Feb. 24, 2014
Capitol Report with Rep. Shelly short (audio)
Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, discusses her peer review science bills, and her views on the governors decision to suspend the death penalty.
Find more audio content on our Web site.
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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046
Feb. 9, 2014
Capitol Report with Rep. Shelly Short (audio)
Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, discusses the gun initiatives, her disappointment that her contractor bill (House Bill 2113) did not advance, and her concern about a war from Olympia on businesses and employers.
Find more audio content on our Web site.
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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046
Feb. 3, 2014
Capitol Report with Rep. Shelly Short (audio)
Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, discusses the governors tax increase proposal and a paid sick leave bill in the House.
Find more audio content on our Web site.
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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I just wanted to remind you of our 7th District telephone town hall next week. Please join Sen. Brian Dansel and Reps. Joel Kretz and I on Monday, Feb. 3, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss state and community issues. To take part in the call, dial toll-free 1-877-229-8493 and enter PIN# 112381. The phone line will open shortly before the call begins. To ask us questions during the call, just press star three (*3) on your telephone keypads. We’ve found these events to be extremely helpful in keeping in contact with the folks back home. Your thoughts and opinions matter to us. I hope you’ll be able to join us.
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-March)
436 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7908 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
District Office (March-December)
P.O. Box 184
Republic, WA 99166
(509) 775-8047
Jan. 27, 2014
Capitol Report with Rep. Shelly Short (audio)
Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, discusses the state Supreme Courts latest demand to the Legislature on education funding, and a contractor measure 2013 House Bill 2113.
Find more audio content on our Web site.
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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046
Dear Friends and Neighbors,
I’m now in Olympia for the duration of the 2014 legislative session where I’ll be debating and voting on legislation that will impact our state and the 7th Legislative District. I’m extremely hopeful that the Legislature can finish its work on time this year. In my opinion, there is no reason for the session to last one extra day. We should finish our work in the allotted 60 days and go home on time, if not a few days early! This is a message I heard from many of you (and I wholeheartedly agree) throughout the summer and fall and you can be sure I’m relaying that message to my colleagues at every opportunity! (The picture at right is NOT what it looks like this year. This picture was taken last year at about this time. This year, no snow in sight, thank goodness!)
Staying involved – staying connected
I want to make sure you have every opportunity to be involved in what goes on in Olympia. This is YOUR government. Accessibility to the legislative information and action is paramount to being an involved citizenry. Here are a few ways you can stay connected this year:
Budget Update
Unlike the last several years, the Legislature enters this session WITHOUT a significant budget shortfall. In fact, the latest information about our state’s 2013-15 biennial budget shows that we’re projected to have an ending fund balance of around $377 million. This will provide budget writers with plenty of revenue to make the statutory changes needed in the 2014 supplemental budget (caseload adjustments, etc.). The supplemental budget is used to make the small adjustments necessary so that we stay within current revenues and we continue to meet our obligations, it is NOT intended to add new programs, increase spending or embark on new ideas with questionable costs.
However, if you watched Gov. Jay Insee’s State of the State Address last week, you know that he’s proposed a litany of new programs and new spending. I want to reiterate: Now is not the time to enact such large spending increases! Our hardworking taxpayers don’t need an additional tax burden.
If you want more information on the three budgets – operating, transportation and capital – click here for a quick summary on each.
My Bills
Here is a quick list of the bills I’ve introduced this session:
House Bill 2112 – Allowing incremental electricity produced as a result of efficiency improvements to hydroelectric generation projects whose energy output is marketed by the Bonneville Power Administration to qualify as an eligible renewable resource under I-937, the energy independence act. State residents pay millions of dollars each year for improvements that generate hydroelectricity more efficiently. However, those investments are not recognized as an eligible “renewable resource” under I-937. My bill would rectify this and help ratepayers deal with some of the unintended economic hardships caused by provisions of the initiative. This bill received a public hearing in the House Technology and Economic Development Committee last week and is scheduled for executive action on Friday.
