Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We need your help!  There will be a public hearing on important wolf management legislation this Wednesday, March 20 at 8:00 a.m. in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee.  The majority party in the House refused to pass any meaningful wolf management legislation.  However, the Senate Majority Coalition approved two bills sponsored by my seatmate, Sen. John Smith:

SSB 5187 – would allow livestock and domestic animal owners to kill a wolf if it poses an immediate threat to the animals.

E2SSB 5193 – would create a dedicated account to reimburse livestock owners for the value of any animals killed by wolves.

We need you to contact the members of the committee (especially the Democrat members) and let them know why we need this legislation in northeast Washington.  If you can make the trip to Olympia to testify with your stories, concerns, pictures, etc. – that would be fantastic!  But I know most of you are unable to take time off of work and make the long drive to Olympia.  If you can send us your statements and any photos you have, we’ll make sure it gets entered into the official record.  This will help us put the pressure on the majority party in the House to pass this legislation!

My contact information is at the bottom of this e-newsletter.  Here is the information for the committee members:

Blake, Brian (D) Chair
LEG 437A
(360) 786-7870

Lytton, Kristine (D) Vice Chair
JLOB 310
(360) 786-7800

Chandler, Bruce (R) *
LEG 427B
(360) 786-7960

MacEwen, Drew (R) **
JLOB 431
(360) 786-7902

Buys, Vincent (R)
JLOB 465
(360) 786-7854

Dunshee, Hans (D)
JLOB 314
(360) 786-7804

Haigh, Kathy (D)
JLOB 320
(360) 786-7966

Hurst, Christopher (D)
JLOB 335
(360) 786-7866

Kretz, Joel (R)
LEG 335A
(360) 786-7988

Orcutt, Ed (R)
JLOB 408
(360) 786-7990

Pettigrew, Eric (D)
LEG 434B
(360) 786-7838

Schmick, Joe (R)
JLOB 432
(360) 786-7844

Stanford, Derek (D)
JLOB 318
(360) 786-7928

Van De Wege, Kevin (D)
LEG 434A
(360) 786-7916

Warnick, Judy (R)
LEG 122C
(360) 786-7932

 

Here is the agenda for the meeting:

 

Agriculture & Natural Resources* – 03/20/13 8:00 am

Full Committee
House Hearing Rm B
John L. O’Brien Building
Olympia, WA
REVISED on 3/14/2013 at 3:02 PM
Public Hearing:

1. SSB 5187 – Protecting domestic animals against gray wolf attacks.
2. SSB 5786 – Requiring certain information in commercial fishing guide license applications.
3. SB 5337 – Modifying expiration dates affecting the department of natural resources’ timber sale program.
4. ESSB 5663 – Regarding derelict and abandoned vessels in state waters.
5. E2SSB 5193 – Concerning gray wolf conflict management.

Executive Session:

1. SB 5139 – Concerning milk and milk products.
2. SB 5377 – Extending the program establishing Christmas tree grower licensure.
3. SSB 5634 – Clarifying the department of natural resources’ authority to enter into cooperative agreements.
4. SSB 5760 – Providing compensation for commercial crop damage caused by bighorn sheep.

 

With your help, we were able to get the Department of Fish and Wildlife to hold wolf management meetings in Cusick, Colville and Okanogan.  The meetings were packed and wildlife officials heard a strong message from the people who have to deal with wolves on a continual basis.  In fact, DFW announced today another wolf meeting in northeast Washington:

NEWS RELEASE

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife

March 18, 2013

WDFW schedules meeting in Colville on wolves’ impact on game species

OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will hold a public meeting March 27 in Colville to discuss the potential impact of wolves on area game species such as deer and elk.

The meeting is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Colville Ag Trade Center, 317 West Astor Ave.

State and local WDFW wildlife managers will present information on monitoring efforts in northeast Washington along with population trends and harvest data for white-tailed deer, elk and moose. They’ll also discuss the status of wolves in the region and the impact wolves have had on deer and elk populations in other western states.

Dave Ware, WDFW game manager, said the department has not yet documented any measureable impacts from wolves on game species in Washington, but recognizes that reports from other states have raised public concerns.

“We want to talk to people in northeast Washington about this issue, because that’s the area of the state that has the largest number of wolves,” Ware said. “We’d encourage area residents who have concerns to attend this meeting.”

