barr-Tech was able to visit Olympia and give a presentation that was a perfect example of local efforts to bring forth innovative energy solutions.

“I know the folks at Barr-Tech are very eager to showcase what they’ve been able to accomplish in a relatively short period of time,” Short said.  “We wanted to give them the opportunity to talk to committee members and explain both the process they’ve gone through to get things up and running, and some of the obstacles and challenges they still face.  I know committee members were impressed with the innovation and commitment exhibited by Barr-Tech.”

The committee’s work session on anaerobic digesters also included a presentation by Washington State University professors.

To see the slide show that Barr-Tech presented to the committee, click here, or visit: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/cmd/default.aspx?cid=TEC

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For more information, contact Brendon Wold, Senior Information Officer: (360) 786-7698

House Republicans announce several committee assignment changes

House Republicans today announced the following committee changes:

Remove Rep. Shelly Short from Early Learning and Human Services Committee and appoint Rep. Jason Overstreet to the committee. Rep. Mike Hope has been named Assistant Ranking Republican on this committee.

Remove Rep. Ed Orcutt from the Environment Committee and appoint Rep. Terry Nealey to replace him.

 

Appoint Rep. Ed  Orcutt to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.

 

Appoint Rep. Norma Smith to the Capital Budget Committee.

 

Remove Rep. Norma Smith from the Education Appropriations and Oversight Committee and appoint Rep. Shelly Short to replace her.

EDITORS NOTE: In a previous news release announcing committee assignments Rep. Kirk Pearson’s name was spelled incorrectly. Please note correct spelling.

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Please contact: Lisa Fenton, Communications Director: (360) 786-7728

Legislators tell Department of Ecology to ‘cease and desist’ with climate change guidance

Concerned that over-reaching climate change rules could have a devastating effect on Washington’s stagnant economic recovery, Republican members of the Washington State House Ecology and Parks Committee sent a letter to the state Department of Ecology (DOE) last week, asking the department to stop drafting rules governing greenhouse gas emissions.

Led by Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy and ranking Republican on the committee, the members write:

“Since Washington produces about 3/10ths of one percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is statistically improbable that any one project rises to the level of having any impact on the climate pattern that would affect our state or the health of its citizens.

“The lack of food, housing, and health care that comes when hundreds of thousands of people are unemployed and are unable to take care of themselves poses a much greater threat, especially when increased regulations by the government could potentially make matters worse.”

“Our main concern is that DOE is going full steam ahead on the process to create, adopt, implement and enforce climate change policies despite the fact that the governor’s cap-and-trade legislation failed in the Legislature, and despite the fact that these rules could seriously harm our state’s economic recovery,” Short said.  “Climate change is a global problem – it’s too big to address in a piecemeal fashion.  Families and employers in our state are still dealing with new and increased taxes passed by the Legislature this year; they don’t need to be kicked by unnecessary and unproven environmental regulations while they’re down.”

Reps. Dan Kristiansen and Joel Kretz, members of the Joint Administrative Rules Committee (JARRC), said the need to stop DOE from implementing new climate change policies is similar to a recent scenario where the State Building Code Council was asked to delay the implementation of new costly, job-killing regulations.

“We need to stop and take a look at the unintended consequences of government actions,” said Kristiansen, R-Snohomish.  “When government regulations begin to harm our economic recovery; and when they destroy jobs and make it harder for people to find work, we absolutely need to stop what we’re doing, take a step back and re-evaluate.  That’s what we’re asking DOE to do.”

“Frankly, I don’t think the department has the authority to do what they’re doing in the first place,” said Kretz, R-Wauconda and deputy leader for the Washington House Republicans.  “There is no statutory authority for the department to require individual citizens to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions on a project-by-project basis.  I think we’re seeing a state agency aggressively pursuing an agenda of their own.  Whether that’s with or without the consent of the governor remains to be seen.”

According to the Regulatory Fairness Act, state agencies can be required to prove that benefits from their rules justify added costs.  By issuing guidelines instead of rules, DOE can circumvent this important step even though guidelines typically become the minimum standard the department will accept as compliance with law.

In the letter to DOE, the members specifically request that a small business impact statement be created if DOE fails to cease in drafting new greenhouse gas emission rules.

“There has to be some accountability in the process,” said Rep. David Taylor, R-Moxee.  “State agencies need to justify the expense of their proposed rules and regulations.  The department needs to show us that their climate change rules are not going to cost us more money, more jobs, and make our state less competitive.”

According to Short, the letter to DOE has already been circulated around the department, including a copy sent to Janice Adair, special assistant to the director for climate change.

“I’m looking forward to hearing DOE’s response,” Short said.  “There’s too much ambiguity involved in setting guidelines on a project-by-project basis.  Are folks going to have to follow these rules to build a house?  Is the department specifically trying to determine each families’ carbon footprint?  This level of government control and influence needs to be checked.  They need to know that someone’s watching them and is going to hold them accountable.”