House Bill 2113 – Modifying the exemption from contractor registration requirements for work that is casual, minor, or inconsequential. Current law assumes that a “handyman” who advertises is presumed to be a contractor subject to the Department of Labor and Industries’ (L&I) subjective interpretation, which has been targeting these individuals. My bill raises the threshold to $1,200 per job (supplies and labor) and most importantly assumes handymen are NOT contractors. This way, L&I cannot subjectively go after these folks unless an individual falsely states he or she is a contractor. I believe folks who have skills ought to be able to support their families without fear of L&I coming after them.
House Bill 2261 and House Bill 2262 – I call these the “show your work” bills. We all remember having to show our work during math class in elementary school. These bills require the Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and the Department of Ecology (DOE) to “show their work” by categorizing on their websites the sources of information relied upon in support of significant agency actions. This is a further way to hold unelected bureaucrats accountable for their actions.
This Week in Olympia
This week we celebrated Kids’ Day and Martin Luther King Day at the state Capitol. I also had the honor of participating in and speaking at the annual March for Life event at the Capitol steps yesterday. I joined other lawmakers and about 4,500 concerned citizens who believe we have an obligation to stand up for the unborn. I understand that this position is not popular with some, but I will never apologize for my belief that life is a sacred gift from our Creator. In that light, I continue to fight against House Bill 2148, the abortion mandate bill which would require all health insurance plans to cover abortions if they also cover maternity care. I hope you’ll stand with me in this effort.
7th District lawmakers to host telephone town hall Feb. 3
Please join Sen. Brian Dansel and Reps. Joel Kretz and I for our 7th Legislative District telephone town hall on Monday, Feb. 3, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss state and community issues. To take part in the call, dial toll-free 1-877-229-8493 and enter PIN# 112381. The phone line will open shortly before the call begins. To ask us questions during the call, just press star three (*3) on your telephone keypads. We’ve found these events to be extremely helpful in keeping in contact with the folks back home. Your thoughts and opinions matter to us. I hope you’ll be able to join us.
Thank you for placing your trust in me to be your voice in the Legislature. And thank you for taking the time to read my e-newsletter. If you have questions, comments or concerns about state government or issues impacting our local communities, please don’t hesitate to contact my office.
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-March)
436 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7908 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
District Office (March-December)
P.O. Box 184
Republic, WA 99166
(509) 775-8047
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 22, 2014
CONTACT: Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer – (360) 786-7252
Peter Sessum, Public Information Officer – (360) 786-7037
7th District state lawmakers to host telephone town hall February 3
State Sen. Brian Dansel and Reps. Joel Kretz and Shelly Short invite residents of the 7th Legislative District to participate in an hour-long telephone town hall on Monday, Feb. 3, at 7:00 p.m. to discuss state legislative issues.
To take part in the call, residents can dial in toll-free 1-877-229-8493 and enter PIN# 112381. The phone line will open shortly before the call begins. To ask questions of the lawmakers during the call, participants can press star three (*3) on their telephone keypads.
The lawmakers will give a brief update on issues being discussed during the legislative session then open the call up to questions.
“As the newest addition to the Seventh District legislative team, I am looking forward to introducing myself to those I did not meet last fall and listen to the concerns and solutions constituents have to offer,” said Dansel, R-Republic. “I believe government works best when there is a two-way dialogue between residents and their elected officials, so I am truly looking forward to sharing ideas on how we can make our district and the state an even better place to live and work.”
The telephone town hall format has received positive feedback, the lawmakers said.
“We have a huge district that can make it difficult to travel to local meeting with us or to Olympia, particularly in the winter months, which is why these calls have such a great participation rate,” said Kretz, R-Wauconda and deputy House Republican leader. “Our goal is to hear from as many constituents as possible when the Legislature is in session and this format is a convenient way to reach out and ensure more people get a voice in Olympia on issues that impact them.”
“Folks want to be heard, which is evident when we see reports on how many people joined our previous calls into the district,” said Short, R-Addy. “We are talking about higher gas taxes, costly low-carbon fuel standards and many other issues that would impact individuals and businesses in the Seventh District. We hope folks will join the call and share their thoughts on these and other issues.”