I appreciate you staying involved in this issue.  I look forward to receiving information that will help us pass Sen. Smith’s legislation.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

State Representative Shelly Short
7th Legislative District

E-mail: shelly.short@leg.wa.gov
Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/short

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

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

We are quickly approaching one of our first “cutoff” dates for the 2013 legislative session.  Cutoff dates are established to help move legislation through the process.  This Friday, Feb. 22 is the policy committee deadline.  House and Senate bills need to be voted out of House and Senate committees respectively in order to continue on through the legislative process.  The next cutoff will the fiscal committee cutoff on Friday, March 1 and then the “House of Origin” cutoff on Wednesday, March 13.

Wolf Meetings in Northeast Washington

That’s right, after announcing the state’s wolf population has nearly doubled in the last year, the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) finally realized that having wolf recovery and management meetings in places like Olympia and Seattle is pretty pointless.  Unless, of course, they’re ready to adopt Rep. Kretz’s bill allowing for wolf relocation to Western Washington!  But I don’t see that happening any time soon.  Thanks to you – for all your phone calls, e-mails and letters, WDFW will hold three public meetings in northeast Washington to discuss wolf-livestock conflict management:

Feb. 26, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Cusick at the Cusick Community Center, 107 1st Ave.

Feb. 27, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Colville at the Colville Ag Trade Center, 317 West Astor Ave.

Feb. 28, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in Okanogan at the Okanogan Public Utilities District office meeting room, 1331 2^nd Ave. N.

Rep. Joel Kretz said: “I give kudos to the department for finally figuring out where wolves are located and scheduling meetings accordingly.”  To read our press release on the issue, click here.  We need folks to attend these public meetings if they can.  People need to tell WDFW what they think of wolf management issues in Washington state.  We asked for these meetings in northeast Washington and got them.  Let’s show them that we care and we’re involved!

A Big Thank You to Sen. Bob Morton!

Earlier this session, we were able to say “thank you” and “goodbye” to Sen. Bob Morton who retired this year.  Morton has served the 7th District with distinction.  He was first elected to the state House in 1990, where he served until his appointment to the Senate in 1994 to replace former Sen. Scott Barr.  I’ve learned so much from Sen. Morton over the years.  He is a true gentleman and a statesman.  Thank you, Bob!

My Bills

I’m very pleased to tell you that my bill to bring more accountability to the Department of Ecology (DOE) passed the House Environment Committee.  It now awaits action by the full House.  If you recall, House Bill 1113 requires DOE to identify the peer-reviewed science, scientific literature, and other sources of information used before taking significant agency action related to certain agency programs.  This is an effort to ensure that DOE is using the highest scientific standards before enacting rules that impact landowners and business owners around the state.  My goal is to bring more accountability and transparency to DOE and the decisions they make in our state.

House Bill 1619 is my bill that would suspend the Growth Management Act (GMA) in counties with persistent unemployment.  For many of our low-population, rural counties, complying with the GMA’s “one size fits all” approach to land use and development is nearly impossible.  I’d rather see resources devoted to economic development and creating jobs than complying with urban mandates, especially for counties in northeast Washington where unemployment is significantly higher than the state average.  This bill didn’t receive a public hearing and is most likely dead for the session.

Another one of my bills is still alive and moving through the process.  House Bill 1192 would allow veterans with disabilities in other states to qualify for reduced hunting and fishing license fees here in Washington.  It would also encourage reciprocity – that is, it would encourage other states to offer the same discounted license fees to our state’s veterans.  We have veterans with disabilities that would like to hunt and fish in other states; and wounded veterans from other states that would like to participate in those activities here in Washington.  I think it’s the least we can do for those who have sacrificed so much for our country.

House Democrats propose 10-cent gas tax increase!

You read that right.  House Democrats released a proposal today to raise the state gas tax by 10 cents a gallon!  If it passes, our state will have the highest state gas tax in the nation (according to the Tax Foundation) at nearly 48 cents per gallon.  When you add in the federal gas tax, Washingtonians will be paying about 66 cents in taxes for every gallon purchased at the pump.

I agree with our House Republican Transportation leader, Rep. Ed Orcutt, who said “Any debate on transportation must begin with reforms, not tax increases on struggling workers and families, and not new projects lists to entice votes in the Legislature.”  Rep. Orcutt also pointed out that Washington pays construction costs that are between two and two-and-a-half times what other states are paying for similar projects in similar areas.

To read his statement on the issue, click here.  He also said “We need to see how we can make our tax dollars go further, before we reach further into taxpayers’ pockets.”  I couldn’t agree more.  I want you to know that I do NOT support raising the gas tax and will work across the aisle to help defeat this proposal.