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For more information, contact Brendon Wold, Senior Information Officer, at (360) 786-7698, or wold.brendon@leg.wa.gov

OP-ED: 2010 legislative session had some hits, misses

By Reps. Joel Kretz and Shelly Short

Thank you to everyone who called and wrote us during the legislative session. Your input is always incredibly valuable. In this column, we will give you a brief rundown on the 2010 legislative session, tax increases and some local legislation that passed. However, you are always welcome to contact our district offices for further information and assistance.

This year, there were areas of strong bipartisan agreement – such as the opposition to the nearly $800 million tax package and the “no-reforms” budget. Unfortunately, when it came to the pro-jobs legislative agenda we proposed, the majority party did not see fit to lend their support to pass it.

During the regular 60-day session, the majority party overturned the voter-approved Taxpayer Protection Act (Initiative 960), allowing a simple majority vote of the Legislature to increase taxes. We believe I-960 was one way to ensure bipartisan work on the budget situation, but once it was undone all talks of spending reforms were ended. We joined the bipartisan opposition to repealing I-960.

After a tax-increase stand-off between the House and Senate, the governor called a 30-day special session to allow Democrats more time to decide on tax increases. By April 13, the majority party passed a nearly $800 million tsunami of tax increases while refusing to make any substantial reforms to government operations and spending. In fact, state spending was reduced by less than 1 percent over last year’s budget. Families in this economy would be ecstatic if they only had to trim their household budgets by 1 percent. In all, the largest solution to the $2.8 billion spending gap was tax increases.

To us, the budget was a missed opportunity to reform and restructure government programs and spending. By focusing on priorities of government, such as education and public safety, we could have made big steps toward stopping the wave of debt created by years of overspending and relying on more than $5 billion in one-time federal bailout money to balance the budget.

On a positive note, there were some good local measures that passed. One was a bill to help local farmers by revising rules around farmers markets. House Bill 2402 will allow non-profit organizations and churches to retain their property tax exemptions when loaning or renting out their property to qualified farmers markets for up to 53 days per year, as opposed to the law’s previous 15-day time limit.

Working with Republican and Democrat colleagues, Rep. Short was able to amend her bill (House Bill 2439) onto House Bill 2402 and helped guide the legislation through the process. With local economies continuing to struggle, and with families trying to keep food on the table, farmers markets are playing a more vital role for both. Farmers markets are also becoming an important tool for local farmers to sell and market their produce.

Another victory is House Bill 2925, which finally ends the stalemate between Seattle City Light and Pend Oreille County over the Boundary Dam lease. The major sticking point was lease payments were not keeping pace with the rising value of property and energy production. This measure addresses the financial impact of hydroelectric energy facilities and generation in counties, specifically Pend Oreille County. The legislation increases lease payments to ensure they are up-to-date to reflect today’s costs to counties that site facilities or already operate one.

With roughly 400 bills passed this year, we encourage you to contact our offices if you have additional questions or would like more information on the budget and new and increased taxes. We work for you and your feedback is always welcome and appreciated.

Reps. Joel Kretz and Shelly Short represent the 7th Legislative District, which includes Ferry, Stevens, Pend Oreille, Lincoln and parts of Okanogan and Spokane counties. Kretz can be reached at (509) 826-7203 or Kretz.Joel@leg.wa.gov.  Short can be reached at (509) 775-8047 or Short.Shelly@leg.wa.gov.

Forest restoration funds aimed at long-term disease management, fire prevention

Reps. Joel Kretz and Shelly Short applauded the inclusion of $2.75 million in this year’s state capital budget aimed at addressing long-overdue forest restoration projects in Northeast Washington. The funds were secured in the budget by Rep. Norma Smith, a Whidbey Island Republican who serves on the House Capital Budget Committee.

“Our forest lands serve a lot of needs in our state, from jobs and recreation to funding our schools, so we are extremely pleased to see funds included in the capital budget to restore and protect local natural resources. It’s past time we address clearing our forests of debris and focusing on disease management,” said Kretz, R-Wauconda. “I appreciate Representative Smith taking the initiative to send the same message we have relayed to Western Washington legislators over the years. This is an excellent step to rebuilding the health of our valuable timber lands.”

The last minute push for funding was an effort by Smith after she heard testimony this session on the dire conditions, including disease and fire danger, in some of the state’s forest lands, particularly in the 7th Legislative District.

“Each year, we go to Olympia attempting to educate Western Washington lawmakers on the unique issues facing our part of the state, and this is one instance where all our work paid off,” said Short, R-Addy. “Last year alone, Washington state spent $11 million to fight fires on forest lands. I believe investing these funds to maintain our forests in ways that are less prone to fire will save money overall. We could see millions of dollars, thousands of acres of forest land and private property protected because of the projects included in this budget. I cannot thank Representative Smith enough.”

The $2.75 million will be used solely for improvement treatments on forest lands in Eastern Washington that have the highest needs for fire protection and disease management. The forests receiving funding for restoration projects are located in Stevens, Ferry, Lincoln, Pend Oreille, Okanogan, Yakima, Kittitas and Spokane counties. Treatments on private lands are also included with the understanding that the property owner will maintain the improvements to forest health.

Kretz and Short added that they will keep a close eye on the projects as well as the results to ensure the funds are put to good use, and also to make sure projects move along smoothly.

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For more information, contact Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252