Residents who are unable to participate in the call can send comments and questions to Dansel, Kretz and Short via e-mail at Brian.Dansel@leg.wa.gov, Joel.Kretz@leg.wa.gov and Shelly.Short@leg.wa.gov. Or, they can leave a message for all three legislators by calling the toll-free hotline at 1-800-562-6000.
The 60-day 2014 legislative session began Jan. 13 and is scheduled to adjourn March 13.
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For more information on Sen. Brian Dansel, visit https://briandansel.src.wastateleg.org/
For more information on Rep. Joel Kretz, visit www.representativejoelkretz.com
For more information on Rep. Shelly Short, visit www.representativeshellyshort.com
Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov
455 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600 
Jan. 20, 2014
Capitol Report with Rep. Shelly Short
Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy, discusses the state budget and the governor2019s proposed carbon fuel standards.
Find more audio content on our Web site.
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Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov
451 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 – Olympia, WA 98504-0600
Broadcast studio: (360) 786-5046
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 14, 2014
CONTACT: Brendon Wold, Deputy Communications Director – (360) 786-7698
Lawmaker says any effort to implement low carbon fuel standards should go through legislative process, not executive decree
‘This has the potential to harm our hardworking families in a very real and measurable way at a time when many are still climbing out of the recession,’ says Rep. Shelly Short
As the debate surrounding potential costly environment regulations continues in Olympia, some lawmakers want to make sure that any specific efforts to implement so-called low carbon fuel standards originates in the Legislature, not through executive order from Gov. Jay Inslee.
Rep. Shelly Short, R-Addy and ranking Republican on the House Environment Committee, is sponsoring legislation that would require legislative action before new fuel standards could be adopted, essentially stripping the governor’s office from implementing costly regulations via executive decree.
“On decisions this big, that will impact families this much, they need to go through the most public, transparent, deliberative and scrutinized process available,” said Short. “The Legislative process includes committee hearings, public testimony, amendments, input from lawmakers and comprehensive analysis. Decisions like this need to include the public and be debated in the light of day, not in the dark recesses of executive privilege.”
Short said there were a wide range of costs associated with low carbon fuel standards. During her work on the Climate Legislative and Executive Workgroup (CLEW) she was given a report that showed implementing a new low carbon fuel standard in Washington state would increase the price of gasoline by as much as $1.06 per gallon.
“This hits all of Washingtonians right in the wallet,” said Short. “This has the potential to harm our hardworking families in a very real and measurable way at a time when many are still climbing out of the recession. Our state and local economies would be hit hard and our state’s economic competitiveness would suffer. Frankly, I see employers, jobs and certain industries moving out of Washington and into nearby states if policies like this are adopted by the governor.
“At the very least, the ones who have to pay for this policy should have ample opportunity to weigh-in and have their voices heard,” said Short. “An executive order from the governor’s office does not accomplish that.”
To date, only California has implemented a low carbon fuel standard, with a planned .25 percent reduction in 2011, a .5 percent reduction in 2012 and 1 percent reduction in 2013. But even with this incremental and gradual increase, the state has decided to put the plan on hold throughout the remainder of 2014 to further study the economic and environmental impacts. California’s goal of a 10 percent reduction in their fuel’s carbon intensity remains in doubt at this time.
Short said she and her colleagues are not against fuel choice, but that the market should bring that to bear, not artificial mandates that raise the price of gas.
“California tried to do this but backed away once they realized they didn’t have the supply or the infrastructure to back up their mandate,” said Short. “I think it would be a huge mistake for Washington to go down this road, and an even bigger one if the state does it without going through the Legislative process first. The governor can’t go it alone on this one.”
Short’s proposed legislation will go through the code reviser’s office and receive a bill number in the next few days.
For more information about Rep. Short, visit: www.representativeshellyshort.com.
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Rep. Short’s media: 
Washington State House Republican Communications
houserepublicans.wa.gov
455 John L. O’Brien Building
P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