As always, feel free to pass this on to friends and family who might be interested in state government or the issues we discuss each week.  Thanks again for the honor of serving you in Olympia.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

State Representative Shelly Short
7th Legislative District

E-mail: shelly.short@leg.wa.gov
Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/short

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

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Just a quick reminder that we’re holding our 7th District telephone town hall this Thursday night, Jan. 31 at 6:30 p.m.

Please join Rep. Joel Kretz, Sen. John Smith and me in a community discussion about what’s happening in Olympia and the issues that concern you.  You’ll be able to listen live, participate in our survey and ask questions.  I hope you can join in!

Call toll-free, 1-877-229-8493 and enter pin number 15429.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

State Representative Shelly Short
7th Legislative District

E-mail: shelly.short@leg.wa.gov
Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/short

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

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

It was great to see so many of you during this past spring, summer and fall throughout the community.  Our district’s rich heritage of parades, community events and local fairs are part of what makes Northeast Washington one of the most beautiful and endearing places to live, work and raise a family!

We’re now at the beginning of the 2013 legislative session.  This promises to be an intense and interesting 105 days.  With a new governor who campaigned on “no new taxes,” a new bipartisan majority in the Senate that has said “no new taxes,” and the House of Representatives being controlled once again by a Seattle liberal who desperately WANTS to raise taxes – finding a solution to our $950 million budget shortfall could prove challenging to say the least.

I’ll continue to update you on the different budget ideas and solutions that come forward as the session progresses.  However, I must say that my priorities haven’t changed: I believe we can take care of our constitutional obligation of fully funding education, protecting the most vulnerable among us, and ensuring the safety of our citizens – and we can do this with existing tax dollars.

Wolves

I’ve introduced legislation this year that will give livestock owners more options when trying to protect their animals from predation.  House Bill 1191 would allow the owner of livestock that has been attacked by a predator to follow and track that animal and eliminate it, even if the predator moves onto public land.  I believe it is a fundamental right to protect one’s life and property without fear of prosecution.  As it currently stands, it is up to the government to decide whether or not to give you permission to protect your livestock.  I’m hoping that legislators on the West side of the state who seem to be in love with the idea of wolves will see the logic in giving livestock owners the ability to stop predation quickly before the predator gets habituated into killing more livestock.

Agency Rulemaking

One of my bills received a public hearing this week.  House Bill 1113 was heard in the House Environment Committee.  This bill requires the Department of Ecology (DOE) to identify the peer-reviewed science, scientific literature, and other sources of information used before taking significant agency action related to certain agency programs.  This is an effort to ensure that DOE is using the highest scientific standards before enacting rules that impact landowners and business owners around the state.

Stay Connected

In this day and age in which technology and communication are an integral part of our daily lives, I encourage you to take advantage of the many ways to get connected to information about your Washington State Legislature. Here are some very important links to keep you informed:

• 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 on KCVL and KOMW) 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: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/capitol-report-washington/id579017734.
• Check out my Web site – This year, I have a new Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/shelly-short. From this link, you can view get more information about me, the bills I’ve sponsored and view my news releases.
• Photos – Access my photo gallery here.
• Video updates – Every two weeks, 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 Web site – You can get bill reports, committee agendas and information about upcoming activities in the Legislature at: www.leg.wa.gov

Please share this e-newsletter with everyone you know and encourage them to sign up for it from my Web site at: houserepublicans.wa.gov/shelly-short.

Thank you for the honor and privilege of serving you in Olympia.

Sincerely,

Shelly Short

State Representative Shelly Short
7th Legislative District

E-mail: shelly.short@leg.wa.gov
Web site: houserepublicans.wa.gov/short

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

 

**If you would like to no longer receive my legislative e-mail updates, respond to this e-mail and put the words “remove” in the subject line. Also, feel free to forward this e-mail to families and friends so they can subscribe to these updates.**

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

A big thank you to all of you who were able to join us for our 7th District telephone town hall meeting last week.  It was a huge success!  In fact, Rep. Kretz and I now have bragging rights with our colleagues as it had the highest attendance of any previous telephone town hall!  I’m always telling folks in Olympia how involved my constituents are in civic affairs and their communities – and once again you came through.  We had a wonderful hour of conversations and questions, as well as a few poll questions.  You continue to impress me with how much you care and how involved you are.  In case you’re curious, here are some interesting facts about our telephone town hall and the results of our survey questions:

 

Total Attendees = 7,376

Peak Attendees (most folks online at once) = 954

Participants who pressed *3 to ask a question = 154

Participants who joined me live with questions = 22

Survey Results

The governor has proposed raising the state sales tax by .5 percent to generate nearly a half-billion dollars in new tax collections for certain state services. Do you support this tax increase?

