Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas season with friends and family and are staying warm and safe this winter.

I am once again over on the other side of the mountains serving you in the state House of Representatives where my colleagues once again elected me as Caucus Chair.  It’s an honor to be recognized and respected by my fellow House Republican lawmakers but it fails in comparison to the trust and faith you’ve placed in me to be your voice in Olympia.

Session issues and priorities
This session has the potential to be one of the most difficult in recent memory as the Legislature is tasked with finalizing compliance with the state Supreme Court’s McCleary decision to fully fund basic education.  Here’s a quick breakdown of what’s been accomplished the last few years:

• Additional $4.6 billion in K-12 education the last two budget cycles
• Smaller K-3 class size
• Full-day kindergarten
• Teacher raises
• Increases to materials, supplies and operating costs (MSOC)
• Unprecedented tuition reductions in public colleges and universities (no other state has done this)

The last major component of the McCleary decision is to end our overreliance upon local levies to fund basic education, often referred to as “levy reform.”  A bipartisan education funding task force met throughout the interim – as well as a core group of House Republican budget and education leaders – to vet solutions and ideas that balance the needs of our students along with the need to protect taxpayers from excessive burden.  Ultimately, whatever moves forward as a final product will have to be extremely bipartisan in nature, given the incredibly close numbers in the House and Senate.  I look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions as draft legislation is brought forward for discussion and debate.  At a minimum for me, it is important that schools are held harmless financially as we potentially transition to a different levy system to fund basic education.

I’ll be focusing on solving the state Supreme Court’s Hirst decision to ensure domestic, exempt wells can be drilled and used and property can be developed.  This is a huge issue which has impacted many areas of the state that are not currently served by city or county utilities.  The decision has ignored decades-long accepted practices and case law and it cannot be allowed to stand without clarity and direction from the Legislature.  I will also be focused on tax incentive legislation that may bring jobs to the 7th District, lifting regulatory burdens, holding state agencies accountable, healthcare access, private property rights, land use issues, wolves and wildfires.  It’s going to be an intense and busy few months.  I hope you are able to stay engaged throughout the legislative process and offer me your thoughts, questions and opinions.

Grizzly bears in the North Cascades?  Because wolves weren’t enough?
It appears ours federal government via the National park Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are intent on adding another apex predator to our backyard.  Grizzly bears are being considered for reintroduction into the North Cascades.  To submit written comments to the two federal agencies, click here.  You can also attend one of these regional open houses and give your comments in person (all events are 6-8 p.m.):

• Cle Elum – Feb. 13 at Putnam Centennial Center
• Cashmere – Feb. 14 at Riverside Center
• Winthrop – Feb. 15 at the Red Barn
• Omak – Feb. 16 at the Annex Facility at Okanogan County Fairgrounds

For more information about the open houses and to register for the webinars, click here

Honorary Lifetime Membership award from Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation
After serving eight years in the state House of Representatives, it’s common to receive awards from various stakeholders, associations and interest groups.  They come with the territory and are a nice recognition but don’t hold a candle to the voices I hear from back home.  I serve you and your interests first and foremost.  If they happen to line up with other groups, so be it.

Rep. Short receives the lifetime achievement award from the Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation on January 18th, 2017.

I think this is the case with an award I was extremely excited to receive last week from the Board of Directors of Washingtonians for Wildlife Conservation.  I was given their Honorary Lifetime Membership award for my efforts to preserve our hunting, fishing and outdoor heritage.  It’s an honor to work toward preserving our way of life so that we have something substantial to pass on to our children and grandchildren.  I’ll continue fighting for our hunting and outdoor heritage!  It is absolutely worth protecting and sharing the positive things our heritage does for wildlife and for our communities.

Paging in Olympia
Each year I have the opportunity to sponsor several legislative pages from the 7th District.  I enjoy visiting with our pages and hearing about their experience while they learn about the legislative process first-hand.

Rep. Short with Page Preston Furulie and Page Gavin Furulie. January 12th, 2017

Last week I hosted brothers Gavin and Preston Furulie from Colbert.  They are Eagle Scouts who attend Mount Spokane High School and are the sons of Grant and DeLori Furulie.

Pages have to be between 14-16 years old, have permission from parents or guardians, and also have permission from school.  They spend their time in page school, delivering interoffice mail around the legislative campus and can even present the flags during opening ceremonies.  If you or someone you know would like to be a legislative page, contact my office or click here for more information.

