Author Archives: Laudan

01-27-16 – Capitol Report with Rep. Shelly Short (audio)

On this week’s Capitol Report, Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, discusses a procedural motion on the House Floor to pass a constitutional amendment that would require a supermajority approval of the Legislature to raise taxes. Short expressed frustration at the action of the courts as the public continues to request tax protection in the form of voter approval.

https://soundcloud.com/wahousegop/short-capitol-report-012716

Find more audio content on our Web site.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046

01-26-16 RADIO REPORT: Rep. Short says Human Rights Commission did disservice to transgenders (audio)

Legislator: Rep. Shelly Short
Date Recorded: 01-26-16
Run Time: :48
Download online voicer: https://soundcloud.com/wahousegop/short-transgender-012616
SUGGESTED LEAD: It has been a month since the Human Rights Commission announced its ruling on the open use of public restrooms by transgenders. Lawmakers in Olympia, besieged by public complaint, will discuss legislation Wednesday. Ruth Johnson reports from Olympia.

(Voicer: Short-TRANSGENDER-VOICER-012616.mp3 – Run time : seconds.)

Johnson: Senate Bill 6443 would repeal the Human Rights Commission decision that has caused so much controversy.

At the capitol, many lawmakers say the concern is less about transgender’s use of public restrooms, and more about protecting all people across Washington from those who might exploit the ruling to commit crimes.

And Republican House member Shelly Short says the commission was out of order in how it made the ruling.

(Voice cut: Short-TRANSGENDER-CLIPA-012616 – Run time :12 seconds – Out cue: . . .transgender community.)

Short: “Any kind of rule making, no matter how sensitive the topic is, you have to give a transparent process for everybody to participate in. I would say the Human Rights Commission did a disservice to the transgender community.”

Johnson: Short says the controversy over how the ruling was made–without proper procedures, put many transgender people in a spotlight they may not have been prepared for or wanted.

Ruth Johnson, Olympia.

Find more audio content on our Web site.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046

01-20-16 – Capitol Report talks with Rep. Shelly Short (audio)

Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, talks with Capitol Report about a recent controversial decision made by the Human Rights Commission concerning transgender residents in Washington, and the use of public restrooms. Short says she is concerned about the way the decision was made, without public input and no acknowledgement on the Commission website. The lawmaker states that the state agency is required to follow the Administrative Procedures Act, and it did not.

https://soundcloud.com/wahousegop/short-capitolreport-012016

Find more audio content on our Web site.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046

Rep. Shelly Short’s Update from Olympia: Charter schools, guns and letting criminals out early

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We’re now into the second week of the 60-day 2016 legislative session. While this is technically a short session, there are several key issues we’ll be dealing with over the next two months. As usual, I’ll send these e-newsletters to keep you informed so you can stay involved. Feel free to forward on to your friends and family.

K-12 Education: McCleary and Charter Schools
We made historic investments in K-12 education last year with full-day kindergarten, reducing class sizes and giving teachers cost-of-living increases. We currently have a bipartisan workgroup to determine how much local school districts rely on local levies for their “basic education” needs. I expect this levy issue to be addressed during the budget-writing 2017 legislative session. Regardless of how the Legislature choses to ultimately address the local levy piece in the future, equally important in my mind is the protection of the local taxpayers footing the bill.

Unfortunately, the state Supreme Court once again overstepped their bounds with last year’s ruling against the voter-approved public charter school system. There is bipartisan support in the Legislature to arrive at a solution. I’m signed on as a cosponsor of HB 2367 which has 24 Republican and Democrat sponsors. However, the governor has not expressed his support. To watch a quick video on the charter school issue along with our solution, click here to watch the ranking Republican on the House Education Committee, Rep. Chad Magendanz.

Budget
This is a supplemental budget year, which means we shouldn’t be enacting new policies or spending measures that have significant carry-forward costs. A supplemental budget is for small tweaks to the two-year operating budget passed by the Legislature last year. The governor’s supplemental budget plan calls for more tax increases on things like bottled water. However, I don’t see much serious desire from his own party to try and raise taxes this year. I do anticipate there may be the need to tap into the state’s Rainy Day Fund (expected to reach nearly a billion dollars by the end of 2017) in order to help pay for the devastating wildfires from this past summer. The Rainy Day Fund is for emergencies – like the Oso Landslide and Carlton Complex Fire from two years ago, and the many fires we experienced this year – not state government daily expenses.