1. Yes (11%)

2. No (82%)

3. Not sure (8%)

Do you support the legislation to legalize gay marriage in Washington state?

1. Yes (12%)

2. No (83%)

3. Not sure (5%)

As education is mandated by the Washington State Constitution, do you support funding education first?

1. Yes (63%)

2. No (16%)

3. Not sure (21%)

 

Again, thanks to all who were able to participate.  It is such a pleasure to represent and serve you in Olympia.

Sincerely,

 

Shelly Short

State Representative, 7th District

Little Miss Rodeo, Riota Marchant, and Omak Stampede Queen, Katie Fergus, join

Rep. Joel Kretz, Rep. Shelly Short and Sen. Bob Morton on the House Floor

 

 

**If you would like to no longer receive my legislative e-mail updates, respond to this e-mail and put the words “remove” in the subject line.  Also, feel free to forward this e-mail to families and friends so they can subscribe to these updates.**

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Dear Friends and Neighbors,

The second special session of 2011 began Nov. 28, and is schedule to last 30 days.  The governor announced the special session on Sept. 22.  The $32.4 billion budget passed last May assumed a nearly 14 percent increase in tax collections, which amounted to $3.8 billion.  In this economy, House Republicans warned that assuming such a jump in tax collections and crafting a budget that included money that was yet to materialize was an irresponsible gamble.

Update on special session and state budget

At the end of the first week of the special session, there was absolutely no progress on addressing the $2 billion spending gap in the 2011-13 state operating budget.  The governor’s proposal, including a $500 million tax increase on citizens, is on the table.  However, the majority party in the House and Senate have not signaled wide support for it, nor have they put forward any alternative solutions.  It was made very clear that the Legislature was being called back to address the spending gap in a timely fashion.  The fact that no action has been taken on the budget is discouraging.  Every day the Legislature is in Olympia it costs taxpayers thousands of dollars that could be better spent on education, public safety and taking care of the most vulnerable among us.

I strongly believe in priorities of government when it comes to crafting the budget.  Unfortunately, the governor’s proposal holds kids, the elderly and disabled, and safe communities hostage to new and higher taxes.  Telling citizens that the only way we can pay for education, public safety and care for the vulnerable is through a tax increase is untrue and cruel.  I believe education, public safety and caring for our most vulnerable are core government responsibilities.  So, why is the governor leaving in place programs we can’t afford and increasing budgets for state agencies that are not core services?  Here are some examples of why I do not think the governor’s budget is prioritized to fund core services first:

• It cuts funding for senior citizen services by 20 percent while cutting the Department of Ecology total budget by only 4.4 percent;
• It fully funds $11.5 million for state employee step salary increases while cutting $9.2 million from state employment and day services for the developmentally disabled;
• It continues to fund $476,000 for sick-leave cash payments to state employees while cutting $450,000 from funding for the Family Policy Council that supports at-risk youth and families;
• It provides $15.3 million to fully fund a recent initiative (I-1163) that everyone, including herself, has said the state cannot afford while cutting eligibility for certain disability and long-term care services by $14.6 million;
• It maintains 90 percent of funding for the State Energy Policy/Research Office while cutting services for domestic violence legal advocacy and crime victims services by 20 percent; and
• It cuts $27 million in funding for critical access hospitals (the 7th district has several rural hospitals that will be put at risk) but includes $37 million for health care services for undocumented children.

Gone are the days when budget writers can make everything a priority.  The housing market is no longer providing extraordinary tax collections.  The private sector is sharing in the sacrifice and we believe the public sector workforce, all of the workers not just a select few, should have a hand in solving the spending gap.  House Republicans believe the citizens of Washington should not be asked to pay more in taxes to fund state agencies still giving pay raises to some state employees.  You can see detailed charts on state spending and the budget in our Report to Taxpayers here.

