Dear Friends and Neighbors,
As you know, the Legislature convened January 13 for its 60-day session. These short sessions were created to simply address minor changes to the state budget for things like caseloads for programs and school enrollments. However, over the past years, more weighty issues have been added. After the governor’s State of the State speech, I am concerned that costly and complicated legislation will be put on the table for debate with less than 55 days left. I am among those who believe we can get the people’s work done within the time allowed, and I am committed to that goal.
Below are some of the issues we will be discussing including public safety legislation I am working on. There is also information on my hour-long telephone town hall event next Tuesday, January 21, at 6:30 p.m. Please join 
me that evening.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve as your legislator. As always, please feel free to call or e-mail me with your questions and comments.
Sincerely,
Susan Fagan
Telephone town hall next Tuesday, January 21
I would like to invite you and others you know in the 9th Legislative District to participate in my hour-long telephone town hall to discuss state legislative issues on Tuesday, Jan. 21, at 6:30 p.m. To take part in the call, residents can dial in toll-free 1-800-759-2155. The phone line will open shortly before the call begins.
I will give participants a brief update on the 2014 legislative session, including the discussions about a transportation tax package and education funding, then open the call up for questions and comments. For those of you who would like to ask a question, simply press the star (*) button on your telephone key pads and a staff member will assist you.
These calls are a great way to learn more about the issues, talk about solutions and find common ground on complex and, sometimes, controversial topics.
Great news for Lewis-Clark Valley
The Bennett family announced this week that they will reopen the Guy Bennett Lumber Mill at the Port of Wilma in Clarkston this spring. That means that 60-70 people will again be working and contributing to the economy of the Valley. I spoke with Brett Bennett who told me their decision to bring the mill back on line was based on an improving home construction market and the resolution of an appeal of a federal timber sale which will feed logs to the mill. Congratulations to our neighbors in the Valley and a big thanks to the Bennett family for having confidence in our area.
My legislation to reform sexually violent predator laws
This week, I testified on House Bill 2122, which would address critical reforms to sexually violent predator evaluation and treatment policies. I partnered with our state Attorney General Bob Ferguson to put this forward. We want to make sure that when these predators are considered for release that prosecutors have the tools to determine that society will be safe. The importance of safe neighborhoods and strong accountability for violent
criminals cannot be overstated.
Othello’s Jessie Dominguez testifies before Early Learning Committee
It was a pleasure to welcome Jessie Dominguez, Adams County Probation Manager for the Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI). He testified before the House Early Learning and Human Services Committee to share how JDAI is bringing community leaders and youth together to improve detention alternatives.
K-12 education funding and McCleary court order
The 2013-15 budget did a lot of good things for K-12 education. Not only did we invest more than a $1.6 billion in our schools, we did it in a way that focused on getting the dollars into the classrooms to do the most good for students and teachers.
In complying with the 2012 state Supreme Court McCleary order, the education budget focused on putting additional dollars to lower class sizes in K-1 classrooms. We also added more funding for materials, supplies and operating costs (MSOC) and the Learning Assistance Program, or LAP, which helps the most disadvantaged students. We also allowed for greater flexibility to ensure school districts could spend LAP dollars in ways that help their student populations the most. We funded more for student transportation obligations. Full-day kindergarten was funded, freeing up local levy dollars to pay for the extras for which they are intended. And, teachers and classified staff were made whole because we funded the reinstatement of the 1.9 and 3 percent pay that was reduced in the previous budget.
However, the state Supreme Court issued an additional order on Jan. 9, 2014 that raises some questions about what is and is not included in basic education funding. I have been hearing from many of our constituents about this, and I am awaiting the opinion on the order from our state attorney general. As one of the many people who have to make the tough decisions on how your tax dollars are spent, I think it is only prudent to wait until we know exactly what the order means for the Legislature. You can read the dissenting court opinion here.
Transportation tax package and low carbon fuel standards
In previous e-mail updates, I shared my thoughts on the proposed transportation tax package and the governor’s signing of the climate change accord in California last year. While I agree we need to address maintenance of our roadways and bridges, mismanagement of projects like the 520 Bridge and the Seattle tunnel project do not give me faith that every dollar collected will be used responsibly.
With regard to the governor’s hint that he may unilaterally institute new and higher carbon fuel standards in the state, Washington state is one of the cleanest and greenest states in the nation, partly due to our reliance on hydropower. I am extremely concerned that just as this policy has failed in California, it will fail here and hurt residents – particularly those living on fixed incomes and low- and middle-income households – struggling under the economy and increased cost for basic needs. According to the Washington Policy Center, a non-partisan good-government think tank, if the new fuel standards are implemented, they would add an additional $1.17 per gallon of gas. I will continue to keep you updated on the progress of this and other issues as the session unfolds.
Go, Hawks!
And like nearly every Washingtonian, I’m really excited for Sunday’s game. Regardless of the outcome – although like you, I’m hoping for a win – we have come to know these team members and can be truly proud of them, on and off the field.
9th Legislative District
E-mail: susan.fagan@leg.wa.gov
Web site: www.representativesusanfagan.com
431 John L. O’Brien Building – P.O. Box 40600 | Olympia, WA 98504-0600
(360) 786-7942 or Toll-free: (800) 562-6000