Guns
Unfortunately, there seems to be a yearly attack by some in Olympia on our Second Amendment rights. With President Obama and Gov. Jay Inslee each issuing executive orders dealing with guns, there is starting to be some momentum for further gun control efforts in the Legislature. From legislation to allow local governments the ability to regulate firearms, to the misguided effort to outlaw “assault” rifles and high-capacity magazines, please be assured I will not support ANY proposal that seeks to degrade, limit or alter the Second Amendment. I truly believe “the Second protects the First.”

I recommend you download this list of gun-related bills to stay up-to-date on firearms legislation this session. Several of these bills are receiving a public hearing on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 1:30 in the House Judiciary Committee. You can call the legislative hotline at 1-800-562-600 to leave a message for the chair of that committee, Rep. Laurie Jinkins.

Also, here are some ways to stay involved in your state government:

Capitol Buzz – A daily, electronic clip service of House Republicans. Click here to subscribe.
The Current – An online publication from House Republicans to include you in the legislative process. Click here to subscribe.
Capitol Report – A three-minute, weekly radio program (aired weekly on KOMW in Omak and KCVL in Colville) that discusses current issues of the 7th District and the state. Click here to sign up for my RSS podcast. You can also get all of the Washington House Republican Capitol Report programs on your iPhone and iPad through the iTunes store by clicking here.
Check out my website – www.representativeshellyshort.com. From this link, you can get more information about me, the bills I’ve sponsored and view my news releases.
Photos – Access my photo gallery here.
Video updates – Every other week, I record a new legislative video update with the latest news from the Legislature. You can view my reports here on YouTube.
TVW – The state’s own version of C-Span, TVW broadcasts floor and committee action live. You can also watch on your computer, smartphone or tablet: www.tvw.org
Legislature’s website – You can get bill reports, committee agendas and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature at: www.leg.wa.gov

Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns about state government issues. It’s always good to hear from the folks back home. And if you plan on visiting Olympia, please make sure to contact my Legislative Assistant, Jacquelin, so I know when you might be in my office. I’d love to sit down for a few minutes to chat.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

State Representative Shelly Short
7th Legislative District
E-mail: shelly.short@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.representativeshellyshort.com

Olympia Office (January-April)
427A Legislative Building – P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7908 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

District Office (April-December)
P.O. Box 184
Republic, WA 99166
(509) 775-8047

01-12-16 RADIO REPORT: Rep. Shelly Short says ideological environmentalism will be costly to the consumer (audio)

Legislator: Rep. Shelly Short
Date Recorded: 01-12-16
Run Time: :37
Download online voicer:

SUGGESTED LEAD: Republican Shelly Short predicted early last year that the governor would find a way to bring what she calls his ideological environmentalism back to the legislature. It has arrived, courtesy of executive order, via the DOE. Short says there is writing on the wall that the DOE can’t see. Ruth Johnson reports from Olympia.

(Voicer: Short-ClnAir-VOICER-011216.mp3 – Run time :38 seconds.)

Johnson: Shelly Short says the recent call by the Department of Ecology for new clean air standards, if enacted, would have impacts that even the DOE can’t currently explain.

(Voice cut: SHORT-Presser-ClnAir-CLIPA – Run time :12 seconds – Out cue: . . .couldn’t answer that.)

Short: “The interesting point is that the DOE would not answer is not only loss of jobs but what happens to the wages and the benefits in these communities and what happens to the revenue coming into the state, and DOE couldn’t answer that. And they should.”

Johnson: Short says the DOE’s new requirements would not only lead to an eventual loss of jobs, they would also result in dramatic increases in the price of electricity, fuel, food, and goods and services.

Ruth Johnson, Olympia.

Find more audio content on our Web site.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046

01-13-16 – Capitol Report with Shelly Short (audio)

Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, represents one of the largest districts, landwise, in the state. And it is an area that has been hard hit by wildfires. Short speaks of the resilience of the people who live in the region, and her determination to ensure the area is made safe from future fires.

https://soundcloud.com/wahousegop/short-capitalreports-011316

Find more audio content on our Web site.