Let’s get Washington working again

I continue to believe we do not need new and higher taxes, we need more taxpayers.  That means getting people back to work and creating a tax and regulatory environment that encourages private-sector job creation.  Not only do we need to craft a sustainable and responsible budget during the special session, we believe adopting common-sense proposals that make employers feel confident enough to hire and expand their operations is equally critical.  We have offered several proposals this year, and in years past, that do not cost taxpayers a dime but start the process of reforming government in ways that make our tax and regulatory scheme less burdensome for employers so they can do what they do best – create jobs.

If we get our work done in a timely manner and forego the 2012 legislative session, we could save more than $2 million.  The governor has said job creation legislation can wait until 2012 but I believe the thousands of Washingtonians who are out of work can’t wait any longer – they want a paycheck, not a government check.

My House Republican colleagues and I are prepared to work toward solutions that put people back to work, reform government and create an environment where everyone can prosper.

Costs related to protests on Capitol Campus

As you have likely read in the papers and seen on the news, the first week was a bit crazy with protestors interrupting hearings, attempting to camp in the rotunda and disruptive behavior.  The “Occupy” groups that converged on Olympia are protesting the governor’s budget that includes spending adjustments to align with
state tax collections, which are projected to be 6.9 percent higher than the 2009-11 budget, or nearly $2 billion more.  Because of the behavior of some of the protestors and the encampment at Heritage Park at Capitol Lake near the dome, there has been extra state patrol and work at the park to address the group.  Here are the costs as of Sunday, Dec. 4:

Washington State Patrol: 

• $27,000 – Travel, per diem, supplies, etc.;
• $146,000 in overtime; and
• $201,000 in straight time (or salaries the troopers would have been paid for their regular work).

Heritage Park (run by the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services or DES):

• $3,810.93 – Costs for plumbing repairs, some electrical work and other miscellaneous repairs to turf, etc.; and
• $1,037.40 – Trash collection and park clean-up.

The DES spokesman told us the cost estimate to repair the damage to the new turf at Heritage Park, which was installed two years ago, cannot be determined until the “Occupy” group has left the park.  At this point, the group has refused to pay for a permit to use the park, so taxpayers are footing the bill not only for security at the Capitol Campus, but also to take care of the non-permitted encampment.

It does not escape us that every taxpayer dollar spent on these protests is a dollar that could pay for services for disabled and elderly citizens, school children and protecting our communities.

I’ll continue to send periodic updates throughout the special session and into the regular 2012 legislative session.  Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you.  It is an honor and privilege to serve you in Olympia.

Sincerely,

 

Shelly Short

State Representative, 7th Legislative District

 

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

After a 105-day session, and an extra 30-day special session, the 2011 Legislature finally wrapped up its work last week.  While I’m happy to be back in the district after a strenuous session, the disappointment at the slow pace and the end result of the legislature’s work lingers.

Budget writers from the majority party in both the House and Senate finally agreed to compromise on the few items of contention that were holding up the final budget compromise.  I voted against the $32.2 billion spending plan for several reasons, including:

* It relies on 49 new or increased fees, costing taxpayers about $248 million more in 2011-13;

* It makes deep cuts to education without needed reforms, continuing the deep divide between rural and urban school district;

* It puts public safety at risk.  There will be 2,119 fewer offenders on active community supervision;

* It fails to protect the most vulnerable by reducing Medicaid funding, sharply reducing programs that help our developmentally disabled find work, and harms our long-term care facilities;

* It funds a program that pays people to drive to work together;

* It cancels the sale of the governor’s airplanes; and

* It expands a program that pays the rent for recently released felons.

With an additional $4 billion of revenue expected over the previous biennial budget, I’m very disappointed that once again they failed to prioritize spending.

Workers’ Compensation Reform

Much of what was holding up action on the operating budget was an impasse on discussions over workers’ compensation reform.  The Senate passed a bipartisan measure, Senate Bill 5566, which included a voluntary lump-sum settlement option.  A similar measure, House Bill 2109, was introduced in the House.  Unfortunately, the state labor unions did not like the lump-sum settlement option because they were worried that all the cash would be spent up front and the worker would not have any money left over for later.  Despite the fact that the legislation contained ample protections for workers, union bosses – and government bureaucrats – don’t trust employees to do what’s best for themselves and their families.  House Speaker Frank Chopp, who has allied himself with the unions, would not allow the workers’ compensation bills to advance in the House. 