I’ll send out periodic e-mail updates throughout session to keep you informed of important issues and to solicit your thoughts.  Watch for a survey coming up in my next e-newsletter where you’ll have the opportunity to take a short but very important online questionnaire.  I’ll also be having another telephone town hall with Rep. Joel Kretz in the coming months.

As always, thank you so much for entrusting me to work on your behalf in Olympia.  It is an honor and privilege to serve you.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

State Representative Shelly Short
7th Legislative District
Email: shelly.short@leg.wa.gov 
Website: www.representativeshellyshort.com
427A Legislative Building – P.O. Box 40600
Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7908 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The 2016 session and special session are over and I’m back in district.  For more information please click here to read my quick session review.  It is an honor to serve you in Olympia.  Because of election-year restrictions, this will be my last e-newsletter to you until the fall.

Thank you so much for staying involved in your state government.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

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

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Please join your 7th Legislative District Team for our telephone town hall this week!  On Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. you can ask questions, participate in our survey or just listen in while Rep. Joel Kretz, Sen. Brian Dansel and I discuss the 2016 legislative session.  Just call (509) 724-2970 and you will automatically be connected with our call.  I hope you can join us.

Human Rights Commission says men can use women’s bathrooms?
Judging from the many phone calls and e-mails I’ve received on this issue, many of you are already aware the Washington State Human Rights Commission (unelected bureaucrats mostly from the Puget Sound area) recently ruled that members of the transgender community could use whatever bathroom or locker room they “identified” with.  As you might imagine, there has been an uproar back home and state-wide to the extent that I have not seen before.

Frankly, this decision came very fast and was a complete surprise, mainly because the process required for a state agency to adopt rules was either ignored outright or “bent” just enough to skate in under the radar.  Check out this committee hearing where the head of the commission was asked about the process by my House Republican colleagues.  It was a very poor showing by the agency official and just proves these types of decisions belong in the Legislature where thorough, deliberative and transparent discussions INVOLVING THE PUBLIC can take place.   I have heard from others who say that it was done to stem discrimination and protect transgender individuals.  But that does not allow a state agency to hide its rule-making process from the public simply because of the sensitive or controversial nature of an issue.  I believe their actions have actually hurt the very individuals they purport to protect.

I also have concerns – as do many of you – about the potential for abuse these new rules create.  I have signed onto legislation repealing this rule, however, the Democrat chair of the House Judiciary Committee has said she will not hear any legislation dealing with this issue.  So much for thoughtful, deliberate debate and letting the public voice their opinions.  Stay tuned.

Raising taxes should be the last resort, not the first option
Six times in the past 22 years voters have approved initiatives calling for a two-thirds legislative vote before taxes could be raised.  It’s time for a constitutional amendment.  This week, I joined my House Republican colleagues in a procedural motion on the House floor to immediately consider legislation to do just that.

House Joint Resolution 4215, which I’ve cosponsored, would have sent to voters a constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds majority vote of the Legislature to raise taxes.  This procedural motion would have bypassed the committee process and leave HJR 4215 eligible for an immediate vote of approval on the House floor.  The public has told us six times in the last 22 years what they want!  Do we really need to have taxpayers travel to Olympia to tell us one more time?  It’s time for legislators to do what’s right and listen to the voters.  However, our efforts were defeated by the majority party on a strict party-line vote of 49-48.  We’ll see if this bill even gets a hearing in committee – but don’t hold your breath.

My role in leadership as Caucus Chair
I had the pleasure of speaking to Greater Spokane Incorporated this weeks, as well as members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses.  Part of my job on the leadership team as House Republican Caucus Chair is to present our vision and ideas to large groups, associations, stakeholders and other visitors to the state Capitol.  While I enjoy this aspect of my job, the hopes, dreams, expectations, character and way of life of my neighbors in Northeast Washington are always with me.  I’m continually using many of you as examples in stories about hardworking people who want state government to live within its means and be accountable to the people.

Legislative pages
Last week I had the privilege of hosting Bethany Loos from Deer Park as a House page.  Bethany is the daughter of Elaine and Brett Loos and is home schooled.  I so enjoyed spending time with Bethany – her knowledge of issues impressive!

This week it was Emma Larsen from Chewelah.  Emma is the daughter of Lori and Paul Larsen and attends Jenkins Junior Senior High School.  Her sister, Rachael, was also able to page this week with my seatmate, Rep. Joel Kretz.

It was so nice to spend time with folks from back home.  I know the girls learned a lot and trust this experience will help them in their future endeavors.  We certainly had some laughs this week!