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Washington State House Republican Communications
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046

A quick note from Rep. Shelly Short

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

As your representative in the Washington State Legislature, I send occasional email updates designed to keep you informed about the issues being debated in Olympia that may impact our community and Washington state. If you received this message in error or do not want to receive email updates from me, simply click the link below to unsubscribe from my email list.
[[ONECLICK_UNSUB_URL]]

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

State Representative Shelly Short
7th Legislative District
E-mail: shelly.short@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.representativeshellyshort.com

Olympia Office (January-April)
427A Legislative Building – P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7908 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

District Office (April-December)
P.O. Box 184
Republic, WA 99166
(509) 775-8047

Cougar/Wolf Action Alert: from Rep. Shelly Short (7/22/15)

*** Action Alert! ***

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The Fish and Wildlife Commission recently decided to increase cougar harvest (for a period of three years) in GMU areas where there is an overlap of wolf populations. I am COMPLETELY SUPPORTIVE of their decision. For years, so many of you have advocated for a comprehensive approach to managing predators. However…

…IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE COMMISSION HEAR FROM YOU RIGHT AWAY! Do not let animal rights activists – who consider these predator species to be more important than our region’s deer, elk and moose – to derail the Commission’s efforts!

As you know, Northeastern Washington is home to multiple predator species, including 12 of the 16 wolf packs statewide. As a result, our region’s ungulate (deer, elk and moose) populations are at an incredible risk for increased stress and predation. Hunting opportunities are significantly at risk as well if the Department does not take a more holistic approach in our region to the management of predators as a whole and the impact such numbers and species have on our ungulates. It is crucial to minimize these threats if our region is to sustain healthy and productive numbers of ungulates.

Share your support and share your knowledge and stories of increased predator presence in Northeastern Washington!

THE COMMISSION NEEDS TO HEAR FROM YOU!
The Fish and Wildlife Commission will discuss a petition it received during its upcoming August meeting. The Petition seeks to reverse the Commission’s rule and return to the old cougar harvest numbers.

Please send your comments to:

Bradley Smith, Ph.D., Chair
Fish and Wildlife Commission
600 Capitol Way
Olympia, Washington 98501-1091
Email Address: commission@dfw.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 902-2267
Fax: (360) 902-2448

It is absolutely vital that those of us living with the consequences of these decisions make our voices heard! Click here to view a letter your 7th Legislative District team recently sent to the Commission on this issue.

Please consider lending your support to these efforts, and feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.

Cordially,

Rep. Shelly Short, Caucus Chair

State Representative Shelly Short
7th Legislative District
E-mail: shelly.short@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.representativeshellyshort.com

Olympia Office (January-April)
427A Legislative Building – P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7908 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

District Office (April-December)
P.O. Box 184
Republic, WA 99166
(509) 775-8047

Bill to help rural areas deliver mental health services signed into law

Legislation to help rural areas more efficiently and effectively deliver certain mental health and chemical dependency services to patients was signed into law recently by Gov. Jay Inslee.

House Bill 1727, sponsored by Reps. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax and Shelly Short, R-Addy, will allow nursing assistants to work for certain licensed mental health service providers.

Under current law, nursing assistants may participate in delivering nursing-related services in health care facilities such as nursing homes, hospitals, hospice care facilities, home health care agencies or hospices agencies. The new law adds licensed service providers under the Community Mental Health Services Act to this list.

“Allowing nursing assistants to work in certain mental health facilities, like chemical dependency treatment, will help our rural areas deliver services more efficiently,” said Schmick, who is the ranking Republican on the House Health Care and Wellness Committee. “Nursing assistants can take weight, pulse and blood pressure readings and other duties, freeing up registered nurses to perform other duties.”

Schmick worked with Rep. Short to get the bill hearings in the House and Senate and to work the bill through the lengthy legislative process. Between the two House members, their legislative districts comprise huge swaths of rural land in Eastern Washington.

“We’re seeing much greater use of telemedicine in rural areas, especially in mental health and chemical dependency services,” said Short. “The idea for this bill was brought to us by a constituent who saw a better, more efficient way of delivering services for our patients back home. With the continued pressure on our rural hospitals and rural health services, we need to do everything we can do to help streamline things and make it cost effective for folks living in rural areas to receive the treatments they need.”

For more information about Rep. Short, visit: www.representativeshellyshort.com.

For more information about Rep. Schmick, visit:
www.representativejoeschmick.com

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Rep. Short’s media:

Washington State House Republican Communications
www.houserepublicans.wa.gov
461 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600