We needed workers’ compensation reform this year for several important reasons, but primarily this: The state-run system has been both costly and inefficient. The state auditor has said there is a 95 percent chance our system will become insolvent in the next five years.  That means only two options: much higher rate hikes against employers to support a failing system – or comprehensive reform of the system.  At a time when profit margins are so thin and many employers are on the razor’s edge of keeping their doors open, unaffordable double-digit workers’ compensation premium increases well into the future could easily seal their doom.  To keep the system solvent and help businesses keep their doors open, we had to move forward with reforming our state’s workers’ compensation system.

To help reach a compromise, we suggested a method called “structured settlements.”  This is a process that pays out settlements over time so that all the money cannot be used at once.  The conferees negotiating reform legislation agreed this would be the best method.  It broke the logjam that had held up workers’ compensation reform and the budget.  The new legislation, House Bill 2123, authorizes claim resolution structured settlement agreements initially for workers age 55 or older, then age 53 or older beginning in 2015, and age 50 or older beginning in 2016, and establishes minimum and maximum periodic payments.  The bill also creates a “stay at work” program that authorizes employers to receive a wage subsidy and reimbursements for employing an injured worker at light duty or transitional work.  I voted in favor of this legislation and am glad our employers will see some relief from excessive workers’ comp costs.

Debt Limit Legislation

I have been working with a bipartisan group of House members to support “The Debt Reduction Act of 2011.”  Senate Joint Resolution 8215, which passed out of the Senate, would phase down the state’s debt limit from 9 to 7 percent over the next decade.  This would have reduced debt payments by more than $3 billion over 20 years.  Unfortunately, the House majority party leadership did not allow this solution to move forward.

A negotiated compromise emerged last week.  Senate Bill 5181, which I voted for, will result in a smaller capital budget that reverses the state’s trend of  increasing debt.  It will also create a state commission to study and recommend changes to the state’s debt capacity.  Senate Bill 5181 doesn’t go as far as Senate Joint Resolution 8215, but is progress toward better fiscal responsibility.

Regulatory Reform

While many of the bills we proposed in our “Let’s Get Washington Working Again” plan failed to pass the Legislature, one of our proposals passed and was signed into law by the Governor.  House Bill 1150, which I co-sponsored, will give small businesses a seven-day grace period to correct violations before fines are imposed.

Keller Ferry

A much-needed and much-anticipated new ferry will be built to serve the Keller Ferry run and the surrounding communities.  Rep. Joel Kretz and Sen. Bob Morton and I worked to see that the state’s transportation budget included funds to replace one of the state’s oldest and non-Puget Sound ferries.

The decision to fund a new boat was made only after a thorough analysis was done and every other option explored.  We looked at purchasing a used boat and retrofitting it to meet our needs; we looked at completely refurbishing the existing boat.  But in the end, the safest and most cost-effective long-term solution was to build a new boat

The new boat will be in the same “under 100 ton class” as the current boat.  It will be an open deck design large enough to carry 20 cars or two semi trucks.  The transportation budget includes about $12 million while the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation are expected to contribute around $2 million.

My Legislation

My bill requesting that Congress adopt an “Honor and Remember Flag” for fallen United States Armed Forces members passed the Legislature earlier this session.

House Joint Memorial 4004 was part of a nationwide effort to have an “Honor and Remember Flag” displayed as an official flag on military holidays alongside the current United States flag and the Missing in Action/Prisoner of War flag.  The national campaign was started recently by the father of a soldier killed while serving in Iraq and has since spread to several states.  This proposal had good bipartisan support as well as the support of several military families from our district.  Thanks to all who helped this legislation pass.

Also, one of my bills was amended onto another bill that passed the Legislature and was signed into law by the governor.  My bill, House Bill 1611, allows for due process for child care facilities that have been found in violation of an existing regulation or rule.  Currently, a child care facility can be placed on probation for just about any rule infraction, including a missing parental signature or a notice being in the wrong place.  The language in my bill creates sort of a “time out” in the process and makes the Department of Early Learning work with the facilities to correct the problem before taking the large, onerous step of probation.

This proposal stems from some of the problems that child care facilities in our district were having.  In some cases, it appears that facilities may be unnecessarily targeted by the department.

While my bill didn’t pass, the language of my bill was amended onto Senate Bill 5625 which did pass the Legislature with bipartisan support.

Thank you

I want to thank you for all the encouraging words of support from home this session.  Your phone calls, e-mails and letters mean a lot.  Your input helps guide my decisions while in Olympia.  I’m looking forward to getting back into the district and seeing many of you at our community events throughout the summer.  And please remember, I’m here if you need me.

Sincerely,

 

Rep. Shelly Short

7th Legislative District