As always, please feel free to contact my office with questions or concerns about your state government.  It is an honor to serve you in Olympia.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

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

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

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We’re nearing the homestretch of the 2015 legislative session.  Both the House and Senate have passed their respective budget proposals (more on that below) and negotiations are ongoing.  Much of our time now is spent on the House floor voting and debating legislation.  In my new role as Caucus Chair, I’m responsible for organizing our caucus meetings, keeping things on track as we debate the merits of bills, and helping form our overall strategy to get our legislation through the process or to kill bad bills.  It’s been a fun but very busy time.

As the session progresses, our “dead/alive” bill list is continually updated.  You can click here to look at some of the major issues.

I want to thank you for your constant flow of letters, phone calls and e-mails.  Hearing your thoughts and concerns helps me represent you and assists me in making my point to other legislators, especially those from the West side of the state.  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used your examples – your stories – when debating or conversing with my colleagues in the House and Senate.  Your voice is heard every day in Olympia!

Budget Update
The House Democrats recently released their 2015-17 operating budget proposal.  In a nutshell, it raises taxes by $1.5 billion and increases state spending from $33.8 billion (2013-15) to $38.9 billion!  That’s a 15 percent increase!  When you look at the required four-year outlook, their budget only leaves $4 million in reserves for the 2017-19 biennium and raises spending to $43 billion!  That’s almost a $10 billion spending increase in just six years.

I believe this to be unsustainable, unpredictable and unwise.  I’m not about to support a budget that takes more tax dollars from struggling workers and families.  With about $3 billion more in tax collections expected in this budget cycle (nearly a 9 percent increase) there should be plenty of tax dollars to fund education, keep our communities safe, and take care of the priorities expected of us by the citizens back home.

If you want to watch my video update where I talk about the House Democrat budget, click here.

If you want to watch a quick video of one my colleagues, Rep. Matt Manweller, explaining in detail why we don’t need the House Democrat’s tax increases, and what those increases would do, click here.  Rep. Manweller is currently a Professor of Political Science at Central Washington University where he teaches Political Economy, Constitutional Law and classes for the William O. Douglas Honors College.

What’s even more galling about their proposal is the fact that they declined (for political reasons) to take votes on – and pass – the tax increases necessary to fund their budget.  It was just a wish list of spending.  But they refused to put their money where their mouths are and declined to take votes on their massive tax increases.  Frankly, there will never be enough revenue to match their spending.  The House Democrat budget shows no restraint.  I joined with all of my House Republican colleagues and voted no on this budget proposal.

The Senate Majority Coalition Caucus also passed their budget proposal.  While I don’t agree with everything it contains, it appears to be a much more balanced approach.  It does NOT contain the $1.5 billion in tax increases like the House Democrat budget.  And, for the first time since the 1970s, it actually reduces college tuition by 25 percent!  It also leaves more in reserves to account for economic ups and downs.

To watch my video update where I talk about the Senate Majority Coalition Caucus budget proposal, click here.

As I said, with both chambers passing their budget proposals, the negotiations are really starting to heat up.  With just over two weeks left in this 105-day session, there is still plenty of time to finish ON TIME!  There is no reason to spend extra tax dollars on a special session.

My Bills
My bill to keep Northeast Washington from being segmented off into its own “climate zone” for building code purposes has passed both the House and Senate unanimously.  House Bill 1011 now goes to the governor for his signature.

My bill to study the impacts wolves are having on our region’s ungulate (deer, elk, moose) populations passed through the Senate Natural Resources and Parks Committee as well as the Senate Ways and Means Committee.  It is now in the Senate Rules Committee.  I’m hopeful House Bill 1676 will pass the Senate in the next week.

Carbon tax (cap and trade) dead for the session?
It appears so.  Even the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives couldn’t pass Gov. Inslee’s onerous carbon tax proposal.  Knowing this governor and his passion for ideological environmentalism, I have no doubt he’ll bring this around the Legislature again in the future.  But for now, it appears families will be protected from his carbon tax that would raise the price of electricity, fuel, food, and certain goods and services.

However, many of us believe the governor is waiting until the Legislature adjourns before he implements, through executive order, a low carbon fuel standard for Washington state.  This could dramatically increase the price of gas in our state and has not proven effective or even fully implementable in California.  I’ll continue to fight this effort even when the Legislature is not in session.  Stay tuned.

Thank you for reading my e-newsletter and for staying involved.  It is a privilege and an honor to serve you in Olympia.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

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